I Used to Play

I played French horn for about 13 years. But since I moved to Orlando I’ve only touched it a few times. Even in my 2 years in Missouri I didn’t play a whole lot, so it’s been around 4.5 years since I've played at all. Someone asked me a few months ago why I don’t play anymore. My excuse was that I don’t have a consistent and convenient place to practice. And this area isn’t exactly a booming classical music metropolis; it’s the house of the mouse. So it’s hard to find groups to perform with that don’t already have professionals filling the brass sections.

But that’s all those really are, excuses. Because if the saying is true, that we make time for the things that are most important to us, then I should still be playing. I would find somewhere to practice; I would form my own ensemble if I had to. I’ve done it before.

I mentioned before my list of goals for this year and making music a bigger part of my life is one of them. (I mean besides the easy music like singing in my car, going to concerts, and being part of the church choir.) So, with no valid excuses, I got my horn fixed last week and practiced at the church for the first time in a long time last night. I was surprised to find that I still have a pretty good range, no endurance or accuracy though. I have a long way to go to get back in shape and need to do some recruiting. All in good time though.