A long time ago in a galaxy far far away? — no, but it was quite a while back…before Uni, before A Level…before even GCSE’s. I aced a test (cant even call it an exam) in music. The music department invited me to an ‘obscure instruments tryout’ (at this point, I’d never even picked up an instrument, and had no intention of ever doing). I ended up taking the double bass because it was impossible to commute with, and also because I didnt think I’d do well at wind instruments.
So I chose the bass, learnt it for a few months, and then chose to take Music GCSE. I then got invited to a youth orchestra, and tried out there for a few months before finally joining. Which not only got me a whole host of friends, it got both my brothers into Music (and the orchestra) too:
The first one tried out the percussion section just after I joined proper, and he’s still playing both bass and drums now, 7 years later.
Since I was also getting bass lessons there before the rehersals, which were cool in and of themselves (the teacher was a dude! and the other students were awesome and awe inspiring), my youngest brother chose to take up the French horn (another ‘understaffed’ instrument), and got lessons at the same time as me. He shot through the ranks, and is seriously talented, playing the horn in adult productions and teaching himself the clarinet. He’s going to South Africa next year with his school’s music department.
My first love was from the orchestra, the most perfect young trumpetist, she made me go crazy for a time. Still would if she’d wanted to keep my friendship.
And then came university, the wonders of student life….I didnt pick up my bass in first year, in fact stowed it at the orchestra’s ‘lair’. I ended up wanting to branch out my social status in second year though, and so joined the music society and associated orchestras. I quickly found that some of my (mathematical) classmates were also musicians….and swiftly gained an ‘appreciation’ for one of them…and ruined any chance of ever getting to know her.
After this though comes the successes. I’m currently friends with a few girls from around and about and have successfully contained my appreciation as to remain contemporaries. Lets hope it continues.
This last part contains those that I’ve never really known, but am glad to have known. Thats right. The citizens of the internet: I’m extraordinarily lucky to have found and befriended those upon the internet that I have done. I only regret being foolish and childish, and losing touch with those that matter most to me.
And the internet itself has provided a vast (but still limited) array of musical produce to consume, my ears are literally bursting from the however much music I’ve streamed over last.fm and my other media sources.
To finalize, music is amazing, and I’m extraordinarily glad I ever got to experience it properly from both ends of the spectrum and am even gladder that my participation continues.
