I attended my third practice with the Rockport Legion Band on Thursday, and I was delighted in my improved sight-reading skills for the Alto 1 part. My fingers are moving so much more quickly and I feel myself reading the notes and translating them to my fingers much more accurately. And more importantly, I am feeling more confident and comfortable. Reading and playing music is such a fascinating experience (though if I think too much about it while I am playing it really screws me up!). Notes and markings are written on a piece of paper that I translate immediately into fingerings and embouchure and articulations and dynamics. Soon I will be playing music in 5 groups (Gloucester Community Band, Ipswich Summer Band, Reset Button, Peabody Big Band, and Rockport Legion Band), and all the time playing will be hugely instrumental (haha) to my musicianship. In these months of discernment, I have definitely gravitated towards the playing and the teaching of music as what I want to do with my life. It's less complicated than owning a business, less controversial than selling alcohol, less polarizing than discussing God, it's easily accessible to all ages, and it provides a great service to the world (both for entertainment and enjoyment of the listeners, and huge learning benefits to students). It also has great possibilities for bringing people together in the community (again, both for the players and the listeners). I am excited that is the path my post-pandemic life is leading me on. I am hopeful that I can start being comfortable in answering the question "What do you do?" It continues to make me feel awkward, and I no longer want to say I am unemployed. I am trying to get comfortable saying something like, "I teach and play music and do a lot of volunteering." Because that's what I do, and it's what I love.
With delight,
♥Jamie
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