Band Concert

I keep forgetting that this is the first year Deborah has been playing the flute.

We've had the kids in piano lessons forever, so they've been surrounded by music since they were little teenie popkins, and when they got older and started branching out into different instruments, it just seemed natural. I was glad that Deborah picked a beautiful instrument like the flute. Somehow it seems to fit her.

She sounds wonderful when she's practicing in her room; the notes flow smoothly and the tunes are always recognizable. I was looking forward to hearing her play together with the rest of the band, although my expectations were not high. After all, instant harmony in the first year of band is not a foregone conclusion. Each student is learning at his own pace.

At this stage of instrumental education, the students practice together in their sections primarily, and only occasionally do they come together to form "the band". The focus is on individual familiarity with the chosen instrument, and learning to play a simple score.

It was apparent that the kids had been practicing quite a bit. Each section sounded good when playing their own pieces. When the entire band played together, it did not sound quite as good.

For sixth grade, this isn't a bad thing. For many students, it was their first experience with reading or playing music. Some are picking it up quickly; others are still struggling to get the correct sounds to come out at the correct time. Some of them are ready to switch to something else. Especially the clarinet players. The clarinet is a standard "base" instrument; it is used as a springboard to other instruments, like saxophone; one of the teachers mentioned last night that those who were interested could now swap their clarinets for another instrument.

He urged the students to remain in band, though, regardless of their experience thus far, because the payoff doesn't come overnight. Indeed, most of my friends who play instruments hated the first few years because they were dull and repetitive. Only when the note-playing became automatic, like breathing, did the magic occur. Only then did they find joy in making music.

I enjoy having children who play instruments. It makes me wish I had the time to pick up another instrument and play along with them. But I'd need to do it like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day", because time is at such a premium nowadays.