Member-only story
Life Lessons
What I learned about my inability to sing
What to do when people don’t like our singing
At the end of the year in elementary school, the band teacher at the middle school arrived to test us, fifth graders, to see who had “the music.” If you had the music, you could be a part of the middle school band the next year. If you did not, then you took woodworking.
We lined up by the stage. The band director played a few notes on the piano. It was strange to be in the cafeteria when it wasn’t time to eat. Every sound bounced off the floor and empty tables.
Some students hummed in tune.
Many were off.
If you hummed in tune, the director would then look into your mouth and examine your teeth. If you could hum in tune and had teeth, he would offer you a place in the band.
“Let me see your teeth,” he said.
“You will play the clarinet.”
“Let me see your teeth.”
“You will play the tuba.”
“Let me see your teeth.”
“You will play the flute.”
I stepped close to the piano. I wanted to be in the band. But, I didn’t yet know that I couldn’t sing.
