My musical escapades began nearly thirteen years ago with my first piano lesson. I don't remember much from my first few years taking lessons, except for the following three things: I learned very quickly, I loved the piano bag my parents bought me (except that it was pink), and at my first recital I played a piece called, "Puppy Love".     Throughout elementary school and high school I played the clarinet in concert band, and indulged my true love of the piano in our high school jazz band. Each year, I participated in various music festivals for piano, jazz piano, clarinet and voice. I was asked to participate in a special county music program called infinity, and commenced playing jazz for a big band.     When I left for college, I had to leave most of my musical loves behind. Just when I thought I was doomed to a music-less agony, I found solace in weekly piano lessons. I studied with an amazing pianist attaining her doctorate from Juliard; I grew exponentially more that year than I had in all my school years of playing.     These experiences have dramatically shaped who I am as a musician. Like many other things in my life, I stumbled into the BloodThirsty Vegans accidentally. While I enjoyed all of my previous musical activities, I never felt so free as a musician until I starting playing with the BTVs. Years of hesitation to improvise slipped away during my first (unintentional) practice with the band. I can incorporate all the elements of jazz and classical which I love so dearly into our songs, and I never need feel ashamed for doing so. BloodThirsty Vegans have, in just a couple months, dramatically expanded my abilities as a musician and starting making me comfortable in my own playing.     Not only has the band been a musical outlet for me, but it has also been an outlet for my sociological and political views. Through my studies and various readings I have developed a socialist outlook and belief in conflict theory. It's difficult to find a group of people who believe that materialism needs to be replaced by love and generosity, but the other band members are some of the most genuine, environmentally-friendly, and commercial-free people I've ever met. Kudos to them.