As soon as I could remember my parents had an upright piano in the dining room. I guess I was about 6 or 7 when my sister and I started taking piano lessons. I was not very good for a couple of reasons, one was because I was so small I could not reach several keys for chords, and I really did not like practicing, or memorizing anything. About the time I started junior high my parents traded the piano for a chord organ, and it came with free lessons, so once again my sister and I took lessons, but I still did not practice much.
In junior high I joined the band and played the clarinet, but I still was not very good. We did get to march in the Junior Lilac Parade, and my mom shot a movie of the band as it marched by on Riverside. In high school they had two bands, the concert band and the marching band. The marching band played at all the football and home basketball games. We wore our uniforms on game day to school. The uniforms were all wool, black pants, bright gold jacket and then we wore a white shirt and a purple tie. (school colors were purple and gold). We marched on the football field for the home games, and in the Lilac Parade in the spring. The concert band had a recital once a year and the senior year featured the seniors doing special music. Ours was the Lawrence Welk Theme song with just the seniors playing. For the last day before Christmas the seniors each got a chance to direct the band as we played Christmas songs, but I don't remember what song I picked, and I was sure glad when that was over, I am positive I would never be a music director.
Oh I think perhaps you sell yourself short on the music directorship. You were probably better than you thought you were! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your wonderful music memories in the Carnival of Genealogy. I enjoyed reading about the days of your youth. :-)
It does give you incite into what it takes to be a director. Our band director was sitting back and watching as each of us led the band, and then consoled us, that it is not as easy as it looks from the audience or from the band.
ReplyDeleteThe practicing of musical instruments is a difficult task, and it takes a lot commitment and passion. I took piano for seven years. I practiced a lot, but I was lacking in passion. Thanks for sharing your band experiences. I enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteCaroline Pointer
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