Learning Something New

Without music life would be a mistake. ~Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher

I knew from a young age I was going to play the clarinet.

That was my mom’s instrument, and I thought following in her footsteps would win me a ticket to joining Band with my friends in fifth grade.

No dice.

I had to wait three whole years — a lifetime, to a kid — before being permitted to sign up for Band.

Because I was already so far behind, I brought my “licorice stick” home to practice every night that first year.

It worked, eventually earning me a scholarship to college.

Fast forward a few years.

My college Band was planning a reunion. We wouldn’t actually take to the field at halftime (some folks were too old!), but we’d sit in the stands and play familiar songs.

Circumstances intervened, and I couldn’t attend.

No matter. They assured me they’d have another in a few years.

That got me thinking. What a great “excuse” to learn a new instrument, something I’ve wanted to try for a long time.

It’s well documented how beneficial playing music is (see here or here) and my decades of training put me ahead of the game.

So I did a lot of research and finally purchased this secondhand:

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A flute! (Did you know the flute requires you to use more air than any other instrument, including the tuba?!)

When it arrived in April 2016, I removed the head joint and blew into it the way I’d learned online. A note came out! I figured I was on the right track.

So I contacted the music department at a nearby college and found a flute student willing to give a few lessons to an adult beginner.

When she graduated, I inherited a second student instructor, who assures me I’m progressing nicely. Probably because I chose the instrument, paid for it, am interested in mastering it, and make practice a priority.

Here we are a year and some months later. I’ve upgraded to a new flute and am loving the experience even more!

Now I firmly believe in Lifelong Learning, and I’m aware that taking music lessons as an adult is as beneficial as taking lessons as a kid. Maybe I’ll never play professionally, but nobody can squash the feeling of satisfaction that comes from learning something new.

And won’t my colleagues be surprised when we do get together and I whip out a flute, not a clarinet?!!