Community Music School Student Bicycles from KC to St. Louis

It’s no surprise when CMS students show accomplishment at multiple endeavors. Much has been written and documented about the correlation between music study and qualities such as attention and concentration, coordination, discipline, and social skills. CMS faculty members regularly marvel at their students’ activities and achievements outside of music.

One CMS piano student took on a heroic challenge of epic proportions recently. Sky Jacobson, a 5th grader at Forsyth School, bicycled from Kansas City to St. Louis with his dad over spring break! A casual conversation about bicycling in different cities in America evolved into a grand plan to travel the Katy Trail between the 2 cities. When Sky’s dad first proposed the idea, Sky wasn’t sure he could do it.

But just like learning a musical piece, he broke the job down into smaller attainable tasks. Sky trained by riding his bike to and from school daily since last fall, logging extra miles on weekends, and completing a goal of riding 300 miles over winter break.

The trip itself took 5 days. Sky was both excited and nervous when they set out. They had to ride 40-60 miles each day. Because of the weather fluctuations, he had to take snow boots. They rode past small towns and stayed in hotels and Air B&Bs at night. Sky’s mom drove each leg nearby in case of a break down. One day they had to ride well past dark to achieve their mileage goal and reach their lodging. It was very cold and Sky wanted to quit, but with the encouragement of his dad they made it. Another day there was a tornado warning, heavy rain and hailstorms. In the end they rode 170 miles.

Sky says that the main lesson he learned from this experience is that you are capable of much more than you think. Making a plan over a long period of time, sticking with it, seeing results, and accomplishing your goal show you capabilities you didn’t know you had, and inspire you to imagine new possibilities. A very buff 11-year-old, Sky hopes to eventually ride the “Rail Trail Hall of Fame,” a series of converted railroad to bike trails recognized for their scenic wonder, historical significance, community connections or geographic distribution.

Sky also loves math and competes in Math League, ranking in the top 10 in Missouri. Piano holds a special place in his heart, too. Sky says he loves to play because it allows him to express his feelings. 

Click here to see a video of Sky playing Berceuse.

A native of China, Sky’s original name was Yuze Zhuang. As a kindergartner taking a beginning English class, he and his fellow classmates chose American names for themselves. Yuze chose “Sky,” knowing the meaning of the word and appreciating its big blue beauty. Perhaps this name was prophetic for “the Sky’s the limit.” With the support of loving parents and dedicated teachers, Sky has learned that we can achieve much if we are not be held back by fear of trying.