February 16, 2023
February 16, 2023
I remember so well my first time to practice with the Rockridge High School marching band. Mr. Richardson was adamant to each of us in the trumpet section about not trying to hit the high B-flat at the end of the Star-Spangled Banner. He said that there was nothing worse than someone going for that note and then missing it. You just can’t hide that kind of mistake and to “blow” it at the climax of the song would ruin everything. I’m not usually someone who defies authority, but I was a freshman (who, of course, didn’t know any better) and I thought I could hit it. We always played the Star-Spangled Banner with the lights turned off and just a spotlight on the flag. When we got to that climactic point, I went for it (and fortunately hit it). In the brief silence as the note echoed across the field, everyone could hear Mr. Richardson speaking into his megaphone. I don’t remember his exact words, but everyone knew that someone in the trumpet section was in big trouble and, as the lights came back on, all of my fellow trumpeters were kind enough to point their fingers in my direction. He came “storming” down onto the field wanting to know, “Who did it?” But there was a smile on his face as he asked me, “Are you sure that you can hit it?” I shrugged and nodded, yes. “Well, okay,” he said. “Don’t miss!” And that, was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with a man who would always encourage me to strive for greater things. His smile meant so much to all of us and together we reached for things that we would never have tried alone. He opened a whole new world to me and I am forever grateful!!
