THE AUDITION

“I didn’t make it Papa. I missed by 3 points”. It was my grand daughter Shea calling to tell me her audition for the honors band had not gone well. As always, she was very direct and honest, even though it was a difficult call for her to make.

Shea plays the clarinet. Except for some occasional help from her band directors at school she has taught herself how to play. She even writes her own music. She created a composition called “Papa’s Song” which she proudly played for us at a family birthday party. While other kids her age were bopping around with Miley Cyrus on their i-Pods, Shea was listening to Artie Shaw, a famous clarinetist from the big band era. At least that is what I think she was listening to. It’s hard to tell when she has ear plugs in her ears and appears oblivious to everything around her. She made the school band and played in several concerts where we proudly watched as she sat rigidly upright, intently focused on the conductors wand.

Not being one to be satisfied with the status quo Shea wanted to try out for the honors band. She was extremely nervous for the one on one audition with the band director. She told me that as soon as she started playing her nerves calmed down and she performed well. But her early uneasiness cost her enough points that she was not selected. Her forthright manner in discussing what was a set back for her was admirable.

In an effort to do what grandfathers do I told her how proud I was of her. How you can never win the game if you are not in the game. How can you fault a young girl who has the courage to attempt something when one of the consequences can be rejection. I do not have any worries about Shea being a success in life.