Mixed Emotions

So we had our first community choir concert and I have to say I had a good time. The music selection was wonderful and I think we did well. Before the concert I received a boost of energy when a fellow choir member, Doris, told me about a conversation she had with the director while in the store the other day. Doris introduced me to the choir in the first place and the director was thanking her for that. According to Doris, the director said that I have a wonderful voice and am a very good musician, as well as a valuable addition to the choir. I have to say I was ticked to hear this. I always thought myself to be a good musician, but to hear it from someone else really makes me feel good.
So all of this, as well as my wife commenting on how well my ear is (I won a whistling contest with her) made me pull out my trombone (which I didn't sell by the way) and start to play. I had visions of being a great trombone player or a wonderful music teacher in my head again. I thought of winning scholarships to Shenandoah University and earning a degree in music and all the great concerts I would play and etc etc etc... Then I pulled out my music books from when I was taking private lessons. I could not believe what I had once done. I saw things checked off that I today have no idea how to even begin. Then, the regrets set in. I passed my audition with the National Guard. I could be in school right now on their dime. I could be getting ready for the 257 Army band's Christmas Concert right now... and I'm not. I know I shouldn't, but right now I'm living in the could have regrets that I hoped I would never have. Darn it all.

I'm doing WHAT?!?!

Ok, so I joined a community choir. I would of course prefer to be in a wind ensemble of some sort, but I'll take what I can get. Choir is a different beast I must say. Get three tenor trombones together and they sound alike. Get three tenor singers together, and well... it just doesn't work the same. I'm adjusting to it. Anyway...

I'm seriously thinking about selling my trombone. Times are tough everywhere and everyone could use a little extra cash right now. I was sitting in my room tonight cleaning my trombone up; general maintenance and what not. The memories came back to me while I was cleaning it: Rainy parades in high school, football games at Elon, auditioning for the 257th Army band. I have had Thunderbone II for 13 years, and I played regularly for six of those years in school. What good times I had.

I don't know. Maybe I will sell T-bone II and get a new horn after the economy looks up a bit. It's funny how I miss the days of playing, especially at Elon. On nights like tonight, where it's cold and rainy, I can't help but think back... going to rehearsal in the cold fall rain, gearing up for a concert. I still have that Christmas concert CD. I listen to it every year. That was almost 10 years ago. Hard to believe.

Sometimes, at Choir, we hit a chord that reminds me of the beauty of music. When the tone is pure, the pitch in tune, everyone listening to one another and making adjustments until it's just right. It really brings me back.

Moving boxes...

So, I recently moved to Berkeley Springs West Virginia. To update you, I
1. Didn't join the National Guard band
2. Stopped playing when my Dad died
3. Concentrated on my day to day living.
And now, I'm back, and at least blogging again. I played my trombone in public for the first time outside of a church since 2001 when I played at a talent show at work. I received compliments from both kids and adults, and it felt good, I won't lie. I also re-connected with my contact at the 257th Army Band via Facebook, and am seriously re-considering re-starting that career path. If I do restart this music deal again, at least this move to West Virginia will be of benefit... I would receive in state tuition at Shepherd University, and am only 26 miles away from Shenandoah University, where my former private teacher teaches. Opportunity is there. Will I accept?