For 15-year-old Lauren Slemenda, her mom's encouragement was the reason she picked up an instrument in the sixth grade. She was not sure she would like it, but soon began to love it.

Last year, when her musical confidence waned, she began questioning her ability. After three or four auditions in a row at which she didn't get any of the parts, she felt defeated and wanted to quit.

But she didn't.

"Every time I walked past (my flute) in my room, it was like there was nothing in the world I would rather be doing than playing music," said Slemenda, who also plays piccolo and recently started playing bassoon.

"It's so much a part of my life. So I don't think I could ever give up my instrument. It means too much to me."

This sophomore, as well as three other Lawrence North High School musicians, recently spoke about the importance of music in their lives. Jessica Oaks, 14, Alex Shumard, 16, and Andy Heck, 17, do not share an interest in a particular genre, but they agree that music helps them in life and also serves to define who they are.

Heck, a percussionist, called music "a kind of escape," and like Slemenda, he would not give up his instrument.

"My instrument is my life, and without it, I am nothing," said Heck, who persuaded his mother to let him start taking drum lessons in grade school.

It has had a similar impact on Shumard, a bassist for both the school band as well as his own rock band.

"I feel really good about myself, 'cause like I don't really know what I'd be doing if I wasn't doing music. I have wanted to pursue a career in music since I first touched that bass," he said.

Unlike Heck and Shumard, Oaks began piano lessons 10 years ago. Since then, she has learned how to play other instruments, including guitar and French horn. She credits playing and writing music with helping her through difficult periods in her life.

"Writing is a huge escape for me," said Oaks, who recently learned one of the songs she wrote is going to be published.

While music is a source of pleasure for these teens, they also appreciate its competitive aspects.

"I like the feeling you get, even if you don't win," said Oaks.

Heck has played in several rock groups, one of which entered a battle of the bands event and received all the votes.

"The competition, it's fun, and there's a lot of adrenaline," he said. "It's so much fun just to get out there and play. It's one of the greatest feelings in the world."

For others, self-satisfaction is the motivation.

"I compete as often as I possibly can. I go to every audition there is. I'm driven by competition," said Slemenda. "Winning is a really good feeling, but it's more like the journey is more important than the end."

But that doesn't mean competition is easy. "I had to work for like two years to get to the point where I can control my nerves and not mess up," said Slemenda.

"You're scared, but once you start playing, you gotta concentrate on the music, and nothing else in the world exists but the music."

But despite the challenges, these teens have more than 28 years of combined musical experience and expect to continue playing.

"I want to write -- write for musicians, or write for myself, I don't care," said Oaks.

"I don't want to have one job. I want to be a flute teacher, and I want to play with groups around town. I want to teach, and I want to continue learning," said Slemenda.

"For a while, I had these big dreams of being the first chair flute player in the New York Philharmonic, and I would make thousands of dollars a year and live in an apartment in New York. And then I realized that that wasn't gonna happen because the competition in the music world is insane right now," she said.

All four agreed that music will continue to play a role in their lives for years to come.

"I can see myself just playing in a band and trying to make a living off of that or being a studio musician. I could be a band director, which would actually be cool. Just as long as it's music," said Heck.

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Elizabeth Newkirk, 14.

REPORTER: Anjoli Bhullar, 13.

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