I walked in to the classroom to see an instrument sitting against a wooden stand. It was long and skinny, and silver. It shined and beckoned my attention. I couldn't wait until the teacher told us what the instrument was! At last in music class she plucked it up from its position and told us it was a flute, and she would play a short song for us. She raised the flute up to her lips and began to play. The sound that came from that instrument captured my attention as well as that of the other third graders. It was beautiful, crisp and sing-song like.
Ever since that day I have loved instruments. My first opportunity to learn to play an instrument was my third grade year. I learned how to play the piano and organ in turn. Piano is a beautiful instruments in which you can lilt magnificent sounds from the ivory keys. However the next year in fourth grade I had the opportunity to learn my next instrument, the guitar. I learned the basics from my instructor at school, but I was mostly taught how to play the guitar with help from my father.
When I arrived at Cascade Middle School in sixth grade I was really given my learning opportunities to begin learning various musical instruments. In sixth grade I joined the junior high band with the beautiful silver flute still shining in my eyes. However when I arrived that first day and saw the small ensemble play for us, I fell in love with the tenor saxophone. My entire sixth grade year I mastered the tenor saxophone. My seventh grade year I was finally able to pick up a flute. I mastered the flute while still playing the tenor saxophone. I was given the opportunity to play both when we went to honor band at Oregon State University.
I continued to play my tenor saxophone primarily into high school where I was able to join the marching band, pep band, symphonic concert band and the jazz band. Tenor saxophone remained my primary instrument through high school, but I did add a few more instruments to my repertoire. I learned to play the tuba, which is a heavy instrument. In addition to the tuba, I learned trumpet, trombone, timpani, clarinet, alto and baritone saxophone, and baritone. I was fortunate to go to state competitions four out of four years to compete for state in high school.
I do not play in a band anymore, but still play on my own. I still play the tenor saxophone, my main love, then the flute and piccolo flute and the trumpet as well as piccolo trumpet. My tenor saxophone is my pride and joy as I purchased it as a freshman with my own savings. It is a cannonball which is a very beautiful toned instruments, that at the time only made saxophones, but now make trumpets as well. This is my tenor saxophone:
