Last friday night my sister invited me to see a symphony at which my high school orchestra teacher was performing. I was not interested in a bout of nostalgia so I made an excuse and stayed home. Over the last few days I have been thinking about my teacher Mrs. Cox, and a few things came to light

Mrs. Cox was the choir and orchestra director. She had the funny habit of "drafting" people out of study hall and into the choir. If she learned that someone who had some talent had a study hall, she would petition the guidance office to send the student to her for choir practice. It was the butt of a few jokes, but a good many of her "draftees" came back to choir the following year. Somebody must have enjoyed him/herself.

My first exposure to Mrs. Cox was when I got involved in working the sound board for one of her Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. I had no idea of what I was doing, but I did try my best. The musical came and went, and outside of me piping Yes through the sound board before a play, I did a good job. I did this for my sophmore and junior year. My senior year someone who had actual knowledge stepped in and took over.

I played the electric bass in my high school jazz band. I started listening to the classics; Duke Ellington, John Coultrane, & Count Basie. This music gave me a desire to play the upright bass. With the secret permission of my Band teacher, I would sneak into the orchestra room and "borrow" an upright bass to practice with during study hall.

I did this for a while but Mrs. Cox was no dummy. She found out about this and politely asked me to join the string orchestra. I did not want to, but she never did take no for an answer. So I started attending the orchestra practices. I found them to be a lot more interesting that I had imagined, but they were difficult. I have a lot of respect for string musicians, the bow is hard to use.

The orchestra practiced on, and when we were ready we went on a few field trips. Mrs. Cox liked to take us to nursing homes. We would set up and give a concert for the patients. Looking back, I remember how much those people appreciated our stopping by. It makes me wish that we had played there more often.

We performed our yearly concert and then orchestra season was over. Sadly it was the last season that our school will ever see. When I was in grade school the school district chose to discontinue bringing new children into stringed instruments. Those that were already participating were allowed to continue, but no new blood was brought in. By the time I was a senior in high school there were only a handful of string musicians left. When I finished the season, my bass was wrapped up and stored in the high school's attic. I imagine that it is still there today.

That year my school saw not only its last orchestra season but Mrs. Cox's last year as a teacher. She retired that june. I don't know what Mrs. Cox thought of this but it must have been hard for her to see the end of a school program that she spent years nurturing. I never really thought of it then, but I'm sure that it hurt her to see the Orchestra die off. I think about the students currently in school. I got to do something that they never will be able to do. It is sad to think about.

Mrs. Cox plays viola in a local symphony. I am going to attend her next concert. If only to say hello. Mrs. Cox did open the door to a world I had never known and I'm grateful. I'm sorry that my thanks are eight years late.