rowuk

My grandfather died when I was 10. I inherited his cornet (he had played with a factory band in Schenectady). I got my first lessons from the grade school music teacher who was a clarinet player. We got along ok but those lessons didn't do much of anything for me.
At the end of the summer vacation I got a letter from the new junior/senior high band director addressed to Miss Robin... (I am a guy). In the letter he asked all of us to practice because we had a marching gig 4 days after school started. The first day of school we had band and I introduced myself as Miss. Everybody had a laugh. That first time that I met him, I was so impressed that I really practiced hard for that first gig. He gave me private lessons and when he said that he could take me no further, he organised private lessons for me. We played a lot of duets and had a wonderful time with everything musical. He lit the fire. He helped keep me on track during the difficult teen years. We still have contact today. He is now retired, but still the wonderful man I met back then. I will always be greatful to Mitch Haverly.