Brass Leftovers
Posted: November 17, 2015 Filed under: Art, Blogging, Entertainment, Knowledge | Tags: band, brass, french horn, music, school, woodwind 4 CommentsWhen I was in seventh grade I was in band. Thinking back on it now, choosing an instrument was a lot of pressure. I mean, this was a decision you would be stuck with until you graduated high school, unless you dropped out of band.
I was a shy kid. I didn’t like to say shit if I had a mouthful, so I ended up on the French horn.
I didn’t want the French horn; it’s not a cool instrument. I wanted the flute or the clarinet, something that the popular girls played. A woodwind. Or even the drums, if I could have coped with being a girl on drums. I probably could not.
The French horn was like a slap in the face. Still, I learned it. I played it. I oiled it and emptied the spit. But more because I felt obligated to do so than out of any prticular love for the instrument. I chose band, and I kept my mouth shut until all the cool instruments were taken in second hour. I got the leftover French horn that no one wanted.
I almost feel guilty about it now; I’m sure the French horn wanted to be cool as much as I did. I’m sure it wanted to be wanted.
My band teacher wrote in my yearbook that she hoped to see me back the next year, that she needed me. I switched to art and never looked back.
Artists and art teachers are my favorite people!
I had an amazing old hippie art teacher in ninth grade. We all loved her.
Flute. Because, in 4th Grade, my best friend wanted to play flute. So I made my parents agree to let me play flute. I spent all of Jr. High in last chair…far, far away from those “popular” girls, and, as a result, completely alienated from my “best” friend.
I love the French Horn. No, it never is featured in marching bands, but, oh, what a lovely sound.
Aww! My best friend was never in band. Her dad’s a musician tho.
The other French horn player stayed on and switched to trumpet for marching.