Coming Back to Music
“I wish I hadn’t quit playing the piano.”
“Yeah, I have a flute, but it’s just in the closet collecting dust.”
“I wonder if I can even remember how to play my cello.”
Seems like every time I meet someone new who finds out that I’m a music teacher, I get to hear about how they used to play something but the don’t anymore… but they wish they still did.
So what’s holding you back? What is keeping you from starting back up again?
My husband, Eric, played trumpet throughout middle school and high school in Puerto Rico and Georgia – where he grew up. So after being surrounded by a crazy musical family (mine!!) he started playing his trumpet again. He started by just practicing at home – until I encouraged (um…forced) him to go play with a band – since that’s what it’s all about – making music with other people! Fast forward a few months and now he’s playing in TWO bands: The Alamo City Community Marching Band and Beethoven Hall Concert band. The Beethoven Mannenchoir is celebrating their 150th anniversary with a special concert on Saturday, August 18th @3:00pm at McAllister Auditorium at San Antonio College. Tickets are free!
Eric has done many different things – but he shared that playing in the band has been more thrilling and meaningful than all the other things he’s done (and he’s done lots of things – paddle boarding, mountain climbing, cycling, etc)
Amanda Slagle, mom to Aurelia in JMC4 on Saturday morning, is enjoying playing in the newest community orchestra in San Antonio : South Texas Symphony Orchestra. She lived in Ann Arbor before moving here and was very involved in the University of Michigan music scene – freelancing and staying busy. After moving here, she worked briefly at a local strings business, but she didn’t feel the same community that she had enjoyed so much in Michigan. She took a break from playing and then a friend gave her name to Ronnie Sanders, who was currently at Jefferson High School here in San Antonio (Go Mustangs Class of 91!) They needed some more string players for the musical “Sweeney Todd”.
She loved getting to play again – especially a challenging work by Sondheim – and she found out what a wonderful conductor Ronnie Sanders was. Fast forward a few years – Ronnie contacts her about playing in a new amateur orchestra here in San Antonio. She decided to give it a shot and she is so happy she did! They debuted in the fall of 2017 are currently holding auditions for the next season! Check them out: Visit their website!
So have you recently come back to music? We’d love to hear your story! Email me or comment below!
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