I gained a love for music from my dad.
My dad listened to classical music with me and pointed out all the different instruments we were listening to. When I started playing the trumpet in 5th grade, he got a cassette tape of the Brunson Brothers for me to listen to. I remember listening to the William Tell Overture over and over. My dad taught me how to listen to music, and as a byproduct of that, he taught me how to love it.
He played the French horn as a kid and then the trumpet. I wanted to learn the flute, but we owned a trumpet (my dad’s old trumpet) and so that’s what I learned. We didn’t have much in those days and so my options were limited. My first experience playing, was in my parents’ office in town. It must have drove them crazy! It’s not like the trumpet is a quiet instrument! I don’t remember either of them telling me to stop.
Today, I’m so glad I learned the trumpet instead. I got to be the first girl at my school to play the trumpet and it fits my personality more. I got to carry a part of my dad around with me to school for 4 years. I still get to carry him with me to school to show my music students.
If you look really hard, you can still see his name written on the old, worn out case.
