| Last year my son had the opportunity to begin | | | | director took the marching band seriously, no rings or |
| instrumental music lessons and band at school. He | | | | jewelry while in uniform, no gloves in cold weather. |
| chose saxophone and seems to be enjoying the | | | | We practiced every night after school, sometimes |
| experience, most of the time.Last year, when all the | | | | for two hours. We weren't allowed to read music as |
| parents were called to the band-room at school to | | | | we marched; we were to memorize it all. He had us |
| learn about the school's instrumental program, I was | | | | practice elaborate formations for our half-time |
| eager to go. When I walked into the room with all | | | | shows, we were good. A couple of years I played |
| the chairs arranged for band practice, the music | | | | piccolo in the band, I liked that too. The director was |
| stands poised in front of the chairs, a rush of | | | | a stern man. Julie, Karen and I took delight in small |
| nostalgia swept over me. It was such a long time | | | | acts of defiance, we were never his favorites, but |
| since my days of playing flute in the band at school. | | | | we had each other.I played the flute for many years, |
| I, like my son, started playing an instrument in the | | | | but I was never a stellar flute player, fair at best. I |
| fourth grade. I remember the first day of lessons, | | | | was not interested in practicing very much. My |
| twelve girls sitting nervously with their flutes. The | | | | parents rented my flute from the fourth grade until |
| music teacher was trying to teach us the | | | | the end of school. Then my flute was gone, given |
| embouchure. He told us to make believe we were | | | | back to the school, I haven't played since.As my son |
| kissing our boyfriends; waves of giggles filled the air. | | | | practices his saxophone, I wish I were playing along |
| By fifth grade six of us were left, by sixth grade | | | | at his side. My friend Julie, who is now a band director |
| only four. Eventually, I was the lone flute player in | | | | at a school, told us that the fingerings on a |
| my grade.My mother never missed a band concert, | | | | saxophone are similar to a flute. I tried playing my |
| quite a feat for a mother of five children. Band was | | | | son's sax once; it was very different to me. I find |
| when I would spend time with my friends Julie and | | | | myself skimming the classified ads, seeing if anyone is |
| Karen. They were one grade ahead of me, but sat | | | | selling a flute. I wouldn't dream of buying a new one |
| right next to me in band, they were flute players | | | | because I'm not convinced I would actually play it |
| too. We were all in the marching band together too. | | | | much. I rarely practiced when I had one.I |
| Every high school football game that was played at | | | | accompanied my son to his saxophone lesson tonight. |
| another school, the marching band had a school bus | | | | His instructor had a flute displayed in his studio for |
| bring us to the game. We would spend the time on | | | | the first time. I just stared at it from across the |
| the bus singing cheers for the football team, or any | | | | room, then my son asked him to play it. I listened to |
| song at all, a snare drum keeping time for us. At the | | | | the lyrical, clear tone of the instrument, and once |
| games, one of the cheerleaders became our | | | | again I was taken back to my youth. I believe it is |
| cheerleader, often directing us when to cheer with | | | | only a matter of time before a flute and I find each |
| our instruments, it was so much fun.Our band | | | | other, and this time there will be no letting it go. |