I’m so proud of my son today. In our district, 6th graders start out with only 4 instrument choices (flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone). After they learn the basics, they may apply to switch to another instrument in the same family. He told me he was thinking of switching to euphonium. But then I read him the information about switching, which required attending a “play day” to try the instruments, applying (there are limited spots), and if chosen they have to take private lessons. When he heard that he said “Never mind. I don’t want to switch.”
It was clear to me that anxiety was rearing its ugly head. I told him it wouldn’t hurt to try the instruments. The play day was today. He was scared to go in because I couldn’t go with him (it was at the middle school). He and his friend were both scared, but went in together when I walked them to the door and showed them that there were signs for them to follow.
When he came out he said his band teacher was very enthusiastic about his attempt with the tuba, saying it’s the quarterback of the band. Super important and hard to find a good one. So now he wants to play tuba. He has submitted his application and we find out if he switches the week of November 1, but he’s confident he will be chosen, given the teacher’s response.
I know he was scared. I know he has many of the anxieties that I’ve had all my life. But I’m so glad he pushed through that anxiety to find something he can feel confident about.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m still giving him a hard time about choosing such a ginormous instrument. And I jokingly complain that he’s going to make me go to football games when he gets to high school and plays in the biggest “standing still” band in the land (I tease that our high school marching band is so big they can’t actually march because they take up the whole field).
But I’m also telling him how proud I am of him. Because I am. I know how hard it is to push through that anxiety.
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