A 17-year-old student quietly shines in the high school setting, playing her guitar with skill and dedication.

Senior Emma Schulze demonstrates a notable level of skill in her craft, even with the chaos that high school brings. 

Currently, Schulze performs in her School of Rock band where she sings, plays the keyboard, bass and her favorite instrument: guitar. Her love for the band My Chemical Romance fueled this interest in playing the guitar. 

“I really wanted to learn how to play some of their songs,” Schulze said. “I just started to play guitar a lot.” 

Schulze wouldn’t have been able to continue playing guitar if she didn’t have inspiration and motivation to keep going. She found this in instructor Colin Edmunds at School of Rock.

“He believes in everyone,” Schulze said. “He knows that even if you can’t get it down right away, perfection will come over time with plenty of practice. He’s very supportive and is someone you can count on.”

Being in a band can be a difficult job that requires practice and commitment. The more time and effort a person invests in developing their musical skills, the greater the chance of mastering their craft. Schulze serves as a prime example of someone who has dedicated herself to her musical journey. 

“I started playing when I was in 8th grade, so I’ve been officially practicing for four years,” Schulze said.

When given the opportunity, she performs in front of people at live venues including Settlers Park in downtown Plainfield, Heroes West in Lemont and Base Camp Pub in Lisle. 

“Basecamp is my favorite because it was the first place I had a show and it’s a college town area; many people will come that you don’t know,” Schulze said. 

Even some of the best musicians get stage fright, and Schulze isn’t a special case.

“I get nervous, then I… go on stage and say it’s fine and repeat that,” Schulze said. “I have to take deep breaths.” 

Schulze’s ability to keep calm comes in handy, especially to bandmate and bass player Plainfield Central senior River Argyilan. Schulze brings a comforting energy to the band“[She] always has everything under control,” Argyilan said. “Playing with [Emma] makes the experience less stressful.”

Practice and band rehearsals take up a lot of time, so Schulze works to maintain a balance with her schoolwork and a job. To her benefit, Schulze has early release, which strengthens her availability.

“It’s not easy to balance[everything], we all have different lives and having to be able to come up with a day that none of us have something going on is difficult, however most of the time I’m able to set away from my day to do schoolwork, even if that’s me doing homework in other classes” Schulze said. 

For this entertainer, music is more than just a pastime; it’s an essential component of who she is. With a strong passion for music, she is resolute in her goal to make it a crucial component of her life’s journey.

“I’m planning to go to college just to get a major in something; however, I do also want to work a mixer job at any bar or place that holds concerts and venues because I feel like that would be fun,” Schulze said.

Nevertheless, band life isn’t all glitz and glamor.

One of the hardest things about being in a band, Schulze said, is “[losing] interest because you become sad and depressed. Your instrument becomes a part of you, so it’s like losing a piece of yourself.”

Both Schulze relies on the sense of community and family in the music industry where fellow musicians support and lift players up. In the guitarist’s case, however, family is taken in the more literal sense.

Schulze has a twin brother, Landen Schulze, who plays in a band as well, but he plays the drums. “Having a sibling with the same interest can be fun but also challenging cause they will judge you if you mess up,” Landen Schulze said. “That will most likely push you to be better, or at least in my case it has, because it can be competitive to be the better one.”

No matter the highs and lows Schulze may go through, especially while having to multitask school and playing in a band,

“Having fun with your friends, building a community and having people who will support you and welcome you, makes it all worthwhile,” Schulze said.