Food of Love

 

As I browsed online through possible topics for this week’s blog post, I was listening to a classical music playlist and became inspired to write about my journey and personal experience with music, specifically the ensembles I played in from elementary school through my second year of college.

            When I was in fourth grade, I enrolled in beginning orchestra. I actually wanted to join band instead, but I had after-school activities that conflicted with the band’s rehearsal times. I figured orchestra was better than nothing. I chose the viola because I had no interest in playing the violin and I thought I was too small to play (and carry around!) the cello or the double bass. I also really liked the name “viola” and the warm, rich sound the instrument made.

            I honestly hated my first year in orchestra. I think my feelings stemmed from the fact that I sometimes struggled to play my instrument. I was born with neurofibromatosis (type 1) and fine motor issues are a common trait of the condition. Music, of course, demands constant use of one’s fine motor skills. I really wanted to quit, but my parents asked me to stay in and complete the year. I did and went on to play in the intermediate orchestra when I was in fifth and sixth grade. I still didn’t particularly love orchestra, but I soon grew to like it enough to want to stay in it.

            Once I entered middle school, my relationship with music changed dramatically. I fell in love with orchestra. My director was amazing- I adored her. She made orchestra so enjoyable. She was caring, witty, compassionate, and motivational. If I had a bad experience with my director, I am almost certain I would’ve quit. I became good friends with two girls and one guy that I knew before from elementary orchestra, but I really became close with them in middle school and stayed friends with them in high school. The music we played in orchestra was also more challenging and interesting. My middle school’s orchestra and band also performed together as the “Symphonic Winds and Strings” ensemble. I also developed an interest in classical music, music theory, and different instruments.

I began to listen to classical music outside of orchestra.  My director lent me a book called The Encyclopedia of Music and I became obsessed with learning about all the different types of musical instruments, composers, and musical periods. Through money earned from our annual fundraising, my orchestra also saw the CSO a few times a year. I’d say most of my best memories from middle school involved orchestra and music. When I graduated eighth grade, I was excited to continue playing in high school.

            I don’t think I can express how much music meant to me when I was in HS, probably because music meant everything to me. Music involved my perception of myself, what I valued, my heartbreaks, love, friendship, family, relationships, dreams, overcoming obstacles, etc., etc. Each year I was in HS my love for music deepened and my musicianship developed. Sometimes, I still listen to pieces I played in band and orchestra and get chills, teary-eyed, and emotional because those memories remind me of so many other aspects of my life.

 

            My freshman year, I only played in orchestra. It definitely challenged me, but I still enjoyed it! The three people I became close with in middle school were still in it. One of those friends played viola too, and he and I were actually stand partners more often than not all throughout elementary, middle, and high school!

During my freshman year, I created a goal for myself: learn trombone well enough to be able to perform in my high school’s marching band and concert band. I became obsessed with the trombone when I was about 11 or 12. I was fascinated by the simple mechanics of how players know where to stop for each note. I loved the sound and how adaptable the instrument was to different musical genres. When I was a freshman, there was a senior band member who played trombone and was going to college for music education. I got to know him fairly well from hanging out with band people all the time. He happily agreed to give me lessons. He was a fantastic teacher and I am forever grateful to him for helping me achieve a dream of mine. We had lessons for about two years, from the summer after my freshman year to the start of my junior year.

Besides my lessons, during my sophomore year I also played trombone with the pep band during basketball games and joined the school’s Jazz Lab ensemble (a beginning jazz band). At the start of the year, I joined the fall color guard so I could spend some time with my band friends during the marching season and gain some practice marching. However, I spent most of my time imagining that I was playing with the band instead. At the end of my sophomore year of HS, the band director (who was my orchestra director my freshman year) said I could join the marching band and enroll in intermediate band for the next year!! I was beyond excited- I absolutely could not wait for the next school year to begin.

            Joining band was one of the best decisions I’d ever made about anything in my life. I still loved orchestra, but finally, after years and years of waiting, I was officially a member of my school band. An official band geek. I absolutely loved playing trombone. Marching band was more fun than I ever imagined. Every time I stepped onto the football field to perform, I felt as if I belonged to world of band. I’ll never forget the thrill and adrenaline I felt performing, whether it was for the home crowd at football games or at competitions. I loved being in concert band just about as much as marching band. I really enjoyed playing the trombone parts for all the pieces my director chose for us.

            Besides band and orchestra, I also played in my HS winter percussion ensemble for three years (synthesizer, bells, and synthesizer again). We performed as a competitive and exhibition group at various winter percussion and winter guard shows during the winter and early spring months. I never played percussion before, and I learned new musical skills such as learning treble clef (violas use alto clef and trombones use bass clef). I also arrived at school an hour early for jazz band four days a week, for two years.

            By the time I graduated, I had been a member of the following ensembles: intermediate orchestra, pep band, jazz lab, jazz band, winter percussion, show choir combo, pit orchestra (once), marching band, intermediate band, advanced orchestra, and honors advanced band. During marching band time my senior year, another senior and myself were low brass section leaders. My senior year, at my final orchestra concert, I was given the Director’s Award for orchestra. At my final band concert, I was awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa award, essentially the highest award a high school band student could receive. Only one senior is given the award each year per school. The guy who taught me trombone won it his senior year and my best friend of (now) over fifteen years won it the year after him. I was awestruck. I didn’t expect to receive either award; so many other classmates of mine were so well-deserving of those awards that I could’ve easily named a few that I thought would get them. I’d say at that point, winning those two incredible awards was perhaps the proudest moment of my then eighteen year old life. I think those two nights were the only times I ever really felt as if I were “floating on cloud nine.”

            I was taught by amazing directors during my time in HS. I’m still connected with the three of them on social media today, and even though I don’t talk to them much anymore, I still care about them and what goes on in their lives. Due to my passion for playing in all those ensembles, and my parent’s (above-average) involvement with helping out at various events, I became quite close to all three directors. I formed a special relationship with each one. I even considered going into music education during my senior year, but ultimately decided that was not the best career for me.

            My musical journey ended when I was in college. I played for two years in the marching band, but did not enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did in high school (for numerous reasons). I played trombone for one year in one of the concert ensembles, and took a steel pan class for one semester. Sadly, I don’t play music much at all now either.

            No matter where else life takes me, I will always be proud of the accomplishments I made in music and remain grateful for all the memories and opportunities I experienced through music. I’m especially grateful that the school districts valued music and the fine arts so highly, leading to a conscience effort to support the school’s ensembles and students. Although I don’t play in any ensembles anymore, I will forever remain a proud “band geek” and “orchadork.”