Voices from the Heart: Students Share Their Journey in Commercial Music

Commercial music education comes alive most vividly when you hear directly from students. At Battle Ground Academy, two rising seniors, Brody Watson and Audrey Priddy, have experienced firsthand the power of learning through popular music,and their reflections highlight just how transformative this approach can be.

Finding Confidence Through Music

For Brody, who has been part of the Commercial Music Ensemble throughout his high school career, the class has been more than an elective—it has been a community where he’s grown as both a musician and a leader. Playing guitar and drums, he’s learned what it means to hold a band together, to find his place sonically, and to build the confidence to perform in front of others.

Audrey, a pianist and vocalist who joined the program more recently, found herself stepping into new musical challenges. Already active in visual art and drama, she brought her creativity to the ensemble but quickly learned that commercial music required a different kind of risk-taking. Through performance, she began letting go of perfectionism and embracing the raw, real side of live music.

Collaboration at the Core

Both students spoke passionately about the role of collaboration. In this ensemble, students aren’t just handed music to play; they help decide repertoire, arrange parts, and learn how to make artistic choices as a group.

This process means that rehearsal is less about following a conductor’s cues and more about listening carefully to each other. The experience taught Brody and Audrey how to adapt, compromise, and work as part of a team—skills that extend well beyond the music classroom.

Lessons Beyond the Stage

One of the most striking aspects of their reflections is how much they learned about themselves. Brody spoke about the pride of mastering songs he once thought were out of reach, while Audrey described the joy of connecting with an audience through music she genuinely loved.

Neither framed their learning purely in terms of technique or theory, though those skills grew too. Instead, they emphasized life lessons: resilience, teamwork, confidence, and the courage to take creative risks.

The Bigger Picture

Their stories capture why commercial music education matters. It’s not designed to replace traditional ensembles, but to broaden the opportunities available for students. For some, like Brody, it becomes their primary artistic outlet. For others, like Audrey, it complements other passions and builds confidence across disciplines.

At its core, commercial music education creates space for student voice, creativity, and authentic connection. When students are trusted to lead, to collaborate, and to perform music they care about, the results are powerful, both musically and personally.