“It’s not about you,” our director
reminded the band as we sat
behind the curtain, blue overhead

lights waterfalling down, before
we backed up the student dancers
in their end-of-year show.

And she was right. Those in the audience
listening for my parts could not hear them,
nor could they see me at the back

of the stage, which comforted me
about the clunkers I could not avoid.
But it wasn’t about me. It was about us,

all of us, working together to make
music punctuated with outstanding
moments—the piccolo player who

nailed the “Stars & Stripes” solo that
has tortured musicians since 1896.
The drummer who out-Krupa’d

Gene (or at least did him proud)
on “Sing Sing Sing.” The raging guitar
solo, every bit as good as Jimmy’s,

on “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
And, though no one but me could
hear it, the “Stars & Stripes” bells

part that I hit spot-on at last.
Band is a team sport, and, with
the guidance of our good coach,

we scored the extra point,
we made every free-throw,
we hit homer after homer,

upping our game, making
everyone sound good and
having a great time to boot.

•••

With gratitude to Dr. Molly Redfield, music professor and director
of bands at Folsom Lake College, for welcoming me into the symphonic
wind ensemble this semester, and for her excellent conducting
and teaching that helped us all up our game.

And my thanks to my fellow band members, whose kindness
made this newcomer (and certainly its oldest member)
so happy to be in their midst.