How I Faked My Way Through School Band
Learning to play an instrument... Again.
Hello again! Are we friends now? If you missed my first newsletter, you can read it here.
In it I explain who the hell I am and why in the world you are receiving email from me.
I’m not even trying to sell you anything. Isn’t that refreshing? I think so.
Now that that’s out of the way let’s move on to what I really want to talk to you about.
I’m trying to figure out what that is while I type so bear with me…
Oh! I know. So my dad has been “reminding” me for years that he has my old clarinet in his basement. I played the clarinet in junior high and I was actually shockingly quite good. I was even first chair in band! That means something and if you want to know what it means you will have to google it.
The problem was, I hated practicing. Don’t most kids hate practicing their instruments? I don’t even know why I hated practicing but I remember my parents bugging me constantly to practice.
Parents: You need to practice your clarinet!!!
Me: Whyyyy??? I don’t wannaaaaaa!
I was an expert whiner.
The other problem was I couldn’t remember my music. I have a bad memory but it’s not so bad that I can’t remember that I have a bad memory.
So what happened is during the Memorial Day Parade, which also happened to be my birthday, I marched down the street with the rest of my bandmates playing a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Only I wasn’t actually playing…
Because I couldn’t remember the notes! The band conductor wouldn’t allow us to carry our music as we marched. Instead we were forced to memorize the marching songs. Well no one can force me to memorize something. I swear I tried though. Really really tried.
But nope, I was incapable of memorizing my music.
And that is how I wound up marching down the street on a scorching humid 85 degree May 25th day, dressed in a bright yellow and navy blue polyester band uniform, complete with a heavy blue hat pinned with a tall yellow feather while pretending to play the clarinet.
Doesn’t that sound fun? Well it wasn’t.
So when my dad reminds me every so often that he has my clarinet in the basement and asks if I want it, my answer is always, “Nope. Nah. I really don’t think so. Maybe someday though, so don’t get rid of it.”
And guess what happened?
Someday arrived! Yes, a couple weeks ago I texted my dad and said, “Hey I think I’d like to learn to play the clarinet again.”
And what did my dad say? Well he was thrilled of course and took it straight to some guy to refurbish it because I was afraid it would be moldy.
I’m thinking of this because my dad just texted me to say my clarinet is all clean and refurbished and ready to be picked up. He’s even getting me new reeds and a new cloth and everything.
Have you ever relearned to play a musical instrument?
One day I may even play for a philharmonic orchestra! I mean, that’s very unlikely.
So that’s the excitement for me today in Forest Grove, Oregon, which is where I currently reside. For the next month. And then we’re on the move again. A cross country drive is in my near future. Won’t that be something fun to read about? I sure think so.
Stay tuned!
If you think I’m boring and prefer to unsubscribe then you’ll break my heart but goodbye.
Otherwise I’ll “see” you next week.
Toodles!
P.S. Were in you band? Have you tried to pick up an instrument you haven’t played since you were a kid? Was it difficult? Are my dreams just pipe dreams?