July 19: That's So Cool!

I experienced a delightful little moment during our Cape Ann Community Band practice on Monday night. We were playing a concert band arrangement of "Africa" by Toto (a song which my husband and I are super familiar with because we play an arrangement of it for "Reset Button"). Our director had just the clarinets play the melody during this one section to have them practice it. Then he had the low brass and low woodwinds (me on bari sax, my husband on tuba, and one more tuba player) play our background part so the clarinets could hear the accompaniment. We played it perfectly (it's the exact same part we have for Reset Button, only a LOT slower) and it sounded great. Afterwards, one of the flute players in the row in front of me turned around, looked at the bari, and said, "That's so cool." It made me so happy. I also think the sound of the bari is super cool, and I'm glad she shared the sentiment. I very much enjoy playing bari, and I am forever grateful that I found this instrument. I never felt super comfortable on tenor saxophone or bassoon (my two main instruments in high school and college), but the bari feels so natural to me. I love the bass parts of songs, I love the deep sound of the horn, I love everything about it!

With delight,

♥Jamie