I played the flute in Junior High School and then in Grade 10 at Mackenzie Collegiate, but couldn’t fit music class into my schedule after that because of a previous commitment. I had hoped to continue at least playing in the band, even though I wasn’t taking music but that year they changed the system so that band practices were actually held during lunch-time music classes a couple times a week so I had to drop that too. While I had been a second flute in the band at Mackenzie my husband was a first clarinet player, although we didn’t actually meet until a few years later. He was a pretty serious player but also took a hiatus for a while when our two sons were young. He went back to it about 10 years ago and now plays in the Northdale Concert Band (one of the best in the city), as well as in a clarinet trio and often with a piano accompanist.
He had encouraged me over the years to pick up the flute again, but I always protested that I didn’t have time, nor an ear for music. Then about four years ago, walking down Queen Street one afternoon, we saw a flute in the window at Steve’s Music Store and he said “I’ll buy you a flute if you want”. That day, since I wasn’t working full-time anymore, my kids were grown up and I had more time, I said “maybe”. We didn’t buy that flute in the window but we did go to a couple of pawn shops and by the end of the day I had a flute. I couldn’t get a sound out of it that day but I took some lessons for a few months and then joined the band – this is my 3rd season. I had heard previously about Resa’s Pieces, how it was a beginner band and a lot of fun. I struggled with the music at first – it was harder than I expected since the band had gotten so much better over the years – but I think I’m mostly keeping up now and enjoying it very much.
