The moment that changed my life….

July 1st, 2009 › Personal › Amanda Williamson ›

There are moments in all our lives when we realise something important has happened and it will have a lasting impact. For me it was a small – and not entirely pleasant sound, that changed my life – the sound of a recorder!

Where and when? At primary school, as I passed by a classroom, peaked around the door to see where the sound was coming from, and was suddenly gripped by the desire to acquire a recorder and join in with the group as soon as possible. (I still have that old wooden recorder – although I have to say I later upgraded to an ‘Aulos’, which didn’t clog up with saliva quite so badly!)

Such an insignificant moment – life changing?

Yes, definitely. Because the musical ability I found I had through playing the recorder, led, directly, to some of the most positive experiences of my youth:

I learnt to play the flute and joined the school band. I went abroad with the band (to Dieppe in France), and this was my first ever trip out of the country. (As a family we only ever went to Overstrand near Cromer).

I joined the choir. The choir contributed to an episode of ‘Songs of Praise’ and I saw myself on tele! (I recall we trooped over to a neighbours house to watch the broadcast on colour TV because we only had a black and white set).

When I left school and went to University I joined the ‘Keswick Hall Choir’, a professional and well renowned choir and we sang in Cathedrals and great halls and public places, including West Minister Abbey on one occasion.

Engaging with music brought me into contact with people who were ‘well brought up’ and academic and nice. Often I felt they came from a more ‘privileged’ background than I did – but our musical ability gave our relationships equality.

In my particular case, learning to play the recorder impacted on my sense of self and my self-confidence. Where would I have been without it?