Fifth Grade Flautist

In the beginning of my school year, Mr. Hickey came in to talk about band. He's the leader of the AB High School Band and I'm pretty sure also the Junior High Band. He's in charge of everything related to 'AB Band'. Let's just leave it at that. Because he pretty much is. Anyway, he came in to show the fifth grade all the interments and how they worked. I was really disappointed to see that even before he started talking, lots of people didn't want to be in the band. That's just letting an amazing experience you haven't even tried yet down. Considering my oldest brother, Sam, joined playing the trombone and is now in the ABHS (Acton-Boxborough High School) Marching Band, and my other older brother, Ben, is in the Junior High Band playing the saxophone, I pretty much had to join. I didn't mind, though. I didn't think of it as a whole other thing to worry about. Practicing, memorizing, etc. So yeah I had to put effort into it. It could be fun. It could be the start of an amazing musical experience I will love.

I had already narrowed my options down to about 3. Flute, Clarinet, and Percussion. (Drums, symbols, etc.) I loved the sound of the flute when Mr. Hickey demonstrated it. It sounded so soft, smooth, so wonderful! It didn't look that hard, either. That part didn't matter though. Clarinet- eh... it was an okay sound, I guess. Honestly, I didn't quite like it. But I liked how it could play high and low notes. (I apologize to all of you clarinetists out there!) The saxophone I was also considering, because I like jazz. Percussion- yes, it was cool, but my parents said I shouldn't be in percussion. Dang. Oh well. Off the list. Saxophone, well, I don't know... it would be fun, but I leaned over to flute. Not because it's light- not because it looks easy- because it looks fun. (And I love the sound, too!!) Flute it is. I might hate it. I might like it.

Our first class was of course, at the school, before school at 8:45. We actually didn't learn to put it together until the fourth lesson. There's only one lesson per week, so we had to get adjusted to working with just the head piece. (Which I found quite annoying.) We practiced blowing over the top, tonguing, trying to control our breathe so we don't sound like heavy breathing cows, etc. That's when the funniest thing happened. My friend, Julia, was sick and tired of the teacher telling her and the others to not blow all of your air in one note and to control your air in a tiny hole, blah blah blah. She stood up as if she was in the army or something, and said, 'Be the boss of your breathe!' so proudly. Without the salute. (If she did the salute.. that would just make me do one of those insane belly laughs- then I can't stop.)

So- now I'm really good at the flute- I mean really good. At our first band practice, the ones where the entire band gathers together to practice songs for our concerts, Mr. Savage (another AB Band leader) asked which of the fifth grade flutes is the best. I started to point to my friend, Maggie, but the next second I found every flute player pointing to me. I had to agree with them. But I was humble about it. Mr. Savage asked me if I could play the flute solo yet. (Well, it wasn't really a solo because more than one person is playing it- but still technically a solo because it's just the flutes.) I said 'yes'. He asked me to play it. Not a hard task. I'd been practicing it for a couple of weeks now. In fact, I pretty much had it memorized, but I opened my book to the page anyway. Mr. Savage was very impressed that I did the right thing at the end that most people end up playing wrong. *self high five* Several weeks later, Mr. Savage asked for someone- anyone- to play Irish Washerwoman. This was an incredibly (well not that hard..) hard and no one raised their hand. I love preforming alone where it's me, my flute, and no one else playing. Up my hand goes. Mr. Savage says, 'Finally! Someone brave enough to play it. Go for it when you're ready.' I did better then I thought I would- I never sounded like that when I practiced! *another self high five*

I was really upset when my friend Kaley quit. She said it was because she didn't really like it and the teacher was mean. Well, yeah, she's a bit strict with the tonguing and breathing, but I don't think that's a reason to quit. A couple weeks later, another good friend of mine, Isa, quit as well. Same sort of reason. She didn't really like it at all. That's a shame. Now there's only five of us- me, Maggie, Sang, Julia, and Lenora. I hope they stay for 6th grade- I'm definitely going to. And I hope to end up in the ABHS Marching Band like Sammy, my oldest brother. (By the way, he just turned 15! This summer my dad's teaching him how to drive... we're getting a new car! That's another story though.) Maybe someday I'll be as sucessful as James Galway someday. (LOL- that rhymes! You know, Galway and someday? You know what, nevermind.)

Now I also take private lessons at the Acton Music Center. It helps me a lot. Teehee! I sometimes get ahead of the class at school. So when we learn something new, I already know it. But that's not the reason why I signed up- I did if for extra help. It was a little hard in the beginning. Now- I love it. No, seriously. I love it.

You can imagine how nervous I would be on my first concert. We had to play about 5 pieces together as a band, and then we had our 'solo's'. Of course. The flutes were first. I think I did pretty good on my part. Me and my friends sound great together. I can't wait until I get even better. Maybe I'll preform somewhere.. someday.