Call it Magic

     I am a musician. Music has always been a major part of my life. When I was little my mom had me take piano lessons. From that small spark, my love for music has exploded. My grandfather, Dr. Blackinton, is a professional trumpet player, and I always enjoyed watching him play. It was no surprise to my family when I decided to join band in Middle School, nor was it surprising that the trumpet was my instrument of choice. Over the years I continued to grow my musical inventory: piano, trumpet, singing, guitar, ukelele, with some minor experience with other similar instruments. Trumpet, however, became my favorite. My uncle loaned me his trumpet when I started playing in Middle School, and my grandfather got me a brand new trumpet for my very own for my 16th birthday. I loved trumpet so much that I ended up missing the last three weeks of High School, including my own graduation, because of an opportunity that came up to play in a Brass Band in Nauvoo, Illinois over the summer. It was really difficult for me afterword, because I had to put my trumpet away for two years to serve my Mission to Hawaii. As a trumpet player, two years is a very long time to not play. The muscles in the lips take a while to rebuild (I'm still rebuilding them, over a year after coming home). But I knew it would be worth it.
     Now you are probably wondering, what does this have to do with technology? With social media? Isn't that kind of the theme of this blog? Well, I'm getting there. When I got home and came back to Hawaii for school, I jumped on the opportunity to get in the band program. Unfortunately, it was difficult for me at first; I didn't know who to talk to, or where to go. Then social media comes to the rescue. My friend, over Facebook, invited me to an campfire on the beach. It was there that I met the nephew of one of the band professors on campus. We traded email and phone numbers, and he told me he would get me in touch with his uncle. Sometime between that chance meeting and his uncle contacting me, the professor found out I had some connection to Dr. Blackinton (I'm assuming through Facebook), who was Director of Bands at BYU Provo campus for years, and who this professor had studied under. He also found out that I was involved in the Nauvoo Brass Band, and when he called me he asked me about these two things. I told him that Dr. Blackinton was in fact my grandfather, and it was actually through him that I found out about the NBB opportunity. He asked me if I wanted to get into the band program, which I immediately to in the affirmative. The next day my trumpet and I were officially reunited (I had blown a few notes here and there before hand, but this was a full 2 hour rehearsal) in the Salsa Orchestra on campus. I have since been involved in multiple band organizations on campus, and it has been wonderful.
     Unfortunately, while I was in Hawaii as a missionary, there was a sort of mishap back home with my trumpets. After discussing it with me, my parents decided we didn't need my uncles trumpet anymore, so they sent it back to him so his son can use it in his school. The problem was, all of my cleaning supplies were with that instrument. This may or may not be common knowledge, but the inside of a trumpet can get very...nasty if not cleaned regularly. Every month I run water through the instrument and scrub it out with what is called a snake (picture below). Every three months or so, I like to give it a full bath, letting it sit in the bathtub soaked in vinegar water for about 30 minutes, then brushing it with the snake.  It is very important to do; imagine the buildup that can be caused from blowing into the horn for several hours a day....nasty. Now like I said above, my snake (as well as some other things I used to clean the trumpet) were in the case with my uncle's trumpet. Meaning when I came here to school with my trumpet, I did not have any cleaning supplies. Meaning no monthly cleanings. No quarterly baths. Gross. Another problem. I live in the small town of Laie, on the North Shore of Oahu. The nearest music store, that I know of, is in Honolulu. That is about an hour drive...but I don't have a car. There is a bus, but that is almost 2 hours. With my school and work schedule, I don't have the time to go to Honolulu anytime I want. And even if I did, the bus doesn't go directly to the music store. It involves a walk through the city. Time I unfortunately do not have.

Trumpet Cleaning Snake

    So now you can see my dilemma. Social Media to the rescue, yet again! This week...today actually, I finally got fed up with not having a way to clean my trumpet (it's been over a year now....GROSS). I don't even want to know what's living inside of it right now. I have watered it down a bit, and attempted giving it a bath, but I still need at least a snake to really CLEAN the thing. I remembered earlier this week I had purchased the new Coldplay album from Amazon (yes, I love Coldplay, and unfortunately Wal-Mart and Target are just too far away...I was desperate, OK?) and I thought..."Hey. If I can't get my cleaning supplies from a store, why don't I look online to get them? It worked with 'Ghost Stories'." So I went on Amazon. Sure enough, everything I needed was a few clicks away. By this time next week, I should have everything I need and my trumpet will get its LONG needed bath. Finally.
    The moral of this long-winded, seemingly pointless story? Social Media, and technology in general, has helped me, even in my musical endeavors. Could I have accomplished these things before Social Media? Could I have gotten in contact with the music department without Facebook, eMail, and Phone? Sure. Could I have gotten my cleaning supplies before Amazon? Of course. Was technology the only solution? No. But it made it easier. Which can be a blessing and a curse. In todays society, MANY things are made easier with Social Media, and technology in general. But it is a two edged sword; for some people, it has become a crutch they [think they] cannot live without. People become reliant on these things, to the point where they feel helpless without their phone or their laptop. Heck, you can see that just in my story; If it weren't for Amazon, my trumpet would not be getting its bath next week. I could have made the time to get to a store, if I was desperate enough. I could have asked around campus to find out where the Music department was located, and which professors to talk to. Did those thoughts cross my mind? Not until recently...possibly not until I was writing this blog.
     There are so many things that Social Media and technology makes easier. That's why they were invented; to make life easier, in some way. We just need to remember that they are tools for us to use, not crutches for us to lean on. Once we become dependent, it is hard to reacquire independence. That is my rant for the week.....