Working Toward Perfection

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You can always tell when two people are best friends because they are having more fun than it makes sense for them to be having. ~Author unknown

Symphonic Band is back after an almost three-month break, and I’ve got to say, it feels wonderful!

It’s a new school year, so I find it interesting to observe the changes in our Band makeup. Some of the college students are there because they can’t fit any other music class into their schedule; others are music majors having to learn more than just one instrument.

And then there are the community members, who might work or be retired, yet have enough time on their hands — and love in their hearts — to want to continue making music as long as possible.

Our director is on staff at the university, and I think he, too, gets a kick out of seeing all our happy faces every week.

Being in Band makes it impossible to be unhappy. Besides the good feeling that comes from practicing hard to perfect a piece, there’s the joviality that happens continually. Somebody or other is always making jokes, and as time has gone on, we’ve gotten to know and appreciate each other’s strengths and abilities.

As musicians. And as people.

It takes a special hand to lead such a diverse group, reining us in when we get too silly (without becoming a drill sergeant). Teaching to what can be a wide range of ability. Selecting pieces the majority will like … and the audience will appreciate.

Recently, I was chatting with a neighbor — someone who was in junior high school band with me, back in the day — and when he found out I was still doing Band, he was floored.

He said he has no clue what became of his horn, but he remembers the bigger kids in band telling him to “fake” his part and leave the playing to them.

Seriously? Are kids still that mean??

Such “helpful advice” would never cross our Band lips today! We know every player is important, every part needs to be covered. And eventually, even the “weakest links” will improve … providing they practice, of course.

As one former director used to say, “We soar together, or we crash and burn together.”

26 thoughts on “Working Toward Perfection”

  2. Music is so good for the heart and the soul. (and for the brain!!) I’m glad you’re enjoying your band. Good for you!

    In my former life I played piano, rang handbells, and sang in various choirs (church and school). Even though I don’t do any of it anymore, I still find music to be an important part of my life.

    • Can I nudge you to go back to playing and singing, Kelly? Maybe a little nudge?? Music really is so good for you — it challenges your brain and gives you a social outlet you might not otherwise have. One of these days, I’d like to return to singing in our church choir (if they only sang at a different service-time!).

    • Alas, that’s all in the past for me, in part for some varying health problems. And like you, the service I attend each week is very early, therefore without any music at all!!

  5. So glad you get so much pleasure out of your band, Debbie! A shared interest is always a great basis for friendship and fun! Ha, you former band pal’s comment reminded me of how I used to mime my way through the hymns in church services. Not because of mean comments, but just because I knew I was a terrible singer. I save my singing for the shower and the kitchen… 😉

    • I think the shower (and probably the kitchen as well) are great places to sing! There’s something about the acoustics in that sort of room that make you sound almost professional. I do lots of singing in my car, probably to the puzzlement of other drivers!

  6. Debbie, I could literally FEEL the joy in your voice as you shared this post!

    Being that I used to be a stage actor, the thing I loved most was the community we formed in each play/musical I was in. That’s the thing about performing live, you form such a strong bond with your fellow musicians, actors, singers, and dancers; creating something that works because each person brings their talents to the piece. Live performing is all about working as ONE.

    “It’s one for all and all for one!”

    What you said sums it up perfectly…

    “We know every player is important, every part needs to be covered. We soar together, or we crash and burn together.”

    A-MEN!

    I am both extremely happy and excited for you, my friend! Looking forward to hearing more about your Symphonic Band.

    Have a faaaaaaaabulous week! X

    • Ron, I knew you’d “get it” when I wrote this post! All your years on the stage — in front of live audiences — gave you the ability to “wing it” when you had to extemporize … as well as to go off-script when it benefited the performance. We, of course, don’t get to do much of that, but we do feed off the energy of the crowd. I can remember at least one concert where the audience was so obviously taken with one of our songs that they were singing along — and some even got up to dance!

      I’m glad my enthusiasm came through. Sometimes, we bloggers struggle to convey the right amount of emotion in a post, particularly on a subject where not all our readers share our interest. You’ve always been able to do that — and that, my friend, is a gift!! xx

  7. Not sure what I have done to make this comment in bold. I admire & envy your band experiences. It must be wonderful to have a group like that to share your love for music and expertise in playing an instrument. I play guitar, but never learned to read music. Oh and I always sing to myself (probably off key) but hey, it brings me joy.

    • Pat, I, too, have been having funky issues with WordPress. Comments mysteriously disappear, and some appear twice. It’s like it’s approaching Halloween or something.

      I’m glad you’ve found joy in playing guitar and singing. Music is for ALL levels of ability — it’s the universal language, you know. I imagine playing on a basketball team provided you the cohesion and camaraderie we all need … not unlike what I experience with band!

  8. It was a pleasure to read about how wonderful it is for you playing in the community band! It sounds like you have a great director and lots of good times to go along with all the hard work. Now if only Monkey could learn to love music, too!

    • Barbara, Dallas used to lie at my feet while I practiced, but he’d lost his hearing and probably felt comforted by my presence. Not so with poor Monk. He hears things all day long and that, coupled with his innate anxiety, makes him a jittery pup indeed. At least he eventually settles down once I shut the door and start playing — his yowling is enough to set my teeth on edge, ha!

  9. I really enjoyed this, Debbie. I remember some of your anxieties when you first began playing again, and it’s clear that those seem to have eased, if not disappeared. There’s nothing more fun than making beautiful music, and doing it with a congenial group is even better.

    Beyond that, I can’t help thinking that, in our fractured society, anything that reminds people of the pleasures of working together for a common goal may be part of a healing process that has to begin: sooner, rather than later. One of my favorite groups works together beautifully. Do you know the Angel City Chorale? Their version of Baba Yetu, the Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer, is magnificent — and look at Sue Fink, their director. She’s magnificent, too!

    • Thank you for the link, Linda — I hadn’t heard it before and I loved it! I miss singing in a group. I used to sing in church choir, but they don’t sing at the service time I prefer so I dropped out. Maybe one day….

      Yes, I, too, remember how afraid I was to take up a new instrument and join a new band. I’m glad I persevered! We have a core group of community members that doesn’t change too much, and I think that gives our band some solidarity. The students come and go, but we all learn from each other.

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