Entertainment Column

Aspiring Pianist Sets Sights on Performing and Teaching

By Armand Hodge

            Many musicians have been playing instruments there whole life.  Many of them began playing in their teens or even as young as the age of 5.  Playing an instrument is a truly a God-given gift.  What's even better is knowing how to imitate other musicians and playing like them at a young age.  Learning how to play an instrument at a young age is truly difficult.  One of the most difficult instruments to learn is the piano.  But listening to freshman Marcus Burke play would make you thing it was easy.

            Marcus Burke, a freshman and music tech major here at Bowie State University definitely shows the signs of an aspiring musician.  Even though he's 25, he plays with the sound of someone who has been playing for 25 years.  Burke began taking lessons at the age of 12.  Burke said that he couldn't sit still when he was younger and that taking lessons made him sit still because it was enjoyable.  Burke says that growing up and even now, he enjoys playing gospel, jazz and R & B.  Burke mentioned if he wasn't playing the piano, he still be playing an instrument.

              "The piano is my second instrument, so if I wasn't playing that I would be playing the drums," he said.  Burke would make a great music professor as well.  Before The Spectrum interview, Burke was helping a classmate with a music piece.  A great musician not only plays their instrument very well, but is willing to help others how to play and also how to become a better musician.

            Burke said his father is one of his biggest inspirations. "Someone that inspires me would have to be my dad.  Seeing my dad perform when I was young made me want to play."

             Even though Burke plays the piano, he still admires other artist that play different instruments like George Duke.  But Burke also imitates PG Morgan and Buddy Lincoln when he plays.  Burke said that he gets many compliments from people about how he plays.  But one positive thing that people always say about him is that he has a God-given talent for music.             Burke definitely sees himself in a life of music in the future.  Burke says that in 10 years he could see himself on the road playing for different musical groups.  Honestly, Burke has the signs of perhaps starting his own band.  One thing you must have when being a great musician is excellence.  Burke shows plenty of that already.

            "Music itself is another language," Burke said. Those just are not great words of a good student, those are great words of a great musician in the making.