i began with the kazoo. i'm still a pro. haha. then of course, there was the recorder that most everyone learns in elementary school. but "hot crossed buns" only goes so far. i was proud of myself for learning the snake charmer's song by ear, however.
at the end of elementary school, i took up the piano, taking lessons from my music teacher at college street elementary. i don't remember being very good, mainly because practice time was invaded by sports or just playing outside in general. i do remember performing beethoven's "fur elise" for the 5th grade talent show--my pinnacle of piano playing, as after that year i was done.
i went on to play the flute. ahh.. the story of the flute. the band teacher from my middle school came into offer us a wide variety of instruments to play. she brought in all of the mouth pieces, and set us down, one by one, to figure out what we should play.
i came into that meeting with every intention of playing the sax. my mom played the sax. my dad played the sax. it was my turn in that extensive line of saxophone playing family members (wink), to play the sax. i explained this to her, and she gave me one glance before she said,
"hm.. well you see, we have a lot saxophone players all ready. how about you play the flute?"
"i don't want to play the flute."
she literally forced the flute's mouth piece to my face and asked me to breathe. a weak, deep tone was made.
"look at that, you even made a sound on your first try!"
i looked at her. there was no winning this one.
thankfully, and perhaps out of my subconscious desire for revenge, i ended up having a better quality flute than that band teacher. it was a pure silver gemeinhardt that i was borrowing from my aunt. i also frustrated her because i refused to challenge the first chair flautist (gotta love that word). i wasn't the nicest person in middle school. and i still have my moments. oops.
so i played the flute. for about a year and a half. the band teacher's mantra was that band was greater than life, and i just couldn't agree.
fast forward to sophomore year of high school and it was time to take up the guitar. i mean, who wasn't taking up the guitar? i got lessons from a dear high school friend, and ended up doing fairly well. i haven't improved much, but i can pick up most songs i want to play, with a little time.
and there you have it. you could say with this blog, i'm attempting to go back to my true calling. to the way nature, maybe even God, intended. i mean, i love music. i love jazz especially (though you wouldn't tell from looking at my cd collection/itunes), because of the way it conveys the mood. donald miller puts it well.
i went on to play the flute. ahh.. the story of the flute. the band teacher from my middle school came into offer us a wide variety of instruments to play. she brought in all of the mouth pieces, and set us down, one by one, to figure out what we should play.
i came into that meeting with every intention of playing the sax. my mom played the sax. my dad played the sax. it was my turn in that extensive line of saxophone playing family members (wink), to play the sax. i explained this to her, and she gave me one glance before she said,
"hm.. well you see, we have a lot saxophone players all ready. how about you play the flute?"
"i don't want to play the flute."
she literally forced the flute's mouth piece to my face and asked me to breathe. a weak, deep tone was made.
"look at that, you even made a sound on your first try!"
i looked at her. there was no winning this one.
thankfully, and perhaps out of my subconscious desire for revenge, i ended up having a better quality flute than that band teacher. it was a pure silver gemeinhardt that i was borrowing from my aunt. i also frustrated her because i refused to challenge the first chair flautist (gotta love that word). i wasn't the nicest person in middle school. and i still have my moments. oops.
so i played the flute. for about a year and a half. the band teacher's mantra was that band was greater than life, and i just couldn't agree.
fast forward to sophomore year of high school and it was time to take up the guitar. i mean, who wasn't taking up the guitar? i got lessons from a dear high school friend, and ended up doing fairly well. i haven't improved much, but i can pick up most songs i want to play, with a little time.
and there you have it. you could say with this blog, i'm attempting to go back to my true calling. to the way nature, maybe even God, intended. i mean, i love music. i love jazz especially (though you wouldn't tell from looking at my cd collection/itunes), because of the way it conveys the mood. donald miller puts it well.
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