I started playing the flute in fifth grade, and you’d figure I’d be really good at it by now. But here, in Austin, there are so many good musicians that sometimes I can’t help but think, did I fail? I didn’t start out here in fifth grade, I lived in Michigan and obviously the music education there was quite different. Not to say substandard, but definitely not as emphasized as here in Austin. But I’ve got to say, fifth and sixth grades were the most fun I’ve had actually playing my flute. As soon as I moved here in seventh grade, a couple things happened.
1- There were a lot more people who were clearly better than me. They had been taught by the best of the best, and I… I never had a private lesson teacher much less a natural talent. Everything I played, I had to put blood, sweat, and tears into. I’m not saying everyone else didn’t do that, but I felt like I was working so hard only to get no results, or substandard results that were worse than everyone elses’.
2- Competition became much more important. I never thought that I would be fighting over a chair. Okay that sounds ridiculous, but in the music world, chairs indicate how good you are within a band compared to the others in your instrument section. I’ve been in last, I’ve been in first, second, third, fifth. I’ve been there. I’ve felt extreme ecstasy at knowing for once I was the best, and jealousy for the first who gets all of the solos, and just plain sadness and discomfort when I was last. Knowing you’re the worst is the worst.
Throughout my musical fluting journey, I’ve not only made these observations, but I’ve also learned so much. I learned how to act and react in difficult situations, and how to use my skills to help me in other subjects. Learning music has helped me learn real life skills much more than I can say for my math class. I’m glad that I chose to stick with my instrument, but I can’t help but wonder, if I had quit and taken those electives and courses I wanted, if I had not taken the double blocked band course, what would have happened? If I had stayed in Michigan, would I have completed high school all the way through in band?
June 2019. That will mark the end of my flute-in-school journey. I can’t say that I’ll keep going out of school because I don’t know if my private lesson teacher will even teach me still. I will be replacing the two blocks with hopefully PROS, if I get in, and double blocked Journalism. 2 courses that will significantly help my future. I hope I’m making the right decision.
One semester left for me to grow as a musician. It was a successful six years with my flute and I think I’m finally ready to give it up. I have other passions now and I’m ready to pay more attention to them too. I’m free.
lmcuriosity.science.blog 