Blog Post 2: Brooklyn Borough Wide Band

When I was a kid, I was really shy. Now? Not so much. But, when I was in 6th grade, I was shy, barely talked in school, and could already sense that the band kids were not considered the “cool ones”. We were only two weeks into the school year, when my clarinet teacher recommended I try out for the Brooklyn Borough Wide Band; a three-hour long band rehearsal on Saturday mornings….

Listen, don’t get me wrong. I loved clari. But did I, an awkward 6th grader, who lived for sleeping in on weekends, and was trying to figure out middle school want to go to band rehearsal every Saturday morning? Absolutely not. But, as life has it, there was absolutely no way I could’ve let my grandparents down. I loved them too much!

They brought me to the audition and waited outside the door as I played for the judges. A few minutes later, one of the band teachers walks me out to my grandparents. In short, he said “she should really be in the junior band, but we have a good feeling and want to give her a chance with the senior band”.

Band rehearsal started that next week, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. I sat in the back of the third clarinets, where I met my first bestie Jane. My grandparents of course attended every rehearsal. They spoiled me with bagels and chocolate milk beforehand, and a pistachio cake baked by my grandma that they would share with everyone during rehearsal break. It was a community and became a weekly tradition that I loved.

One of my favorite pieces that I played in Brooklyn Borough Wide Band was Gutav Holst’s “First Suite in E flat”. Even the third clarinet part was cool. At one point in the year, our band director told us about an upcoming opportunity to audition for the Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp at Manhattan School of Music. At the time, this was a free music camp for students in NYC public elementary and middle school students. He recommended I audition, and use the first clarinet part of the Holst. Well, I got to work with my teacher, learned those crazy high notes and prepared for the audition.

This time, my grandparents and parents all waited outside the audition room at the Manhattan School of Music. Imagine that- this crazy family from Brooklyn who knew nothing about classical music at one of NYC’s most prestigious music conservatories! I played with love, squeezed those high outs, and…I was in.

More on this, next time!