A MIDDLE-CLASS man forced to learn the bassoon as a child has reflected on how useful that skill has been to him in adulthood.
Joseph Turner spent countless hours aged between eight and 16 learning the wind instrument, and now as a 49-year-old is recognising how worthwhile that was.
He said: “The bassoon is a harsh mistress but a rewarding one. Where would I be without her?
“I’ll never forget the thrill of making it through Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze without a single wrong note. While my peers were partying and making sweet love, I was coaxing beauty from my instrument. No regrets.
“And it’s stayed with me ever since, in the loft. Do I still play it? No, not these last 33 years, but I remember the lessons it taught me. Controlled breathing. Accurate fingering. Reading music.
“Admittedly none of those things help in my career as an actuary, but all my middle-class peers have flute, guitar, piano or French horn to grade 5, so it must contribute somehow.”
He added: “Of course I’m passing it down. Elbert is learning classical guitar and Lark’s a whiz on the harp. They’ll thank me for it.”
