Many musicians have a story about a particular piece or performance that made them fall in love with the music so intensely that they knew they wanted to dedicate the rest of their lives to pursuing it as a career path. I never really understood that thunderbolt of clarity. My love for the craft grew out of a combination of moments. I loved the events, the people I got to meet, the variety of music, and the characters I got to explore. The most significant of these moments came from my time participating in chamber music, most specifically the brass quintet.

Love as a Performer: I still remember a dress rehearsal for a college recital that took place late in the evening at a local church. It was an old, stone building with fabrics draped from the ceilings and along the walls, with stained glass windows peeking out between each strand. While there was quite a bit of echo, there was enough carpet and fabric to absorb the sound to where it was just right. Our quintet was running through a piece called Nice and Calm by Doug Morton. It is technically simple to play, but musically difficult as every player is highly exposed. I can recall the feeling of what it was like when we started playing and the air seemed to change. We knew the piece well, just needing to watch for the slightest of cues or listen for our neighbor's breath. Once the sound of the final chords faded into the empty stone hall, we sat there in the overwhelming silence with big smiles on our faces. Though it was only about five minutes of a two-hour rehearsal, it was a memorable feeling that took all five of us to be engaged and present in the moment to create.

Love as an Audience Member: We had an opportunity to see the faculty brass quintet perform. I enjoyed many of the works, but one that I keep returning to on my playlist is  Street Song by Michael Tilson Thomas. I’ve heard several groups perform it since, and I always love the different colors and cinematic nature. It’s one of the pieces I can just listen to for the love of enjoying the music rather than getting distracted by listening critically as a musician.

Love as a Lifelong Learner:  I traveled a lot with brass quintets. We went to conferences, competitions, schools, camps, and more. Once I got to perform Quintet No. 1 by Victor Ewald in a quintet playing on traditional brass band instruments, making me develop a new level of appreciation for the history of the craft. These experiences opened doors to a variety of opportunities, interests, and new ways of thinking.



Whether you had a thunderbolt of clarity or a collection of small moments, everyone’s love for their artistic craft is unique. Hopefully, this article helps you recall some of the people, music, events, sculptures, paintings, or other significant moments in your journey of falling in love with your craft.