Something Else I Learned

One of the middle school Rites of Passage is band.  In the sixth grade, you can take band no questions asked.  You don't need to have played an instrument before or know how to read music.  Sixth grade is the only year this is true.   After that, you have to "audition."  Kids come out of the woodwinds woodwork to take band in sixth grade.

Last night was the instrument selection for Band and Orchestra.  Guess where we were?  I learned last night that Sixth Grade Band teacher has got to be one of the worst jobs in the world.  I have never heard so many ungodly sounds in one place.  Each kid picks three instruments to try and one by one the band teachers show them how to play a note and then evaluate them on their physical ability to play it.  Did you know that you have to have flat lips to play the flute?  Me, either.  

Christian wanted to try the saxophone and then the trumpet and the clarinet.  His hands were too small for the sax (couldn't reach all of the buttons at the same time).  I don't even have words to describe the sound that came out of the trumpet when he blew it.  The hair on the back of my neck stands up just typing about it.  The clarinet sounded pretty good, though.  The band teacher, who, give him credit didn't flinch a single time while we were there (and I was flinching A LOT!) recommended the clarinet.  

We left the band room feeling pretty good about the clarinet and headed down to the Orchestra room just to see.  Christian fell in love with this:

 Yeah, I didn't know what it is either.  It's a cello.  He and his friend Rodrigo will both be "playing" this starting Thursday.  Pray for me.