Music Notes

There are an odd bedfellow of things that provided for my blogging inspiration this week: watching a new web series, cleaning a stairwell closet, and attending a high school concert.  One might wonder what these three things have in common, or how they might inspire a subject, but I found such clarity and inspiration in none other than the woven thread of music.

The web series mentioned above is the new Amazon Prime series entitled "Mozart in the Jungle." It is set in New York City, following the paths of a young female oboist trying to make it in the big City, and the politics of the New York Symphony after the hiring of a new lead conductor, or Maestro.  It is fresh, touching, funny, and should be said, raunchy at times, but it is also extremely rich as another true character, the music, emerges.  The viewer gets glimpses of symphonic movements, the hard work and life of a musician, and what music does and means to people.  I must also disclose that my daughter, Courtnee, worked on this show as a production assistant, so I have been vested in watching and catching the details.

After watching a few episodes earlier in the week, I had concluded that I needed to do something productive with my time, and made the decision, begrudgingly, to clean the stairwell closet.  As I dug through old coats, bowling balls, numerous DVDs and sports equipment, and made piles in the living room of things to keep, donate or trash, I found that the biggest group of items we had stored were musical instruments.  Twelve in all, which included three flutes, four saxophones, two trumpets, a clarinet, a coronet, and an autoharp.  I noted, in disbelief, that it did not include the banjo, guitar, two ukuleles or the piano that live throughout the house as well.  With all six of us in the family playing instruments at some point in our lives, this is what we've accumulated.  Looking at the multitude of cases, it brought back memories and a twinge of desire to play something--anything--again.

Along with these events, this week was the gathering of the All Northern Honor Band for the Sacramento Region.  It is a week-long event whereby elementary, middle school and high school students audition for an opportunity to practice, work with a regional group and high-level guest conductor, and perform separately at a concert for family, friends and community.  Our daughter, Jade, was invited to play as first chair baritone saxophone, requiring hours of driving and practice over the course of the week for her, her fellow musicians, and their parents.  The result, however, was phenomenal.  The level of music and performance the kids offered was beyond expectation, and it was a true pleasure to listen to the talent and symphonic music emanating from the stage.

As I sat in my padded theater seat in the audience, both listening and letting my mind drift with the melodies, I was reminded how important music is to our lives.  Whether you play, listen, dance or sing, music surrounds us.  It not only entertains us, it accompanies us while we drive, shop, dine, and work-out.  I believe it moves us and is vital to our well-being as an individual and society.  What would happen if there were no music?

So, this week's inspirational thought is this: If you have had a desire to learn to play an instrument, why wait?  If you have had thoughts of picking up your old one, I say get it out, dust it off, and go to it.  And, if you simply can bring music to the forefront of your consciousness, do so.  The growth, joy and achievement of learning and playing something new may open up ideas and creativity you never knew existed.  Rock on.