Music Factory

I picked up the saxophone in sixth grade and continued playing for four years. In high school, I gave up the instrument for fear of being labeled a band geek. Little did I realize then how little people’s perceptions truly matter. I’ve tried to rectify this mistake later in life, however, and my most recent step in the process was to buy a tenor saxophone.

For years, I’ve admired such jazz saxophone greats as Charlie Parker and Stan Getz. The newer light-jazz sounds of Kenny G and others of his ilk never inspired me much. It’s the classics of the 1940s and ’50s that I find myself listening to repeatedly. Although I don’t harbor any delusions of greatness, I’ve still managed to find a creative outlet.

As any Ohio State football fan will quickly remind you, the dotting of the “i” is one of the most celebrated traditions in all of college sports. Either before the game or during halftime, the all-brass-and-percussion marching band takes the field and forms a the word Ohio in script letters. The drum major is among the most respected positions of the band, but it’s a sousaphone player who gets the honor of dotting the “i.”

The sousaphone is a specialized type of tuba that’s specially made to increase portability. While some tubas are so large and unwieldy that they are best played from a seated position, the sousaphone’s construction is such that it wraps around the player’s body. The instrument got its name from the noted bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa.

I remember when I was in junior high school, and had almost no experience with music, I decided to join the school marching band.  I found that I didn’t fit in with most of the other social groups, so I thought that band would be a solid option.  When I first joined the band, I selected the tuba from all the marching band instruments.  When I first blew the tuba, I discovered that my lungs were not even powerful enough to make the right sound!  But I worked with the music instructor after class and after school, and soon was in the marching band playing the tuba.

Playing the tuba was great because I got to go to all the school football games, and while I was there, I met a lot of fun people.  I also started to develop friendships within the band, and found that a lot of the people in the band shared the same interests as me.  While I never developed a talent for music, I would say, it sure was a great social experience.