I’m With the Band

Did you know that some denominations don’t believe in using musical instruments in their praise and worship programs? I still don’t have any idea why this particular idea caught on. I just love music, and King David obviously did as well. He used the harp to sooth Saul’s depressive moods; he wrote all sorts of songs, which we call Psalms, and even put down some instructions on how to play the music.

When I was in 6th grade, my family ended up in Woodland Park, Colorado, and it was mandatory that each student play a musical instrument. I remember the excitement I felt as we perused the music store. The number of instruments to choose from was mind-boggling, and right at that moment, I felt like my choice would change my entire future. Looking back now, I see I either picked the wrong instrument, or my imagination was just getting the better of me..Nothing big came of playing a musical instrument. 🙂

I was instantly drawn to the saxophone. And my mom instantly wasn’t. Looking back, I am pretty sure the price was a factor for her, but being a tiny bit naive, I wasn’t all that financially savvy. I guess I thought that all the instruments were the same price.

Mom really wanted me to play the trumpet, citing several scriptures that described trumpet’s heralding great victories or ushering in the new kingdom of God. I was pretty positive that God wasn’t going to ask me to grab my trumpet to blast in the new Earth, so I wasn’t all that sold on the idea.

Instead, my mom did point out that the trumpet only had three “buttons”, and so, it probably was the easiest instrument to learn. And that sold me on it. Suddenly, the saxophone looked entirely too complicated, along with the clarinet or the flute. I was instantly doubtful of my ability to learn another instrument because my mom seemed to think I wouldn’t be that talented either. So much for being the smart one in the family. 😦

Turns out, though, that the number of valves on an instrument has no bearing on whether it is difficult or not. Instead of learning a few extra keys, I had to learn odd breathing stuff, and the trumpet turned out to be a pretty good instrument for me. Well, except for the nasty spit valve routine…Too gross for words…

I learned the famous opening themes to Rocky and Dallas, and almost all the songs from Fiddler on the Roof. When we later moved to Arizona, and were living in a tiny 28 foot trailer at a trailer park in the middle of the desert, I practiced my trumpet in the washing center in middle of the night.

Even now, I occasionally run across a trumpet for sale, and I mentally play the scales, still able to remember the hand positions and the breathing necessary to perform each note.

I’m thinking of buying another one, just in case God does actually need someone to sit in when His Son’s feet land on the earth… 🙂  Better to be prepared, I always say….

— Bird