Band

Many of you will be surprised to find out that I played a few instruments when I was in Jr. High. I played the oboe, bassoon, clarinet and bass clarinet.

The bass clarinet was the instrument I loved to play, was the instrument that I played the best and was the best looking of them all.

Rich, deep, earthy tone.

Bigger than a normal clarinet.

In 9th grade (this was 3 years into playing) I was given a short, solo part in one of the pieces that we were playing in a concert. Since I typically sat in the back row, next to the tuba player (my best buddy) the teacher decided to put a microphone in front of me so that the audience could hear me.

I remember being so nervous, which was odd because I had played the lead in a few school drama productions. My hands were clammy and I had cotton mouth. This was very bad for a bass clarinet player because the reed on the clarinet had to be kept moist. We were going along just fine and I felt my nerves were calming. When my part in the number came up, I blew... it! I had nothing, I couldn't play, I just froze up. All eyes on me (so I thought) and this horrible, awkward silence.
Boy did I feel like a dumb !

I really felt like I had let the whole band down. My teacher didn't say anything to me and my parents and friends didn't say anything to me. I didn't take another year of band...

It still bugs me to this day when I think about it, even though I laugh when I tell the story.