This spring, the Traverse City Philharmonic launched Act 2. It's an opportunity for adults with little to no musical experience to learn how to play an instrument.
Now through June, the Act 2 participants will learn the fundamentals of reading music, how to handle their instrument and how to play in an ensemble.
Classical IPR has invited two Act 2 participants to give us regular updates about what they're learning and how their new skills are progressing.
Meet Jennifer Wesling
Jennifer Wesling is currently Director of Special Projects at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Since the 1980s, she has served in a variety of roles at Interlochen, from counselor-in-training to Dean of Students.
It's been decades since her last attempts to learn a musical instrument.
"I was last-chair flute in seventh grade band," Wesling said. "I have the program from the concert, and I'm not sure if we were listed alphabetically or by skill level, but either way, I was last."
Early piano lessons were equally unsuccessful, and she hasn't done much with music since then.
"I do sing really well in the car when I'm alone, but I don't consider myself to have really any musical skills," Wesling said.
So why join the Act 2 band now?
"Peer pressure!" she said.
Wesling and several friends, all of whom are connected to Interlochen in different ways, agreed to join the band together.
Tom Wright is learning the horn, Nancy Giffels is learning the trombone and Jean Callum and Marlene Robinson are both learning the clarinet. Wesling herself has picked up sticks to learn percussion.
"We have a group text called 'Seventh Grade Band,'" Wesling said. "We all ride together and go out for burgers afterward."
Wesling shared audio that she recorded during the Act 2 band's second week of rehearsals.
"People are playing notes, they're playing them for the right length of time, they're playing them as a group," she said. "It's kind of impressive."
She's thrilled to be participating, as are a lot of the other members.
"There's just so much joy in that room," she said. "It's big smiles and excitement to be there."
The Traverse City Philharmonic's Act 2 band is meeting weekly through June 10. Classical IPR will provide weekly updates from participants in the program.
