When I was in high school, I was in the marching band. I was also the only contrabass clarinet player in the brief history of my high school’s wind ensemble. Almost every single day, I was at some kind of band practice.
This morning, I was at work (with a bunch of other band geeks – it’s a Web site, of course we’re all band geeks), I listened to “Music Lessons”, one of my all-time favorite episodes of “This American Life”.
The best part of the show by far is Sarah Vowell’s story about the non-musical things that music lessons teach you. One of those lessons is one I learned early – music lessons teach kids not to be scared to embarrass themselves. It’s good that I learned that one early, as I was trying to stifle giggles at my desk today to the point that I was making some very strange noises. Much like the noises my tuba made.
Given how much radio I listen to, I’m not sure why it’s still so unexpected and wonderful when public radio talks directly to me.
One Comment
I liked the part about how orchestra kids were elitist. It’s true. We were.
I though of you when I was listening to that story!
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