Sweet music evokes sweet memories.
There seem to be songs attached to moments in our lives that conjure up those unforgettable memories we've stored in our hearts and minds of people and places that we carry with us forever. All it takes is a few notes and we're there.
As I listened to the solo clarinettist masterfully hit the notes so perfectly at the public symphony, I flashed back to when I took up the clarinet because of a handsome Irish boy who played in the school band and whose auburn-haired, freckled sister was my best friend.
The clarinettist's notes transported me to seventh grade and my struggles with the instrument's reed and intricate fingerplay as I tried to hit the notes correctly. My motivation to play was Michael, who didn't seem to know I existed.
I was a gawky, shy girl with a secret crush on a tall, proud boy who was, unbeknowst to him, my Prince Charming, standing proudly in his sky blue and white, satiny band uniform.
It helped that my grandfather found a used clarinet and a music stand (to make it official) at a local pawnshop. Grandpa would have preferred for me to learn to play the piano like my grandmother, but there was no room in our tiny apartment. So it had to be the clarinet.
Unfortunately, hard as I practiced, I had no musical talent. The sounds I created were squawky and screechy; and though I played "I Am a Happy Wanderer" over and over, it never got better. The neighbors in the old Chicago apartiment building didn't complain about my rehearsals, at least not openly.
However, to be near my secret crush, I continued to faithfully practice "Edelweiss" until I was out of breath, and my cat hid under the bed.
Needless to say, I never got the boy, who didn't even notice me; I don't think we ever had a conversation. He had no idea how I fantasized about our holding hands and my being his girlfriend.
I did look the part in my blue and white cape and marched with the others to the school assembly performance, probably sounding like a scene from The Music Man.
The next year we moved to the suburbs, and the clarinet was put to rest in its weathered case. I never played it again, and no one seemed to mind.
Copyright © Erana Leiken, 2010 -2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Music Band 1 by Robert Proska
Clarinet by Nina
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Oh man this takes me back. I was a total band geek as a kid. Starting in fifth grade and all the way to college. I still play every now and then.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I think I'll go dig out my piccolo and play for my kids :)
After the first courses I played the trombone a couple of years then I learnt to play the piano at home.After some years I found a band to play in with my synthezeiser.
ReplyDeleteyour story brought back memory of my first musical trials. it was a bugle for me and i would practice for a hour ever evening outside. never thought about the neighborer complaining. i was only ten at the time. it was a year or so later that a neighbor said anything. she just wanted to know why i quit playing. well they had stop having the drum and bugle corp at school. so there was no reason to practice. i did not think that i play that well but she want to here me play so i play for her every Saturday night till i left home at 18. my that was a long time ago. thank you and god bless
ReplyDeleteErana..this is a great story. It is interesting how music does trigger our memories, happy, sad or just remembering. Really enjoyed your post. My Dad just passed and when I left him at Paliative Care, seeing him for the last time I heard a song on Satelite Radio when I got into my car. Whenever I hear it, memories of joy of my Dad and sadness of that day intermingle...but never to be forgotten. Thank you for sharing...I am now following...I am not a writer, but you may be interested in checking out my blog at http://ravenmyth.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteReally like the name of your Blog...
Awwww That is a really sweet account of a memory. I kinda want o wish you hadn't given up on playing. I find that music evokes memories too. Sometimes its like a flash photograph mind picture of being in some place of no significance, however the emotion is strong. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMattias has left a new comment on your post "Sweet Music, Sweet
ReplyDelete> Memories":
>
> After the first courses I played the trombone a couple of years then I
> learnt to play the piano at home.After some years I found a band to
> play in with my synthezeiser.
Ravenmyth has left a new comment on your post "Sweet Music, Sweet Memories":
ReplyDeleteErana..this is a great story. It is interesting how music does trigger our memories, happy, sad or just remembering. Really enjoyed your post. My Dad just passed and when I left him at Paliative Care, seeing him for the last time I heard a song on Satelite Radio when I got into my car.
Whenever I hear it, memories of joy of my Dad and sadness of that day intermingle...but never to be forgotten. Thank you for sharing...I am now following...I am not a writer, but you may be interested in checking out my blog at http://ravenmyth.blogspot.com
Really like the name of your Blog...
Somer has left a new comment on your post "Sweet Music, Sweet Memories":
ReplyDeleteOh man this takes me back. I was a total band geek as a kid. Starting in fifth grade and all the way to college. I still play every now and then.
This is a great post. I think I'll go dig out my piccolo and play for my kids :)