Hi everyone! My name is Tyler Chargualaf and I am a senior music performance major at the University of Oklahoma. From a young age I was exposed to many styles of music. Jazz, Rock, and Classical, are a few styles to mention. I come from a family full of musicians. All of my siblings play instruments, along with my father. Also, my mother was a choir member. I personally think the best thing about my major is the creativity that goes along with it. There are endless amounts of ways music can be interpreted and performed. It is its only language in a sense. The best classes I have taken during my time at OU have always involved music. For example, attending orchestra rehearsals throughout the week has been one of the greatest experiences. I get to learn from a conductor whose knowledge vastly surpasses mine. Also, I get to perform with high caliber musicians. After college I plan on continuing my music career in the military. Many people do not know, but the military offers some of the greatest jobs for musicians. Whether it be playing in a concert band, big band, or ceremonial service I would love to have music be my livelihood.
"headshot of me junior year w/trumpet"
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On top of music, I also have a couple other hobbies that interest me. I love working on cars. My first car was a 1992 Honda Civic that was three different colors and banged up. The A/C did not work and it had no radio! My senior year of high school I installed a radio. Finally in my sophomore year of college I fixed the A/C! (YAY!) Eventually I started working on the body of the car and even pulled some dents out. Ever since then I have really enjoyed working on cars whether it be a simple oil change or replacing a radiator. I always had a good time doing the work.
Now we can talk about food! I love Korean food. It could possibly be the best food I have ever had. Bulgogi, Kalbi, and Kimchi are some of my favorites. I think my girlfriend has some influence since she is Korean... but I still cannot get enough of it!
There are a few things about me!
Tyler, I am so fascinated with anyone involved with music! Coming from a person with 0 musical talent... It is so awesome that you are passionate about all those different kinds of music. It's also really cool that you want to play in the military! I think that would be a fun and super rewarding experience. I had no idea that there were such great careers for musicians there!
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler! Your passion for music is very apparent. I enjoyed reading about your experience as a musician here at OU because I can somewhat relate; I have played cello for nine years and am just now choosing to pursue lessons from OU in order to keep my love of music alive, even though it is not in my major. Orchestra is a very rewarding experience, and I am glad to hear that you are benefiting from it. The military is a wonderful option. There was a time that I considered the USAF orchestra for a career.
ReplyDeleteGo you for working on cars!! I know very little about cars, but have always enjoyed working on mine with my dad, changing my oil and leaving the more difficult jobs to him (lol). I'd love to hear more about what you can do in this area.
Hope you are enjoying this class as much as I am. I can't wait to read more of your posts.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post about your love of music. I wish my parents introduced me into different types of music. I have always been into 60s/70s music. Also I think its awesome your favorite type of food is Korean food because it is different. Most people say Mexican or Italian food and so its cool you are unique!
It is so nice to have a musician in class, Tyler: wonderful! Music is all about creativity, and also about hard work and practice too. I wish people could see writing the way they see music; unfortunately, school has turned writing into a chore for most people, and they forget how writing is a performance art, just like music. One of the cool things about blogs is that it's easy to embed YouTube videos in a blog post, so if you have any videos of your performances or of other music you want to share, you can do that in your blog.
ReplyDeleteKorean food: one of my favorites too! I went to a really nice Asian fusion restaurant for dinner last night and there was bulgogi and kimchi on the menu, but no kalbi. My personal favorite is bibimbap! I used to live in Berkeley, and there were great Korean restaurants, one of the north side of campus and one on the south side... so you were never too far from Korean food. :-)
Hello Tyler! I love how passionate and dedicate you are to music because music is an important part of my life as well. I also play the piano (but only for leisure purpose), so reading about you coming from a family with such musical traditions is quite amazing and awesome! I wish I have the ability to work on my car like you do, but my mechanical ability is not very good :) And I love Korean foods too! They are just great for the current winter weather.
ReplyDeleteIt is really cool how you come from a family of musicians and you carry the same passion. There definitely almost infinite creativity that can go into music and music is something that everyone understands in some form or another. I also am a big fan of Korean food! I love going down to the Dallas area and eating Korean Barbecue! Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHey Tyler! It is so cool that you have such a wide range of interests. It's also pretty neat that your entire family is passionate about music and that you have been carrying that forward. I definitely did not know that the military had many opportunities for musicians, so it's interesting to hear about that. I have a few close friends that are Korean but I have yet to eat Korean food, it is on my bucket list for sure. Best of luck to you and I can't wait to read your stories this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to learn more about you and your love of music. I honestly hadn't thought of music as being a career option within the military. Ceremonial, whether memorial or celebratory make me cry so I don't know how well my performance would be if I actually played an instrument. Korean food is pretty good, if you ever make a trip to Tulsa and want to try something that is Korean/American fusion go to Lone Wolf. They have a food truck roaming around town or a store front across from TU. There candied bacon kimchi fries or candied bacon jasmine fried rice is music to the mouth!! I look forward to reading more of your work!(guess I should have posted that on your storytelling post)
Hi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great how much you love music. I am actually a musician myself. I have been playing percussion for nearly ten years! I completely understand what you mean when you say music is its own language. Your plan of going into the military sounds awesome. My best friend is currently an oboist for the Marines and she is stationed in San Diego! There are so many cool places that you could be stationed! Personally, I would want to be in Hawaii!
I look forward to reading your work this semester!
Nice to meet you Tyler! It is so interesting to hear that all of your family is involved in music- and so unique! You must all have a talent for it! You are lucky that you enjoy working on cars because that is a really handy skill. You will probably save a lot of money in your lifetime with that hobby. I am excited to see what your blog is like!
ReplyDeleteHey whats up Tyler! Really cool that you are so passionate about music. I wish I could play an instrument. I think its really cool that you want to continue your music career in the military, I had no idea that the military offered so many positions for musicians. I too find a lot of interest in cars, always respect when people do their own work.
ReplyDeleteHi, Tyler! That is great picture of you (I love photography so I’m really appreciating the lighting and composition of everything). I think it’s amazing that you embraced music in your life and are even pursuing music in college! That’s really inspiring, and I wish I could be good enough to make music my career. Anyway! Korean food is amazing (one of my favorites), and I’m glad you’re exposed to it and love it!
ReplyDeleteHello Tyler! I think it is awesome that you are a musician and that you are following your dreams! I had no idea that the military was a great place to be hired as a musician. I like that you like working on your car. My fiancé also enjoys that very much. Korean food is really good! I think from my favorite types of food Asian food is definitely my favorite. It is nice getting to know you!
ReplyDeleteTyler, it is very nice to meet you. How cool that you are a musician! I am not extremely talented in playing music, but I am a dancer so I consider myself to have a little bit of musicality. I have never tried Korean food but am definitely going to add it to my list of foods to try. I think being adventures in your eating is so exciting and fun.
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler!
ReplyDeleteIt’s nice to meet you! It’s nice to meet someone so passionate about music, and wanting to turn the passion into a profession. I had no idea that the military offers such a place for this profession, but that is awesome! I wish you all the best! I need to try Korean food. I love Indian, Thai, and Italian food.
Tyler, that is so awesome that you followed music as a life choice. I was in choir from 5th grade to senior year, but I did not continue it into college. Sometimes I miss it. I was totally unaware that you could get a musical profession in the military! I'd like to know more about that. Maybe I could bring my car to you sometime haha!
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler, It's really cool that your interest in music has lead you into the direction of the military. All of my life, I had no idea that musicians were able to have so many opportunities in the military. I cannot say that I have a great interest in working on cars, considering I break everything I touch haha, but I definitely respect all of those who do! I can't say I've ever had Korean food, so I will ahve to check it out sometime!
ReplyDeleteTyler, I love the passion that you have for music. I never knew that the military offered careers in the musical field. I love music as well. I used to to play piano. I don't play as often, but I can read music. The instrument that I use the most now is my voice. I sing on my church's praise and worship team and perform at talent shows and pageants occasionally. My last "performance" was at the Mister and Miss Black OU pageant in February. I was contestant number two and performed a number from the Broadway musical, Dreamgirls. I would love to be a part of the music industry for a living, but I understand the tenacity and difficulty behind building a career in this area of entertainment. I wish you the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteTyler, it is great to get to know you. I love that you have such a great passion for music. I do love music myself and though I did not major in it, I play guitar-ish. I am not that great at it, but I definitely love to sit and play. It makes me happy to play and get time to myself to do it. I am sure that you have played in front of crowds, though I have done that a few times in high school, I could never imagine doing that ever again. Good luck in finishing you major and thank you for dedicating some of your life to serving in the military.
ReplyDeleteTyler, it was so interesting to read your introduction! I never knew that the military offer jobs to musicians, but I think it is absolutely amazing! How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you like music because of your parents? What inspired you to get a music major? Oo, I also like Korean food! Can you recommend a good place to go in Norman?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your studies and all the best for the future!
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to make your acquaintance. I think it is so cool that you have the outlet of music to use in your day-to-day life. It is so much fun to play an instrument. Alas, I gave up the trumpet as a very young man. I would very much like to pick it back up someday, time permitting. Unbelievably, I completely know what you mean about the military being a great place to kick-off a musical career. My Great-grandfather played the French horn in the army band as a young man. He later became one of the original members of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra because of his career in the military. Good luck to you.
Hi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! I was searching around to see whose blogs I have yet to see and came to discover yours. I love your passion for music, and how you continue to remain involved with it today! I used to play the clarinet, but once high school came around, that's when I quit playing. Wow! It's amazing to hear that your hobby is working with cars. I payed close attention the line where you state you pulled out a few dents. Boy, could I use help with the dents in my car. I hope you've been having a good semester, and glad I was able to come across a new face this week! Nice to meet you!