Instruments

The first instrument which I learned to play was the piano. My parents came to me when I was 12 years old and offered me the option of singing lessons or piano. My response: "I can already sing, I'd like to learn the piano." So I took lessons for about 5 years from Mrs. Mabel Minus, and got as far as my grade 5 with the Royal Conservatory. I now play pretty much just for my own entertainment and pleasure, not having learned enough to play in a band or to accompany singers.

Upon reaching high school, I took music, and learned, in grade 9, to play the flute. I own my own flute now and still play occasionally for my own pleasure and entertainment. I still feel that this was the one instrument that I was meant to play, and the one which suits me best. However, opportunities to play are few and far between.

Throughout high school I learned several other instruments, the next one being the Saxophone. Over the years I had the opportunity to play alto, tenor and baritone sax, having the most fun, of course, with the bari. I never became expert at any of them, but had a lot of fun, playing in the jazz band and the stage band.

Of all the instruments I learned to play, the one I played the most often and with the most success was the Baritone, or Euphonium. I played bass clef bari, in our concert band in high school. When I first learned to play, I had taken a bari home one night, and the next day the music teacher heard me playing "Mary Had A Little Lamb", came over and asked me if I would play in the concert band. Kind of took me by surprise, but I said, sure, why not. I went on to play in the concert band for the next 2.5 years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Someday I'd like to have my own bari, just to add to my collection of instruments.

From the time that I was old enough to think, I have known that music was the second most important language I could learn. I learned to sing in church, standing next to mom, listening to her sing alto and learning to harmonize. Other than church, my first opportunity to sing in public came in high school, when I had the lead role in my grade 12 musical production, "The Pajama Game". I have since sung at many weddings, folk clubs, and tons of karoake. I have long known that my own voice was my best musical instrument, and would dearly love to sing more, bringing listening pleasure to those around me. I also love the applause and compliments that are inevitable whenever I open my mouth to sing. However, here is some information about some of the other instruments I can play.