The Legacy Continues

And thus, it begins!

I didn’t expect to be so emotional, yet, tears were welling up in my eyes, as I watched my first grandchild march onto the field for his first, ever, marching band performance.

I have three sons, all of whom, were involved in music. They started on the piano and gradually moved to different instruments and voice, as their interests developed. I’ve listened to practices on the piano, saxophone, trumpet, tuba, xylophone, synthesizer, and… I’ve heard more wrong notes than I care to think about. Even after my middle son was in college, he would return home and want to sit down at our piano and work on a new piece. Ultimately, I would think to myself, “Could you just play pieces you already know, so I wouldn’t have to hear the mistakes?”

Our youngest was performing in the last concert of his High School career with the All District Honor Bands, when the elementary band began to play. They squawked out a few quarter notes and made what was almost a melody. Then the Middle School began to play and they added some eighth notes with a discernible tune and rhythm. I turned to my husband and said, “I’m so thankful this is our last school concert. I’m tired of listening to beginning level performances.”

No sooner had I whispered those words, when I turned to see the father of our band director sitting in the audience to watch his granddaughter! At that moment, I realized someday, the whole process will begin again with OUR grandchildren—and how proud I would be when it does.

Already, each one of our seven grandchildren has made their way to our piano, plunking out what they perceive to be musical masterpieces. I eagerly sit in the living room and applaud their efforts. The oldest two are taking piano lessons and have played their share of wrong notes at our house as they practiced their lessons and prepared for recitals.

Yesterday, I sat in 90-degree heat and scorching sun on metal bleachers as I watched Jonathan Jr. stand at attention and then proudly raise his trumpet to the ready. The drum major clicked off the tempo and the band sprang into action as they marched and began to play.

I was flooded with emotion as I could see his dad and uncles doing the exact thing in the years gone by. Our sons are four years apart and all played in Marching Band, Jazz Band, Winter Drumline, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble. That means 12 years of High School band performances and Band Booster involvement.

As I’ve done at every other Marching Band performance, I hooted and hollered so that my child, and now grandchild, knew I was there, feet stomping with thunderous applause.

As we congratulated Jonathan Jr. after the performance, the sheen of layers of sunscreen glistened in the sun, salt crusted around his eyebrows and sweat was dripping from his temples, he said, “I’m committed for all four years!”

Poppa said, “These may well be the best years of your life.”

I told him, “The skills you learn here will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Is it worth it? Absolutely!! The legacy continues! What my husband and I experienced in our youth, we passed on to our children. We supported and participated in their musical endeavors and now, today, we see that carried on in the lives of our grandchildren.

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Through her speaking and writing, Lauren encourages people with her heartfelt messages and practical presentations. She is the author of The Art of Helping – What to say and Do When Someone is Hurting.  Lauren and her family are active in both church and community choral groups. She lives in Redlands, CA.