Story Time No. 1

Hello and welcome back! 

 Let's talk about musical journeys for a moment. I think there's a mystification of how people got to where they are and I want to be transparent and also bring some levity. My goal is to be transparent with y'all and also so I don't forget milestones in my own life because I tend to forget things. So, here we go!

When I started school, like started started in pre-k to first grade, I went to a little private school/daycare called Little Red School House (LRSH). Whenever I think back to those days, I distinctly remember this HUGE pumpkin on the playground. You know like every little kid from 4-7 thinks EVERYTHING is so much grander than it actually is. A few years ago, I went back and realized that that pumpkin is actually just barely big enough for me to stand in now and I am about 5'11", I digress. 

At LRSH, we learned more than the average school. It wasn't quite a dual immersion school as those hadn't quite gained popularity yet and especially in my somewhat country bumpkin Southern California town, but the teachers believed in giving their kids a broad foundation to build upon, which meant that we learned a lot that I know I would not have in traditional education. From Kindergarten we began lessons in Spanish, ASL, and I believe they introduced some musical skills at that point as well. I LOVED all of this, except for the music. Even at that age I was highly competitive so I would diligently follow all of my teachers' instructions and mirror them so that later I could talk about what I had learned to my mom and older sister. 

In first grade we got to learn a wonderful instrument, the flutophone. Now, for those of you that felt that chill on the back of your neck from the PTSD that is recorder, it's okay; we are in this together.  Take a deep breath. We have made it past the hellscape that is a third or fourth grade recorder class. Thankfully, the teachers were relatively strict with us in first grade so there wasn't too much noise during our flutophone lessons. Frankly, I do not remember much of the exact lesson structure or the styles of teaching necessarily. I do remember HATING IT! I used to hate flutophone time asking, "Why are we playing these screeching monstrosities at eight in the morning on a Monday?" | Or for that matter, any day of the week before noon sounds like torture. 

At the end of my time at LRSH we played America the Beautiful at graduation and I decided then that I never wanted to play music again. I thought, "Why would anyone put themselves through this and then to have to embarrass oneself in front of your friends and family by playing those high pitched, squeaky monsters they gave us for a graduation, a moment that is supposed to be celebratory." Yes, I know what you're thinking, "this is some highly reflective commentary for a 7 year old." To which I say, yes. It is a problem I'm sure a therapist would have nightmares about. 

Obviously, by my career choice, I changed my mind. I'm glad that I did have that opinion however, because now I understand when people say that they don't like something. Back then, I did not like music because of my experiences with it at that point. It is important to note that I could not find my voice in that particular instrument, and that is likely why I loathed it so. Eventually, I found my voice in bassoon, primarily, but that took time. 

LRSH gave me a foundation in music that I would only later capitalize on. Looking back at how I heard and experienced things, I think that it was because of the teachers at LRSH I am able to hear and perceive sound in a way that is unique. At the first round of an audition, for example, I knew I would get in so I didn't prepare much. I sang "Go the Distance" from Disney's Hercules yet had barely practiced the song. I think I chose it in the twenty minutes before my audition time slot. NOW, I realize this was dumb arrogance now that I am older. There is NO way I would ever do something like that now regardless of how well I knew the piece or if I knew I would get in no matter what. The conductor is a mentor, teacher, and friend of mine so I didn't think much of it. I went into the audition told her what song I was going to sing and she asked me what starting pitch I wanted. I do not have perfect pitch but there was something in my bones that said it was G major and I was right. Moments like this, when I know things in my core because of how something has felt to me are the reason why I am so thankful for my time at LRSH and for the foundation that those teachers sowed into all of the students that came through their gates. 

My reason for telling you this is we should all be thankful for the pearls of wisdom and knowledge that someone took the time to give to us. If little BP could see me now, I don't think he would recognize himself. For that, I am glad.

Thank you for reading. 

As always, I love you, you are talented, you can do whatever it is that you are putting work towards, and I will see you next time!

With Love,

BP