I miss band

Many of you know that I play flute in a community band. We practice every Tuesday night and have the summers off. Well, COVID put a grinding halt on that! I miss it. I don't think I realized how much until today. I woke up this morning and my first thought was, it's Tuesday...I have band :). Quickly I was snapped back to reality. Our fall season is cancelled. I am missing that outlet where I go and play for two hours. Even when I'm exhausted after a full day of work and being a mom, I would let every worry and thought go right out of my head and just play music. It's truly the only time that I don't think about anything else. I only concentrate on the notes in front of me. I always walk out happy and full of energy. We're a great group and I miss sitting with them all and playing music together.

Here is a story I wrote before we played Carnegie Hall in 2017...

 My story is an interesting one...a story about timing, unfulfilled desire and a passion for music. I've learned that everything happens when the time is right...and when you’re really ready for it, but least expect it, it will come.

As a child, I was surrounded by music. Music of all kinds. My mom sang in the church choir, was a member of the hand bell choir and enjoyed playing the organ as well. Many of my cousins played instruments and sang, and some even grew up to teach music. My first love was in fourth grade when I picked up the flute, and never wanted to put it down! I loved it from the start and actually looked forward to practicing. As my sister Liz likes to remind me, she thought I practiced too much! Practice, practice, practice...

The more I practiced, the better I played. I enjoyed playing all through middle school, and although I was selected for first chair in high school, I became so involved in sports, I found that I didn't have time for both. Sports won and my flute took a back seat. I put it away in the closet. For twenty years...

I always wanted to play music again, but life got a bit busy. My husband and I were raising three little boys while I was working as a freelance graphic designer and juggling all the responsibilities of a young family and home. Playing in a band seemed like a far off dream, but always in the back of my mind. I wasn't even sure if I would remember how to play! There are only so many hours in a day, and the time just wasn't right, but the ache to play kept tugging at me and the feeling wasn't going away.

My cousin, Michael performed in local theater when he was younger, but when he became an elementary school music teacher, he too, had little time to pursue his love of acting. After 20 years of being off-stage, he amazed us all and joined the cast of Les Miserables at the Axelrod Performance Center in Deal, NJ in November of 2013. I attended the performance and as I listened to the beautiful sounds coming from the pit band, I was once again inspired to play my flute. I thought to myself, "If he can perform after a 20 year break, so can I". But where? I had no idea how to make this happen, but I knew I had to figure it out. It's funny how life works out.

The next day, I was enjoying the Les Miserables soundtrack as I was working in the gift shop on my family's alpaca farm. I was still so inspired by my cousin’s performance the night before, and I just kept thinking that I needed to play the flute again. As the Les Mis music played softly in the background, a nice woman came in with her mother. She commented on the music, saying how much she loved Les Mis and that she played selections from the musical with her band the year before. My mind started racing.

I thought, "What did she just say??!!" I jumped up and said, "You're in a band? I used to play the flute and I want to play again!"

She said, "I play the flute too! I am a member of the Greater Shore Concert Band. Have you heard of us? The director is Jim Bast."

"Jim Bast?! He was my middle school director and I loved playing for him!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing! This was too good to be true.

This woman, who fortuitously just walked into my life, said that I could probably join if I wanted because a member of the flute section had just moved away. She encouraged me to get out my flute, dust it off, practice a bit and come to a rehearsal. We chatted for a while, exchanged contact information and when she and her mom left, I was SO excited! My heart was racing!

I wondered, "Could I really play again?"

"Would I remember how to play?!"

"Where IS my flute?!"

Although I hadn't played in almost 20 years, I knew it was still at my parent’s house. I wasted no time at all. I raced to their house, found it in the closet, took out some sheet music and I played… I played like I had never stopped. It felt as if I had played only yesterday. I was thrilled that I remembered everything...

That woman, Jeanne Fasano, who came into my life at the perfect time has become my friend and fellow musician. Each Tuesday, we drive to rehearsal together, we sit next to each other and play beautiful music with the band. As the band publicist, she has even asked me to share my graphic art talents as we prepare for the band's 50th Anniversary at Carnegie Hall this coming Spring. Jim Bast, my former band director is once again my band director, and just like in middle school, he still threatens to "sit on us" if we mess up. I guess we're pretty good because he has yet to do it!

I just wanted to play my flute again. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would be performing on the stage of Carnegie Hall. So, this is all icing on the cake and truly a dream come true. I am thankful for my cousin getting back on the stage, inspiring me to pursue my passion for music, and the following day when a stranger walked into my life, giving me the opportunity I had dreamed of for so long. It's really true: everything happens when the time is right...and when you’re really ready for it, but least expect it, it will come.

(This is me and Jeanne...where we first met and the rest is history)

(Carnegie Hall performance)

A typical Tuesday night rehearsal...

(I miss these two!!!!! Luke on bassoon and Stephanie on Bass Clarinet. They're so talented)

I know we will be back together some day. I'm so ready!