For the Love of Band

First Chair

My daughter has made First Chair which means that she is the premier musician playing the Euphonium for her 6^th grade band class. She will be the one to take the lead for Euphonium section. I am very proud of her especial since she was placed into band by me under duress. She wanted to be part of the art program but I wanted her to step out of her comfort zone. She is good at art has a great eye for color, sketches very well and she is even good behind the lens of a camera. The compromise was to try band for a year and if she really did not like it then she was free to join the art program.

After a few months she fell in love with band. Put the time in to learn to read music, how to properly hold and play her instrument and play music. At the time she was a trombone player and I was starting to think perhaps I was mistaken with putting her into band. She is very dedicated to her new instrument the Euphonium because she puts in the work and loves learning new pieces and playing them around the house. All of the hard work over the past eight months has led her to being first chair. Her smile could have lit up a Christmas tree when she announced that she scored 98 out of 100 on her playing test. Her reward is first chair for the Euphonium section and a very proud mother.  

When I guided her towards band I am not sure what I expected. Along with a bit of guilt that perhaps I should have let her go with art. I just wanted her to take advantage of different opportunity’s available to her. Try new things and have fun while enjoying playing an instrument. She showed me up by truly enjoying playing music and working very hard to play well! She inspires me and shows me that stepping out of your box can be a great thing. I try to do what I preach by stepping are of my comfort zone and trying new things. I am trying to just enjoy life and go for it!