NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

During the Litomysl church festival, I did something I haven’t done in about 15 years: play the trumpet in public, at the polka mass. Let me back up in time first.

I played trumpet all through school in New Ulm. I was above average, which qualified me for first chair at tiny CHS. In middle school, a group of parents decided that some of us who were both friends and musicians should form a polka band. Thus, the Southsiders was formed!

We had fun with a couple of trumpets, a concertina, a sax, and some drums. We played at local festivals, nursing homes, in parades, and even outside the Metrodome before a couple of Twins games.

When I headed to Winona for college, I helped re-found the pep band that had been defunct. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, but we rocked the house for basketball games in my last three years there, and it continues to this day.

As I arrived at NRHEG, I was loath to give up this instrument that I enjoyed so much. I would sometimes step in and play with the pep band before games. However, as I started announcing more, that fell by the wayside, as did any playing at all.

Fast forward to this past year: Jayna has taken up the trumpet, to my eternal delight. Her godfather, Galen, plays with a group called Litomyslaneous for the polka mass and asked if Jayna might join them for a few pieces. I got the music, and Jayna practiced the songs. However, as we got closer, I listened and realized she wasn’t advanced enough to play at the pace needed for polka.

I talked to Galen, and he said that perhaps I should join them. I panicked a bit; I hadn’t played regularly since those early years at NRHEG, but decided to give it a shot.

If you’ve never played an instrument in front of a large group, you have no idea of the fear that goes into hitting that first note. If you can just get it right, the rest will be fine. Rest assured, especially with a trumpet, if you are off, EVERYONE will know, even the least musically-conscious.

I made it through the songs I had, but my lip was shot. Brass players know of what I speak. Go ahead, if you used to play an instrument; take it out again and try it. This is not quite like riding a bicycle. I could still remember all the fingerings as if it had been 15 years ago, but playing an instrument takes practice and getting in shape, just like a sport.

I need to play trumpet more often. It was such a kick to play with that group and play polka music again that I wouldn’t mind doing it more in the future, but I will be better prepared.

One of the things Michelle and I agreed we would force our kids to do was learn music and take piano lessons. Music brings so much happiness in life that we felt it was one of those things our kids should have in their lives. We were lucky to find a great piano teacher in Courtney Klocek, who has done a fabulous job of guiding the kids toward that same love of music.

Once more, if you used to play an instrument, try it again. You don’t need to go in front of a group, but you might rediscover that joy or even find that something you might not have liked years ago isn’t such a bad thing.

There are so many people I talk to who say they wish they had learned to play an instrument. It’s never too late! Learn piano, pick up a guitar, do something to enhance that musical element in your life. Encourage your children to play something.

Think about all the great music on the radio or on your iPod. Those people might have bucked against learning an instrument at one time, but what would you do without Aerosmith or Carrie Underwood? Being able to play music is a lifetime gift that you can give to yourself and many others.


Word of the Week: This week’s word is dauntless, which means fearless, as in, “The dauntless musician dusted off his trumpet after many years and played before hundreds of people.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

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