Community Music

 I am a musician. I started piano lessons at age 7, began playing trumpet in 6th grade, and switched to French horn in high school. I went to music school but eventually my life led me to elementary education and I became a community musician. I have gotten to play great music with fine musicians both as a young professional and later as a community player.

At the time the pandemic shut everything down, I was playing with three groups: a band, an orchestra, and a horn choir made up of French horn players. All three of these ceased rehearsals and cancelled performances. Now, though, all three have started back up again, with covid protocols in place. 

My band, the North Suburban Wind Ensemble, based in Libertyville, Illinois, is having its first post-shutdown concert on Sunday. We are reduced in number as some of our members need to take care of other things at this time. We have three horn players instead of the standard 4 (or more). (Note: those of us who play the French horn just call it the horn - it is not actually French and the rest of the world calls it the horn. It can be confusing because other instrumentalists also refer to their trumpets, saxes, etc. as "horns," but we persevere.) 

But it is so wonderful to be together again, to play together. Our conductor has chosen music for this concert that is a mixture of pieces most of us already know and entertaining short pieces that are new to most of us. A medley from West Side Story, Northwestern University's official march, the classic band piece Second Suite in F by Gustav Holst, and several more. (You may know Gustav Holst's most famous composition, The Planets.)

Besides the camaraderie and the pleasure of playing wonderful music, having a group and an upcoming performance create the need to practice! Motivation is suddenly not a problem. 

Onward to Sunday and concert time!