Moving on
In the spring of 1983 I was in my last semester of high school. My high school experience was dominated by band…specifically, marching band.
Solo
Norwin, like most band programs, had an end of the year concert. Our director, LJ, planned to have several student soloists perform. I was voluntold to play one of my audition pieces, “Scene de Concert”.
This was my first time playing a solo since an elementary school talent show. (I had a seven note solo in our marching band show, but I played that from my spot in the line. I don’t think the audience even knew which kid was playing and that was ok with me.)
LJ had us work with an accompanist. I don’t remember much about it. Whoever did that work must’ve been a saint! They had to keep up with a high school musician’s inconsistent performance. Not an easy task!
My solo was programmed after a piece by Richard Wagner called, “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral”. I loved that piece, but it was murder on the ‘chops’. If I played it with the vigor that it deserved I wouldn’t have much in the tank for my solo.
I faked the last thirty to forty seconds. And, instead of playing, I sat there, sweating and praying that I wouldn’t screw up my solo in front of the entire band.
And, that’s all I can say. The performance doesn’t exist in my memory. I played, people seemed to like it, and it was over.
As I’ve already said, LJ had several students perform at the concert. I guess he recognized that there were some strong musicians in the band.
In my junior year I overheard LJ talking to one of our drum majors. The student asked him something like, “How long do you think you’ll be the director here?”.
LJ said, “Until the concert band is as good as the marching band.”
The student replied, “So, you’re never leaving then?” And, laughed.
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral is not an easy tune to pull off. I think we also played Blue Lake Overture by John Barnes Chance?? Obviously LJ wanted to prove that the band was a great concert band as well as a marching band.
Looking back, I can see that LJ didn’t want to be put in a box labeled, “This guy only cares about marching band”. He had greater ambitions.
For me, I didn’t care. Put me in the box. I’m ok with it. Marching band was everything to me.
Awards and Dr. Tim
We had a band banquet at the end of the year. Leaders were given awards. Speeches were made. We signed each other’s banquet programs.
I received a ‘Most Improved’ award from LJ. I appreciated the recognition, but I wasn’t thrilled with the accolade. Most improved from what??
I framed it and put it on the wall next to my marching band medals.
My final HS band memory involved Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. If you’ve been a part of the band world, you know who he is.
Dr. Tim is a motivational/leadership speaker who works mostly with bands. He is very good at what he does.
Norwin hosted a leadership day with Dr. Tim. This was open to anyone in our band.
I opted out.
My Dad was Band-Aid President (Our band boosters). Dad was in attendance at the event. I was not.
Dad saw me later that day, “LJ asked why you weren’t there today.”
I said, “Why?”
Dad, “LJ said, if Eric wants to be a band director, he should’ve been here!”
LJ knew that I wanted to be a band director?? How did he know that? We never talked about it. We never talked about anything…We never talked to each other at all!
Looking back, I was angry about something. Maybe I was still hurt about not being chosen as section leader? I wanted to be respected by LJ. I was a young man trying to draw the attention of a mentor and I felt like it was an impossible task for me.
It was too late to see that happen in my high school years. Maybe I could get his attention as a fellow band director.
It was time to move on to the foreign world of college in the distant land of…
Virginia