About Justice Freeman
Justice Freeman’s story with music starts out from when he was in elementary school. Justice used to take piano lessons at Starland School of Music in the city of Alameda. Justice wasn’t fond of the idea of learning aspect of playing music, but interestingly enough, Justice would always have a "new song” that he would always present to the lessons teacher. But constantly being told to practice and never being able to have fun with music pushed it further away from him. He promised himself he would never play music again. Justice tried doing other things like sports and social clubs at school, but nothing interested him.
In 5th grade, Justice was having a really hard time in life so he would refuse to go to school because it wasn’t a very safe place for him emotionally. But music was a requirement so he had to go to school for that. This really upset justice as it seemed like huge waste of time. His elementary school had the student play of recorders or mallet percussion like xylophone. Justice gravitated toward the recorder but still didn't like it. The only song Justice would learn is Merry Had a Little Lamb.
After elementary school Justice thought he would be done with music and he can finally do what he wants in terms of interest. But Justice then realized 6th graders weren’t allowed to pick their own schedules. Funny enough, Justice got beginning band. Justice wasn’t as upset as he was for elementary school music, so he decided to give it a chance. When Justice first walked into the band room, he was in shock by just how big the room was in comparison to the room in elementary school. The first couple of weeks were really boring because we were learning how to read basic rhythms and the about the different instruments in the band. When it came time to pick the instruments, he was amazed at the selection. If there was one thing Justice knew about the instrument, it was that the alto saxophone had to the one he picked because it looked really cool. Justice would do whatever he can to make sure he got the best alto saxophone. When it was time to finally receive our instruments just received his first alto saxophone. Unfortunately, Justice still couldn't find interest in it after 2 months of playing it. His director, Mr. Eric Swihart, then gave Justice a clarinet because its similarities. Justice agreed and took the clarinet and returned the alto saxophone. When Justice played his first note on clarinet everything changed for Justice. He suddenly had a love for music. All it took was one note on clarinet. But due to Justice switching instruments so late in the year, Justice was behind, but that didn’t stop Justice. He would then go home and practice for hours a day so he could be the best he could. Unfortunately Justice didn’t have much support when he first started and was constantly shut down by those who he would expect to support him. But this still didn’t stop him.
Very quickly Justice went from last chair clarinet to first chair in beginning band. But this didn’t mean much and Justice knew that getting into the advanced band would be the best thing to work towards. As the year ended Justice didn’t have much confidence in his playing so he chose intermediate band for his 7th grade schedule. On the last week of school he auditions for the advanced band and was stressed thinking he did an awful job. He then got made fun of by his peers who watched him mess up. It made Justice sad but it didn’t stop him. After summer went by and school started Justice looked at his schedule and saw advanced band. No one seemed proud of him as much as Mr. Swihart and himself. With Justice being in the advanced band, he now had a more diverse instrument selection. Justice then decided he wanted to play the bass clarinet. Another opportunity Justice had sense he in the advanced band was to play in the jazz band. But Justice was told something that he would then find years later isn’t true. He was told that clarinet doesn’t belong in jazz. Justice didn’t want to play alto saxophone again so Mr. Swihart put Justice tenor saxophone. Justice loved the tenor saxophone and soon began to fall in love with Jazz as well.
After Justice started getting decent at the tenor saxophone, he then thought to himself, if one person can play two instruments, he can learn all of them. The same day when Justice got home Justice went on YouTube looking at some instrument content and he stumbled upon a video that shows one man playing 30 instruments in a single composition! This truly inspired Justice to learn all he can about the many instruments. So Justice would then take home almost every instrument available and attempt to learn them. Every he had class he would write notes and techniques the teacher taught on the other instruments other than his own. Using the new knowledge he obtained he would then get good at the other instruments as well, slowly pushing bass clarinet away to make room for his other instruments.
During Justice’s first year of high school, he attended Oakdale High School in Oakdale, California. During this time he was introduced to marching band. Justice loved the idea of it. It was a new style of music for him and he got to avoid PE while being able to do what he loves. But covid prevented him from being able to actually experience what marching band is and he as put on alto saxophone again so he wasn’t very happy. But this didn’t make him want to quit. He still had access to a clarinet that he would play from time to time so that kept him happy. Justice tried to learn the alto saxophone and get good at it, but he just couldn’t seem to do it. The next year Justice was able to go to school in person which made Justice, as with most other students, both happy and sad. After the first week or so, the teacher mentions that a tuba player is needed because the school doesn’t have one. Justice then realizes tuba was the one instrument he never had access to in middle school and instantly raised his had offering to be the tuba player. In the beginning the weight of the instrument seemed like a lot. He would always have a sore shoulder and he would always be in some sort of pain. But he was quickly learning the instrument just like how he quickly learned clarinet. Once Justice stopped experiencing pain in shoulder, he began to march the instrument and play in the schools pep band. Justice also experienced his first band review which allowed to bond with his peers. This only made his love for music stronger. Justice continued his journey of learning all the instruments. This is the year Justice started getting back into learning piano.
During Justice’s third year of high school he attended Cesar Chavez High School in Stockton. This is the year where Justice’s exposure to music has been at great levels. During this time, Justice was going to jazz festivals, attending many band reviews, getting clinics from professional musician, playing live performances with professional musicians, and getting awards for his playing. Justice. This is also the year where Justice played the most instrument in an ensemble setting. He played lead tenor saxophone and clarinet in jazz band, he played tuba in marching band, he played euphonium, oboe, clarinet, and tuba in concert band, and he played tenor sax in jazz combos.
Now Justice resides at Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California where he plays clarinet in the orchestra, tenor and bass saxophone in jazz combos, and tuba in pep band. Justice is now applying for college to be a music major where he will take the skills he has and improve so he can make his dream of being a professional performer and private lesson teacher.
Feel free to contact me using the link below or at JFMusic2024@gmail.com