Because the flute tells stories
At the end of September 2008 I began teaching at P.S. 7 in Spanish Harlem. I received this opportunity through the Instrumental Music Program, which is part of the Educational Outreach department at The Juilliard School. Until then I had some experience teaching. I began the first day by asking the students why they wanted to be in band, and why they chose the flute. The answers from the first few were predictable; “I want to be in band with my friends”, “the flute sounds pretty”, etc. Then I ask Antonio. Unable to even make a sound on the instrument, Antonio had been playing for just one week. He did not know how to put the instrument together or how to hold it. When I asked him why he chose the flute he said that the flute tells stories. This was coming from a 12 year old who had no concept or knowledge of classical music.
After this session I asked myself the same questions. My answers for joining the band in the 4th grade were the same as most of my students. I wanted to be in band with my friends and it excused me from our weekly mandatory library time. I did not choose the flute for any special reason. My school only had a band so string instruments where out. No oboes, bassoons, or horns. Basically flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and percussion. I didn’t like the sound of the trumpet, and my father, an amateur clarinetist, warned me of the misery of playing a reed instrument. Basically, I was left with my mother’s old flute. Unfortunately the music program was removed from my school the following year so had I been a year younger my life would be quite different.
For the first few years I was not serious about playing. I had some natural ability but had never had a formal lesson. The summer after 7th grade I went to my first music festival, the Idyllwild Arts Center. At the preliminary seating audition I ranked 12 out of 14. I was completely shocked. I had always been the best player in my band, and although I was not naïve enough to assume I would rank first I certainly did not consider the idea of being one of the weakest players. Following my time at Idyllwild I returned home to San Diego and found I flute teacher. When I returned to Idyllwild the following summer I ranked first. The following year I joined the San Diego Youth Symphony and was picked to serve as first flute. The conductor had such faith in me; he and my flute teacher pushed and encouraged me to go farther with music. At this point music had taken on a very different purpose. It was more than what I wanted to do with my life, it was what I needed to do with my life.
Jesse Schiffman
http://brooklynmusiclessons.com/Jesse-Schiffman
