Band directors are, I believe, one of the most admirable people in the world. Through the year, they teach children how to play an instrument from the start and what must be done at school and at home to play music. The directors also educate their students about individual roles as a member of a big band.
I vividly remember, with an endearing smile, my daughter’s first concert. She was in 6th grade and in Beginning Band. When I arrived at the concert hall ten minutes before the concert began, kids were already in position on the stage busy tuning their instruments just like professional musicians in a big orchestra. Wearing concert uniforms, black pants with white dress shirts, little red bow ties and matching cummerbunds, they looked cute, adorable and at the same time, serious. Frankly saying, I didn’t expect any better quality music than from a talent show at school. Finally, the director appeared on the stage, received applause and turned his back toward the audience. There was absolute silence. They played the “Star Spangled Banner” for the opening. The sound was impressive. The musicians’ attitudes were A plus. Their attention focused on the director with passion to make their music perfect. How could it be possible? I guessed 95% of the Beginning Band students never blew the instruments before the beginning of the school year. More than fifty twelve-year-olds played together beautifully in only nine months.
I don’t know how, but band directors teach how to play woodwind instruments, brass instruments, and percussion as well as how to read music and count beats. There are twelve to fifteen instruments in one middle school band. They require different ways to create sounds and different fingerings. I was amazed with questions that night. But above all those questions, I thanked. I thanked the director, and I thanked to the person who initiated this program in America long time ago.
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