What a nice story! BTW, did you ever study music theory? Did you learn all the scales? I ask becuase I never took those classes. Our school never offered them, our director told us if we wanted to know that stuff we’d need private instruction or to take it when we got to college. Did you feel the lack of theory held you back?
Our high school band consisted of used instruments that the director chose who would play what. The lucky ones were the ones who could play by ear, or the ones who had private lessons OR a family member who already had an instrument. After I graduated, my (school issued) flute went to my littlest sister (who had learned to play it from me). It took me months to learn to play the trumpet...by ear.
when it comes to composing music, that’s number 2 on my very short list of things I’m sure I will never master (#1 is electricity...I can wire a house, but don’t ask me what I’m doing!!). I have learned to pick out a tune on a violin...but my dog prefers I not imitate a cat near death so I don’t much. It would be eaiser if I knew what notes I could play along with B#.
Blu,
No I did not study music theory. I had a full slate in high school and studied engineering in college so did not have time for such luxuries. My sister did study music and actually majored in music for a couple of years until she changed her major. Her husband has been a highly-successful high school director for 40 years.
I don’t think I was held back, as I mentioned before, I played what was presented to me (well, most of the time :)
Enjoyed your story about your relationship with music. I’m one of those that thinks music has many side benefits other than the music itself. Discipline, teamwork, and I think the wiring of one’s mind. I think that it is not coincidental that many people with music backgrounds work in Information Technology. It’s a surprising percentage.
Nice discussion...
Wow...was your band-master Harold Hill? What a tough way to learn.
I picked up band in the third-ish grade (it was that or being an altar boy)
Our band-master checked everything before assigning an instrument.
Arm length and wingspan. Lips and teeth. Handspan, Fingers length\span.
They then proceeded to teach us the mechanics of the instrument (coronet in my case).
How to take it apart\clean and grease it.
How to use valves and mouthpieces, spit valves, how when to use valve oil
They then tuned it using a metronome and a piano.
They then gave us technical assignments. Learned scales, symbols, staff, notes and types of notes, measures etc...
all that before I even got to put my lips to the mouthpiece.
My first assignment was holding the front of the bass drum during parades.
It took a long while before I was promoted to the concert band.
Made it as far as 2nd chair. I played through high school but not after that.
I could play the notes but I couldn’t make music.
Thanks for sharin...