Thirty years hath September
It's hard to believe, but I've been a musician for thirty years now. Thirty years ago this month, we had band sign-up day. It was in the gym of my grade school, and we likely got to try out different instruments, but my mind had been made up since at least the first grade three years earlier: I would play the flute. They could convince me to play nothing else.
Back in the mid-'80s, it seemed like nearly every little girl played flute. There's a reason many bands in my area will say that they'll welcome new members to most sections of the band...but not flutes. There's just too many of us of a certain age. Judging by the numbers at camp in recent years, that's no longer an issue, but for another few decades, we'll be flutists non grata. This is why I don't take my position in band for granted--I got lucky.
I recall getting asked, why not try the clarinet? You could then switch to sax later! Uh, no, I'm playing the flute, end of story. Ironically, I would play the tenor sax in seventh grade, and was horrible at it, but I think it's funny that it came up on tryout day. No, no, I was insistent that I would play the flute, and nothing else, and I think it's worked out okay for me. At every level, in some form, I've been first chair; even today, sitting last chair in my band, I'm so grateful for being a musician. It brings a lot of joy to my life. When I joined my current band, after not having played regularly for years, it's like I found the piece of my life's puzzle that I didn't know was missing. Not only have I learned about an art form, it's brought me friendships and acquaintances that have enriched my life.
And all because, thirty years ago, I picked up a flute.
Back in the mid-'80s, it seemed like nearly every little girl played flute. There's a reason many bands in my area will say that they'll welcome new members to most sections of the band...but not flutes. There's just too many of us of a certain age. Judging by the numbers at camp in recent years, that's no longer an issue, but for another few decades, we'll be flutists non grata. This is why I don't take my position in band for granted--I got lucky.
I recall getting asked, why not try the clarinet? You could then switch to sax later! Uh, no, I'm playing the flute, end of story. Ironically, I would play the tenor sax in seventh grade, and was horrible at it, but I think it's funny that it came up on tryout day. No, no, I was insistent that I would play the flute, and nothing else, and I think it's worked out okay for me. At every level, in some form, I've been first chair; even today, sitting last chair in my band, I'm so grateful for being a musician. It brings a lot of joy to my life. When I joined my current band, after not having played regularly for years, it's like I found the piece of my life's puzzle that I didn't know was missing. Not only have I learned about an art form, it's brought me friendships and acquaintances that have enriched my life.
And all because, thirty years ago, I picked up a flute.