March 31, 2009

• My teacher

  My high school music teacher passed away 4 years ago on this day.

  I am one of many, many students he rescued.  I cannot be more proud and honored to be one of his children.

  He probably knew this, maybe he never did.  He knew I was under tremendous pressure from my family.  What he probably didn't know was that it was up to a point where I was ready to commit suicide at the time.

  He offered a simple solution.  He handed me a pair of percussion mallets, and demanded that I'd show up for rehearsals Monday to Friday, 8:50-9:30, from September to June.

  When in a band, of course, there's more than rehearsal time.  Performances in school.  Performances outside of school as far south as Georgia.

  Band is a different turf from home or just school.  You have people who have your back when band disasters happen.  There are fifty of us, and our teacher showed us that if we stick together and work together, we will achieve great things together.  I may be really rusty or completely forgotten how to play, but the lesson of teamwork, I took that with me everywhere I go -- every workplace, every organization.

  Mr. Laurenzano, you are sorely, sorely missed.

  • 5:03 pm
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