Music has always been a first love of mine. It started with a Wurlitzer organ that had all the different tabs for sounds and a rhythm section so that you could get a waltz, march, rock, bossa nova, or country sound. Push another tab and the rhythm section played chords, leaving your right hand free to supply the melody.
Then came band in school and the introduction to the saxophone. Since we were a drum and bugle corps marching band, the sax was only for concert band and the trumpet became the summer instrument, as well as for pep band. This opened the door for playing several other instruments and filling in whatever holes the band director had.
In the middle of it all came the piano. Life was filled with practicing and playing for school, church, and eventually weddings.
Today, I have lost the “chops” to play trumpet and since it has been a few years since playing the sax, I’m not sure what would happen. I know that I’m nowhere even close to being able to play the horns like I did in school. It’s 100% true: use it or lose it.
Thankfully, I still play piano and organ and there is a lot of joy derived from doing it. I’m thankful for parents that got me involved with music and would never let me quit when I got frustrated with the practices. Words could never express how much I’ve enjoyed playing through the years and if I could reverse the clock, I would go right back to the days of Jr. High/High School, just so that I could play once again in band. That would be my “Groundhog Day.”
Today is National Buy A Musical Instrument Day and, unless you are independently wealthy, I would change the day to National Buy A USED Musical Instrument Day. Otherwise, you might have to mortgage the house! Instruments are expensive.
Sadly, there seems to be a decline in our county of students playing instruments. While the beginning classes seem to be full, many students lose interest as they get into high school. Going to the county band show on Monday night at the fair is discouraging for us older band members who remember in our heyday filling the performance area. Even the smaller schools would have a good representation while larger schools like Bryan could barely fit the kids onto the field.
Hats off to all the kids who stick with it! Though few in numbers, they still do a great job and it’s worth attending the events where they are playing. And don’t forget to give some shoutouts to all the area band directors. In my opinion, these are some of the hardest working teachers who must be engaged with their students, striving to bring out the best from each performer and performance.
How did musical instruments get started? We are told in Genesis 4:21 that “… Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.” This inventor started the foray into musical pursuits. Since then, musical instruments are seen throughout the Bible.
Psalms 33:1-3 says, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. (2) Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. (3) Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” Musicians love to be loud! fff – right?!? It’s a musician thing!
Another instrumental Psalm is Psalms 98:4-6. We are instructed to “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (5) Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. (6) With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.”
As I read the Psalms, I am struck with the thought that God desires our praise to be rich and full. He wants the songs and the notes to come from hearts that are full of joy and praise to His name. Let the last Psalm of the Old Testament remind us that our songs and instruments should be filled with the joy of the Lord.
Psalms 150:1-6 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. (2) Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. (3) Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. (4) Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. (5) Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. (6) Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
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