1972, we moved out of Philly to a near by suburb that had a very strong music program. It was my first day of second grade at our new school when I walked into the "bandroom" by accident. I now believe that it was not a mistake but a subliminal action. As I entered the large room with a small theater like presence I heard the opening drum crashes of "Fanfare for the Common Man". Wide eyed and shocked that there were no musicians in the room I walked in further to see where they all were........No one in sight except for a woman sitting at her desk doing paper work. Then it happened! The first notes of the trumpet poured into the room with a sound that stirred my little soul. I knew I was in the wrong room but was frozen in my tracks. The teacher finally noticed me after about 20 seconds and motioned me to her desk. As I walked to her desk I could not take my eyes off those big wooden boxes in the front of the room. She asked me what classroom I was looking for and she would point me in the right direction. Eyes still fixed on those boxes which were now playing the full scale melody of rich brass works I held my schedule out in her direction. She was the most understanding teacher I have ever had, never spoke a word as I stood there with arm extended, paper in hand staring at the speakers in awe. She waited until the Fanfare was over then tried to regain my attention which was still fixed on those big speakers.......She was so cool that she walked me to my new homeroom and explained to my teacher that the new student had got himself lost on his first day. She then told my homeroom teacher that she wanted me brought back to the bandroom after class was over.
After class I went back to the bandroom and was introduced to Mrs. Holly, the elementary schools music director. She asked me if I liked the piece of music I heard that morning? "Yes". Had I ever heard it before? "No". With those two short answers she must have been inside my head because she wasted no time going to a locker and pulling out a trumpet, handed it to me, and walked to the turntable. Pointed to the chair that was sitting where the conductor would stand, but facing the front of the room instead of the musicians. There "they" were again! Those two enormous wooden wonders that captured my attention that morning. With a thunderous crash Fanfare for the Common Man exploded before my eyes and ears again, and when the trumpet intro began I knew immediately that the piece of bent up metal with ivory buttons I was holding in my hands was the very same instrument that I was hearing. I became a trumpet player the next day and have been ever since that day. As for the speakers, a Giant pair of Altec Lansing horns! I was hooked from that day on.......an audiophile in the making. All thanks to an elementary school music teacher with an Audiophile ear. I realized much later how awesome she was to have a nice chair sitting in the sweet spot for me to experience quality sound for the very first time............Thank You Mrs. Holly and God Bless You!
