Not growing up in California I had a lot of different experiences than my friends who grew up here. I did not make a mission in the fourth grade. I did not go to outdoor science camp in fifth. The one thing we have in common is that we had to play an intstrument in the fourth grade. And now so do my children.
I remember being forced to pick an instrument I did not want to play because I had to play a lady-like instrument, which was not the drums, stand up bass or the sax, my orignal choices. I was allowed to play the flute. I ended up loving playing an instrument. I loved the feeling of accompishment, the creativity, the collaboration and the challenge. I ended up loving my flute. Especially when I watched my friends lugging their larger instruments. There was no way I could have lugged the bass around.
My daughter chose to play the flute because I had played it. I pushed back and made her try a couple of other instruments before settling on the flute. I did not want her to start out feeling that the flute was not the instrument she wanted.
I'd love to hear your school music stories or any creative outlets you cherish.
