I've Got a Song in My Heart Nicole DiPaolo

The pianist walks gracefully up the steps to the stage. She sits at the piano bench, adjusts the skirt of her white dress, and places her hands on the keyboard. She then begins to play. The simple, lyrical piece is unfamiliar to the audience, but it is met with rousing applause. The pianist bows, and before she can exit the stage, she is interrupted by an older woman. The woman places her hand on the pianist's shoulder, turns to the audience, and says, "I just want to let you know that this six-year-old little girl wrote that song."

The simple, lyrical piece was "I've Got a Song in My Heart," and the pianist, the six-year-old in the white dress, was me. The aforementioned scene was part of my very first piano recital, in which I premiered my first musical composition. I would never forget the feelings of accomplishment and excitement that I experienced that evening - the very same feelings that still draw me to the field of music composition. After that first performance, I knew that I wanted to continue writing songs.

Spurred on by my music teachers, I did continue composing - first for the piano exclusively, and then branching out to other instruments - and I began to realize that composition was...