I, who had no interest or skills in music whatsoever, started playing Oboe.

I am
sure many of you know this instrument, Oboe. But, are you aware that oboe is very
difficult instrument to play? Probably the most essential part of an oboe is its double reed,
made of two very thin pieces of cane. I put my lips under the mouth and gently bite on it.
Then I blow air into this tiny gap of the reed, probably a gap less wide than the end of a
fingertip. Well, it is not that hard to produce a noise from it. But to play it well. It takes so
much effort. Theres a saying that 90% of Oboe players are absolutely horrible, other 10%
can make a heavenly sound. But there is no in between: only terrible or the very best.
Music was absolutely not my area. I tried playing Piano when I was ten. But, after
three weeks, I gave up, feeling no enthusiasm in learning it. I was not the smartest kid
when I was in elementary school, but I never failed tests. When I received 18 out of 100
in the Music test in my high school, I determined that I am just not a person for music.
I suddenly changed my mind about playing an instrument by a movie. During one
weekend, I was so bored that I decided to look for a movie. What came into view was a
movie called Amadeus. Although the plot is fictional, it is a movie about Mozart. I
listened to these music pieces by Mozart as themes during scenes. I never knew that
classic music can be so interesting and grab my ear. I repeatedly listen to Piano Concerto
#22, Don Giovanni, and Requiem in the movie. These pieces changed my thoughts about
instrumental music.
There was this one instrument that grabbed my mind, of course, an oboe. In the
movie Amadeus, there is just a three second when I could hear the sound of Oboe. But
that sound in this few second was the most pure and beautiful instrumental sound I heard.
It might be a very trivial reason to start this difficult instrument. But I asked my
parents that I want to learn oboe. My parents gladly got me the instrument and I had a
tutor for a year.
With the start of high school, I joined the school band. With full of nervous
feelings and a fear of making mistakes, I went to the first band session. Mr. Ahlstrom, the
band director, called each peoples name and the band started the session with the scale
run. One, Two, Three Mr. Ahlstrom whispered, that I could only understand by looking
at his mouth. The woodwinds started with the first three notes. In that moment when I
was about to blow into the reed, Clarinet and Flute players made only a very small sound.
I suddenly stopped blowing air. A sudden image struck my head where loud note comes
out from my oboe and embarrass myself. I had to carefully join into the scale run when
trumpets and French-horns were playing with their grand and loud sound.
Sneaking into the scale run continued for the next sessions. And, I was not
confident in playing the pieces without making mistakes. But, it got better as I went to
more sessions. More practice and practice. I would repeat the lines where I find difficult
to play. I started to feel joy in playing the music.
Our band has a Christmas Concert at the end of the school year, inviting everyone
at the school and families of students. The band, choir, and groups of students perform
their talents in front of large crowd.
At the day of the concert, we gathered in the music room in order to warm up. Mr.
Ahlstrom said to the band Playing instrument is more fun listening to it. After a pause,
he spoke again Playing in a group is more fun than playing it alone Then a pause again,
Playing in front of the audience is more fun than playing in a group. I want you to enjoy
I followed other band members into the school chapel. I have never seen that
chapel full with people who are still trying to find extra seats. Every student was there.
All teachers and faculty members were there. And also, families of students were waiting
for this event. Never in my life, I had chance to do something in front of this many people.
However, I was neither nervous nor worried unlike other times when I played in
the band. I was not scared that I might fail and embarrass myself. But rather, I was
excited to play. I wanted to show these people in front of us what we have practiced and
accomplished.
Mr. Ahlstrom raised his baton, and whispered One, Two, Three. Then the music
began. Each of these three pieces started silently. They were simple. Just a pulse from
one or two sections of instruments. The melodies were beautiful, and peaceful. I then
follow them with mild sounds with long vibrato. I would frown my face as if I am
playing Oboe with my face.
Then, the music gradually got larger. More instruments joined the singing.
Repeating the main melodies again and again, but all differently, that people could enjoy
these pieces.
The finale was the best. All the instruments, while the percussion was beating the
drums forcefully, we blast our instruments so hard that the roof of the chapel might fly
away. My notes already have been blended inside the sound of other people. So many
different melodies are going on at a same time, but it makes the music more full. Then
the piece ends with a long note, so long that my face would turn red.
Our band did great. Sound from our instruments made the volume down and up,
tempos faster and slower as one body just as the baton moved in Mr. Ahlstroms hand.
And the harmony. The harmony filled up the chapel. The cave-like interior of the chapel
caused our music to echo and make more magnificent sound than ever.
I understood what Mr. Ahlstrom has said to us before the concert. Playing with
other people and playing in front of audience are really fun. I no longer thought that
music is not my area. I was proud of myself. I was a musical fool, but now successfully
became part of a band. I never expected that I would be playing an instrument and enjoy
it. One should never neglect a choice away completely, because that person can find
actually find enthusiasm he or she never expected.