Keaton McAuliffe
Reporter
When people think of instruments, they think of the normal violin, drums, flute, or trumpet. They rarely consider those such as ukulele, sousaphone or even cowbell. But some students at NCHS do more than just consider them; they play them.
While most students are on the couch in the midst of their homework, watching their favorite TV show, junior Charlotte Burch is working out a new song on her ukulele.
“I’ve loved music my entire life,” she said. “Any instrument that I pick up I’ve always found like really entertaining and it’s also like an escape from the stress of high school and something to focus on other than school work or social life.”
NCHS offers a variety of instrumental options for students through choir, band and orchestra. But for many, like Charlotte, they’re not interested in the “common” instrument.
Senior Molly James, who has been playing the tuba and the sousaphone (to hear one, click here) for four and a half years, is also an advocator of strange musical choices. “In fifth grade I played the trombone but I thought, ‘I don’t want to play this instrument anymore. It’s too common’. I wanted to be different I guess.”
Senior Neal Koller also got his start playing a unique instrument through his past experiences and exposure to a common instrument, “I started playing drums/percussion in fourth grade. I’ve always been interested in music and as a fourth grade boy, drums were the most appealing to me.”
When Neal joined the high school band, his percussion background was extended to introduce him to different instruments, where he eventually found one he enjoyed the most, “As a drummer/percussionist, I get to play a lot of different instruments, my favorite being the cow bell,” Neal said. “When we used the cow bell in a song for band and performed it at a school wide assembly, I sort of went crazy.”
These students also acquired inspiration for their passions from different places and people in music. Charlotte was drawn to the ukulele by the band Train, “I’ve been listening to their music since I was a little kid and when they came out with their song “Hey, Soul Sister” freshman year, I fell in love with the song and loved listening to it and so I thought maybe I’d like to play the ukulele.” To view a ukulele tutorial of “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train, check out this link.
“I used Will Ferrell from SNL’s “More Cowbell” skit as my inspiration,” Neal said. To watch the SNL “More Cowbell” skit, click here.
For any student who has found a unique instrument they want to start playing, band teacher Mr. Cranston has some tips. “Most students playing weird instruments have private teachers,” he said.
But for others, like Charlotte, it is simple and easy to teach yourself.
“Practice, practice, practice listen to recordings or watch videos on YouTube,” Mr. Cranston added.
For Molly and Charlotte, these weird instruments are going to be a significant part of their futures. “I’m looking at colleges which have strong music programs as well as academics. I’m going to try to play it for as long as I can,” Molly said.
Charlotte agrees, “My ukulele will go with me to college and beyond. It’s a part of me, a part of my personality.”
