Music Music Music

Music has always been a part of my life and,  I’m sure, it has been a part of yours as well. In my youth and early adulthood I tried to be a musician but was never terribly successful.

Flutophones!  I think they are called something else now, but that was what we called them in fourth grade. We all had to learn how to play. We worked all year and had a public concert toward the end of the school year.  We played songs like Country Gardens and Arkansas Traveler.  Why do I remember that?

Cornet! That was sixth grade, I think. Never a big fan of practicing, I had lessons with Mr. Scarselletti ,weekly, all leading up to playing to my sixth grade class. I don’t remember the song I learned, but I know there was one high note I could not reach in lessons nor practice. The, day of my recital in class I hit that note! I decided to end my cornet career on that high note and never picked it up again.

Also sixth grade, Beatles Year, I got a guitar for Christmas. Again, not a big fan of practicing, I eventually admitted that I am never going to be able to do this. I gave up.

So, not being a musician made me much more appreciative of those that are. Junior High assemblies were a hotbed of new music inspired by the music revolution of the sixties.  Here are some high school musical acts that played to us in junior high. The Madras Plaids! Aunt Melba’s Junk Band! Dave and Ter!  Interestingly, Terry Roth was a member of the last two and went on to a very successful music career. You may have heard him as the lead singer of Zen for Primates.

I feel very lucky that my junior high and high school years coincided with the British Invasion!

Maybe I haven’t totally given up my desire to become a musician. I bought myself a ukulele for Christmas! Now, time to practice.