According to a study by Harvard University, music “lights up nearly all of the brain,” allowing for a unique neurological experience, especially when creating the music oneself.
For junior Claire Fago, music has had a similar impact, becoming an integral part of her life. When she was eight years old, Fago picked up a violin for the first time. Since then, she has shifted from violin to guitar, and music willingly consumes her life, providing her with a community and outlet from the rest of the world.

Chip Boaz, the music teacher at Redwood, believes Fago’s hard work and dedication set her apart from other musicians.
“For a lot of students, the hard work stops when they walk out [of the classroom] door, but for Claire, the hard work goes right out the door with her,” Boaz said.
Spending an immense amount of time perfecting her music doesn’t happen without passion driving it. Her love for it is clear, and that passionallows her to make art that connects with her audience.
“Caring about music means that you are going to [do the work] to make sure that your art connects with people; Claire does that, and that’s powerful,” Boaz said.
However, it hasn’t always been easy for Fago to get up on stage — being vulnerable with the audience is something that many young musicians find challenging. In Fago’s case, overcoming the fear of performing was a huge obstacle, but she has come to enjoy it. She also appreciates that music has connected her with many new people.

“[Music] has opened the door to meeting new people [I otherwise would not meet],” Fago said.
Boaz expanded on the sense of community that music can bring into people’s lives.
“[The most important thing about music] is the people and the bonds we form. It really fills my heart to see [my students] build these connections,” Boaz said.
Outside of music at Redwood, Fago performs in her own band, The Lunar Mooners. Ranging in ages and high schools, the band displays the inclusive spirit of the music community. They play every few weeks in gigs around Marin, spending lots of time in practice to prepare for these shows. With the extensive amount of time spent together, the band members have become really close.

“It’s nice to have a group of people [I] can relate to,” Fago said.
Additionally, the music community provides members with skills essential for living in the world we do. For Fago, these skills are confidence and leadership. With mentors like Boaz, students like Fago grasp skills that will help them later on in life.
“I tell musicians that we have two responsibilities to each other as a musical community: to support each other and to lift each other up,” Boaz said.
Because of the numerous ways the music community has positively served Fago, she hopes to continue pursuing music beyond high school. The profound impact music has had on her life can be explained simply:
“It’s a way to express myself without necessarily having to communicate through just conversation,” Fago said.