What starts as a hobby in a bedroom can sometimes turn into something much bigger. Across Broad Run High school, student musicians are beginning to share their art beyond the classroom. From producing songs to finally posting them online, many young students are using music as both a personal outlet and a way to connect with others. While balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, and everyday life, students at Broad Run are building their art note by note.
Jorge’s Story
One student, Jorge Marin, creates and releases his own music across streaming platforms while still managing the responsibilities of high school life. His interest in music began after receiving one of his late grandfather’s old guitars from a cousin. Originally, he only wanted to learn how to play “Remember me” from the Disney movie Coco, but that eventually developed into a deeper interest in songwriting and music production.
Over time, he taught himself guitar and began experimenting with writing lyrics and melodies whenever he felt emotional or inspired. He described his style as a mix of soft indie rock and acoustic music, taking inspiration from artists such as Malcolm Todd, Steve Lacey, and Rex Orange County. Unlike some musicians who focus heavily on metaphors or abstract lyrics, Jorge prefers direct and emotional songwriting, explaining, “You just got to be super raw with your music.”
Marin’s catalog reflects an ongoing journey of trial and error. Early on, he experimented with contrasting sonic directions, eventually releasing a track titled “For You” before pivoting into a heavier, rock-oriented sound when he created the track “Raw.” Jorge noticed that his music was operating on two very different ends on the music spectrum, in which he decided to find a new way to bridge the two styles, creating a hybrid sound that he currently follows in his music.
Ethan’s Story
While Jorge navigates the music world as a singer, his fellow Broad Run student, Ethan Kenney, finds his musical outlet behind his drum set. Coming from a musical household, with a mother who played the piano and flute and a father who was in his school’s marching band, Kenney has been exposed to the art of music early on. Kenney started by playing the piano as a kid. Later, in middle school, he then picked up the viola. However, his current passion was sparked the summer before eighth grade when he started experimenting on a children’s drum kit left behind by his brother. To learn, he was guided by an instructional beginner’s book, practicing until he completed the entire guide. Eventually, he convinced his parents to upgrade his drum kit to a full-sized one.
By next summer, he shared his dedication with others and started to create collaborative music in a band. He recalls, “I started really getting into it and realizing how much I enjoyed it. And I started just playing every day and just having a lot of fun. And then that was also around the time I got invited to join my first real band.”
That invitation led him to join a band named Lipstick on a Postcard. Since then, Kenney’s musical journey has expanded. In addition to playing drums for his church, he also formed a second group alongside peers, which goes by the name It’sJorgeOk. Within his bands, Ethan focuses on his drumming skills, leaving lyric writing to the vocalist.
The Realities of Being a Student Creator
As expected, navigating the music industry as a high schooler introduces a unique set of challenges, especially regarding balance and self-promotion. Marin openly acknowledges that “The most difficult thing [of being a musician] is when I promote my music … It’s really hard to do that without feeling corny. Especially when you’re recording yourself in your room in silence by yourself and you know all your peers are going to see you do some stupid dance or some stupid face.” Even so, Jorge says that, after a couple times of doing it, “You kind of break that anxiety”.
In terms of being a student, Jorge admits that he often finds himself distracted by a sudden song idea in the middle of doing homework, which frequently leaves him rushing to complete assignments at the last minute. For Kenney, the primary challenge is similar, limited time. Despite this, Kenney tries his best to maintain strong academic marks while also playing soccer. He states, “it takes up a lot of my time because I try to do decent academically, so it honestly leaves less time for music, which is kind of sad.” However, despite the occasional academic scramble, Broad Run’s community has proved to both musicians to be a vital source of motivation.
Though initially anxious that his peers might dismiss his music as sentimental or premature, Marin was met with widespread encouragement and support from his classmates. His local support has given him the reassurance needed to keep pushing forward. On the other hand, Kenney has gotten some opportunities throughout his high school career where he was able to play for Broad Run’s jazz band and even played for an open mic night that is hosted by the school’s theater department.
The Horizon
For both Marin and Kenney, music is far from a temporary pastime or quick way to get money or fame. Marin’s true reasoning comes from his genuine love for the art of music and desire to share relatable messages. While he refuses to put his education aside, Marin ultimately views music as his future career path rather than a casual hobby. Much like his previously noted inspiration, Jorge aims to continuously improve his production value and performance skills. These skills will be sure to be shown when he plays alongside his friends at the upcoming Stonebridge Battle of the Bands.
Kenney shares a similar dedication, further pushing back against the stereotype that musicians just create music because they want attention, stating, “We do it because we enjoy it.” Looking into the future, Kenney describes that he got inspiration right from Broad Run. He looks up to his PLTW teacher, Mr. Truett, who was able to balance his career playing the drums while maintaining a stable job as an educator. Kenney envisions a future where he can also secure a stable career while still pursuing his passion for the drums on the side. As he grows, Kenney takes influence from other musicians like Chad Smith or John Bonham, along with the Arctic Monkeys. Whether these two young artists are playing as a unified rhythm on stage or messing around with tunes in their room, they represent a generation of Broad Run’s talent.
