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Sunday, April 10, 2005
Oh, How I Miss the Old Times...
As I sit here, I am listening to my middle school band CD's. For those of you who don't know my musical past, I will briefly go over it... My desire to play the trumpet began in the third grade. My dad bought a trumpet for me when I began fifth grade so that I could play in the elementary band. My director wouldn't explain to me how to change my pitch and the octaves, so I quit band for that year. Then, I joined beginning Band in sixth grade, which is the lowest level of band available. My director was Mr. McMahon. He taught me everything I needed to know, and thus began my passion for music. Starting seventh grade, I was in 7th/8th grade band, only one step away from Bulldog Band, the top band. By the end of the first trimester, I was first chair, passing up several others who had been playing for two years, compared to my one. Mr. McMahon then asked me to join Bulldog Band, my top goal. I agreed and was placed in the sixth chair. I also joined jazz band that year, which one must try out for in order to join (I played fourth trumpet, the lowest). In eighth grade, I moved up to second chair. I also moved up to first part in jazz band. I loved playing, practicing, and listening to how much the band has grown. And then, after eighth grade, I joined the PVHS Wildcat brigade, which is the ultimate low of my music career. I still love to play, but as I sit here, I feel like crying, listening to my past as I realize that I will never be able to go back to it. I miss knowing that I am part of a great band. I miss looking forward to getting new music and competing in a festival. I miss the anticipation of our band periods. I miss knowing almost for sure that my band will receive a 1 (superior) in a competition. I miss playing music that is fun, interesting, challenging, and in our range. I miss Mr. McMahon, and how he could challenge us, get us to do what we had to, and resurface my love for the trumpet everyday that I saw him. The music that I played last year was stuff that hit me in the heart. It affected me and made me play through feeling, not just what was written down. We played Invocation And Dance (Carl Strommen), Sabre Dance (Aram Khatchaturian), Music From Pirates of the Caribbean (Klaus Badelt), Shenandoah (Robert Sheldon), and Through Courageous Eyes (Brian Balmages). Each one of the selections meant something to me, especially Through Courageous Eyes, which was written in memory of Matt Rhodes, a young man who died too soon. I wish I could go back in time and savor every moment of my middle school band. Ugh, I must leave it at that, for my vision is blurry with tears. PS... If you haven't, please read my previous post and comment on it, because I am interested in other people's views on the subject...
++ stated by morgie at 6:58 PM | |
