My name is Jasmine Euell, I am a junior Physics Major in the Dual Degree Engineering Program from Freeport, New York. Music has always been a very integral part of my life. It is what keeps me focused, gives me a sense of peace and has become essential for my learning. I grew up in a very musical family and started off in my church’s choir. That is why I am most influenced by the gospel genre. I have always loved music but it did not have a big impact on me until I got to high school and begun to sing in a traditional choral group. When I joined my high school’s Select Chorale I began to love choral music. As I learned more about music and how to sing, my mind was opened to learning things in a more effective way in all subjects. We would mostly sing spiritual and classical pieces, performing music from composers such as Moses Hogan and George Handel. I can only be grateful of my time making music with that group as well as the other music classes in high school. It was because of them that I was able to sing in groups put together by the National Association for Music Education and perform at places such as Carnegie Hall. My high school experience taught me about history of music from a European view. Now I am going in to this class with an open mind to gain knowledge about the influence of African American Music.