Music and Me

 Hey y'all! My name is Catelyn Caughman, and I'm a junior Music Education major here at Converse. 

I have always loved music since I was little, but didn't really pursue it until I got to college. My grandma taught me a little bit of piano when I was in elementary school, but I mainly just played things by ear because it was easier for me. By the time middle school rolled around, I really wanted to join band, so my grandma pulled my mom's old clarinet out of the attic and let me have it. I played in middle school band for two years, but the program I was in wasn't the best, so I got bored and put down the clarinet for four years :( For whatever reason, I decided to play in the band my senior year of high school, really loved it, and wanted to continue playing in band when I went to college. I became a Music Education major last minute because I didn't have a better idea at the time. After having my first clarinet lesson, my teacher pushed me to be the best I could be, and I truly fell in love with playing the clarinet. Now I want to pursue performance after my undergraduate to see where it could take me.

Aside from the music stuff, I was born and raised in Clinton, South Carolina- a super small town. I have a passion for all animals, but mainly dogs and horses. In high school, I trained my dog to compete in agility and obedience, which led me to begin training other people's dogs, and also worked at a therapeutic riding barn. I am now on the Equestrian team here at Converse, which I absolutely love! I also love playing pickleball, spending time with friends, and my two crazy French Bulldogs.

Here is a picture of me at a horse show from last semester <3

When I was 16, I got to see Celine Dion live in concert (yes, I love Celine Dion), and I distinctly remember when she came out on stage and performed "All by Myself". If you've never heard it, it is slightly depressing, but it makes me so happy listening to it, because I just remember how awesome it was getting to hear this in concert, and it felt magical honestly. If you want, skip to 3:04, and that'll take you to the part the whole song has been building up to.

For a walk-up song, I think I would choose "Never Give Up" by Sia. I honestly don't really listen to her music, but this song popped up on a teammate's playlist when we were working out at the gym last semester, and it really just lifted my mood and motivated me to not give up, hints the song. So, if I was walking out to getting ready to bat, this song would really get me in that mindset. You can skip to 0:37 to hear the chorus.

Lastly, if I had to choose a song that doesn't really do it for me, I would say "Dream On" by Aerosmith. Our marching band at my previous college played this in our show so we had to listen to the original, and I just didn't really connect with it much. I think it's just the style of music that I don't connect with, but I still do have much respect for it. You can skip to 2:27 to hear the chorus the song builds up to.