The Flute

If you guys know me, you'll know that I play the flute.

It all started when I was born * dramatic Morgan Freeman voice*. My family was a bunch of musicians and dancers, my grandma is a choreographer, my grandpa was a musician that can play any instruments that you can think of, and all of their children including my mom, has some kind of musical or dancing ability. My mom wanted me to do either one of them so I choose music.

I started having guitar lessons in 3rd grade, I wasn't that good but I can play well but I have to read music sheets, I don't have the musical sense and talent to improvise, unlike my brothers and cousins, I was more in the visual arts side, but nevertheless I enjoyed playing and hearing music. I had guitar lessons for about 6 years, I even bought a white Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar just because I want a guitar like Frank Iero's (yes, it was the emo era). But really, I'm not close to good in playing the guitar, but I enjoyed it.

first days of flute lessons...ah the good ol days

Later, I took a break from guitar lessons from senior high. Then, I went to college in Bandung. My aunt has a house there, that is quite big, because her house is also a music course place. I like to stay there in the weekends to have free food and the Wi-Fi is fast. But my aunt has something different in mind, she asked me one time, "Do you want to take music lessons? I think you need to do something in this house rather than just sleep." Lol...I was caught, but I said yes to the idea.

The very next week during my weekly stay there, she gave me a box. She said, "Your lesson is on fridays okay?" than she left. I opened the box and it was a case. Then I opened the other case and inside there was a flute! A freakin flute. Totally random, because never in my mind that I will play a wind instrument, because you see, I have asthma and also it just never crossed my mind. Later she told me that the flute is somewhat harder to blow than other wind instruments, so by playing the flute is like somekind of therapy for my asthma. She also said that the flute plays melodies, unlike the guitar that can play the both the melody and the rhythm, so it will be easier for me to play it. The box still has the price too and it's quite expensive so I think it's like my aunt's strategy to make me feel guilty and low-key forcing me to take the flute lessons.

So long story short I started my lessons, and man it was hard, every time I finished I had headaches and tingling sense in my nose and my hand also hurts. But it was fun though.

A couple of months since the lessons I found out there was a orchestra in my campus, so I joined because I think my flute playing skills can be improved. The I met some seniors that are flute players too. I joined the orchestra because I wanted to learn, but nope, the orchestra put me in some shows immediately, despite my super limited skills. But hey, challenges are a way to improve. Luckily I have seniors that can hide my mistakes when playing. (But now I play alone though)

My flute case (I had to make things more appropriate)

Guess which one is me.

Till now, I performed in some shows in my campus, and it is hella fun. Before writing this post I was performing in my campus with Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley and people singed along.  Although being an introvert,  I do enjoy performing, but not alone, the flute requires to have some companionship so I always perform with other people. I am not that good at playing the flute, but I really enjoyed it. And playing a kinda "rare" instrument, has it benefits, I am pretty sure that I performed so much because it's isn't a common instrument, not because I'm crazy talented.  I've only played it for 2.5 years.

The flute has made me lots and lots of new friends, new and interesting experiences, and the most important is, the Flute has gave me a new found confidence. Thank you you cylindrical piece of metal.
And also thank you to my aunt, because of her super random idea, all of this happened.