Carter: Today’s Musicians, Tomorrow’s Game-Changers

SOUNDS Academy Superstar; Carter, is showing us what it looks like to excel both in and outside of music. When he is not in the classroom or taking violin lessons at SOUNDS Academy, he has been succeeding in sports and finding fluency in other languages. In fact, Carter won 1st place for the Metro Phoenix All-Events category in bowling and brought home $800 in scholarship funds. When asked about his accomplishment, Carter said “I was proud of myself!” with a humble smile — and rightfully so. In growing his confidence and focusing on the SOUNDS Academy Character Values, Carter has been empowered to explore many things and has found joy in doing so. 

When he’s not knocking pins on bowling lanes, you can find him on the field. Carter helped lead his flag football team to a Super Bowl victory with a game-changing pick-six play — the moment that turned the entire game around. “I didn’t expect to win the Super Bowl,” he shared. “It felt awesome sauce!”

He’s also growing in his academics. Carter competed in the statewide Mandarin Speech Contest hosted by ASU and placed in the top three on his very first try — an impressive accomplishment that has inspired him to aim higher. When asked about his next goal, Carter said with confidence, “Getting first place. I just need to practice more.”

It is awesome to see Carter exude leadership and perseverance as he balances school, music, and sports while working toward the goal of winning first place in next year’s statewide Mandarin Speech Contest. 

And even though violin class hasn’t been what he expected, Carter is using this time to strengthen his fundamentals and keep dreaming big. His next musical goal? Learning to play the erhu, the traditional Chinese violin he first heard performed live at the Musical Instrument Museum.

For Carter, all of these activities aren’t just about winning; they’re about growth. He’s learning to take challenges in stride, from showing resilience when his Roblox account was hacked to being willing to persevere and work hard at something that doesn’t come easily. “Leaders are problem solvers,” he was reminded, and Carter is already practicing the skill of leadership every day.

When asked about a leader he admires, Carter gave compliments to his mom. “Because she’s my mom,” he said simply. That kind of admiration and respect is shaping him into someone who leads by example, whether he’s on the field, in the classroom, or on the stage.

And while Carter hasn’t exactly stated what he wants to do when he grows up, he knows what he loves right now: football, video games, and playing music with his friends. “I get to be with my friends, play games, have fun, work out, and exercise,” he said. Carter is not just today’s musician — he’s tomorrow’s game-changer!

Way to go, Carter! We’ll be cheering you on, every step of the way!