English teacher John Ryan, who says he listens to anything from indie rock, punk and alternative music to classic rock and roll, rockabilly and orchestral music, has been rocking out from a young age. He plays the guitar and bass, and is teaching himself to play the drums.

Ryan began learning how to play the guitar at the age of 14. “I grew up listening to hard rock, and that style of music features the guitar pretty prominently,” Ryan said. “I thought it would be cool to be able to play guitar solos,” Ryan said.

In college, Ryan played in a band called Ped Xing.

“It was a terrible name,” Ryan said.

The band had about six live performances in the Columbia, MO area.

“The two coolest (shows) were playing Rockbridge High School, and it was the school dance,” Ryan said. “The best was the Bluenote, which is a well-known club in Columbia.”

Unfortunately, Ped Xing only lasted about six months.

“The bass player was unstable, the drummer was a drunk, and I didn’t feel comfortable playing with them anymore,” Ryan said.

Although he no longer preforms live, Ryan still enjoys playing music.

“I’ve been playing with my brother-in-law and an old college friend about 12 years now.” Ryan said. “We’ve recorded six or seven original songs.”

Ryan said that he, his brother-in-law and his friend are content to keep the music alive for themselves even if he does not share his music with other people.

“We sort of figured out…that it’s more fun to get together and make music. That’s what matters,” Ryan said.

Ryan said that he would not choose music as a career.

“I have a family to support and, also people who have to travel to make a living-it’s a pretty hard life,” Ryan said.

In addition to Ryan, several students enjoy getting involved with music.

The members of Poison Ivy are Leighton Hajicek, Nick Parker and Maddie Barrett, who are all juniors at CHS. The band was formed by Barrett, the lead singer of the band, who was in a band of the same name when she lived in Louisiana.

“A couple of weeks ago we were sitting in the auditorium, singing and playing guitar together, and then we thought, ‘Wouldn’t we make a great band?’” Parker, Poison Ivy’s drummer said.

“If you mixed Evanescense and Paramore you would have (Poison Ivy’s sound),” Hajicek , who plays the bass guitar for Poison Ivy, said.

Barrett said that Poison Ivy’s sound is mainly acoustic, but that she wants it to be more electric in the future.

The band is planning to record music in the recording studio Hajicek has in his family’s basement.

Both Ryan and the members of Poison Ivy agree that they could not imagine their lives without music.

“I can’t imagine not having music to play and listen to,” Ryan said. “I think my life would be poorer.”

Parker also said that his life would be very different without music.

“My life is completely centered around music,” Parker said. “I would not function without music. “I love music more than anything in the world.”

Hajicek also said that music is one of the most important things in his life.

“(Music) gives me a sense of accomplishment,” Hajicek said. “It fulfills me. I can’t say a whole lot else.”

Barrett said that for her a day without a song is like a day without sun.

“My life is music, so in essence, without music I would be nothing,” she said.