Random Ramblings

It's May 1st! I can't believe how time flies. Not too much has happened in the past few days, but I haven't posted an update lately, so I figured I should backtrack a bit!

Braden went to his first band concert on April 21st. David took him to hear the U of A Concert Band and Wind Symphony. He had a great time! David said several people commented on how well-behaved he was and how much he seemed to appreciate the music. Apparently, the Concert Band played quite a few lively numbers, and Braden was conducting and dancing in his row. David was most excited to hear the Wind Symphony and the guest trombonist, who is the retired principal trombonist from the Boston Symphony Orchestra. David said he was awesome, and rightfully so, since he's been playing trombone professionally for longer than David has even been alive. Anyway... Braden got tired after the first band, so he was pretty subdued during the second. We thought maybe he would be more interested in playing trombone after seeing a great professional, but no... he still wants to be a drummer. :)

The other day at lunch, I heard the train go by, and started humming a note to match the train whistle. Braden thought that was pretty cool, and tried to match pitch, but he couldn't quite do it. We played around with it for a few minutes - I would hum or sing a note, and he would try to copy it. Then, he said, "OK, Mom, now you listen to me and do what I do." He proceeded to tap out a long rhythm with his hands for me to copy. I did, and then he did another one, this time tapping his fork and scrunching his lunch sack to make different sounds. So, I guess he truly is a percussionist at heart. Oh, well... maybe he can at least learn to match pitch one day!

In keeping with the musical theme that has developed in this post, I was thinking about playing in high school band the other day. I don't know what sparked my memory (maybe seeing the pictures on Facebook of the old band office desk Mr. Nelson recently refinished), but I looked up a recording of "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" on YouTube (a piece we played in high school at least once). It was great to sit back and listen to it. It brought back lots of memories of band rehearsals (some pleasant, some not so pleasant), and of playing in concerts and at contests. It also made me think about how that it's great to listen to and appreciate good music, but it is an entirely different experience to create it. Pieces that I have actually played myself seem so much more alive and intricate when I listen to them than pieces I have only heard. I'm sure that's due to breaking them down in rehearsals and learning each little part. I remember Mr. Nelson talking about getting goosebumps (he called it something else, though, that I can't remember right now... maybe a "squiggly?") when a piece started to really come together while we were playing it. You can get that feeling when you're listening to music, but it's even better when it happens while you're playing it.

I really hope Braden and Cameron get to experience that. We're thinking of sending Braden to the private school where I taught before Cameron was born. It is an excellent school, and I absolutely love everyone there, but... they don't have an instrumental music program. Maybe by the time he is in high school they will, but I don't know. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it!