My Afterglow Moment: Donald Trump, Les Mis, and My Trombone Teacher
My Afterglow Moment is a series where staff writers and editors share their favorite music-related memories.
Written by Simon Tolman
The day after Trump was elected, I had a trombone lesson. I had been taking lessons from my teacher Carrie for six years at the time and because of my family’s work on the “Vote No Against Marriage Inequality” campaign in Minnesota, Carrie trusted me enough to be open about her relationship with her female partner, creating a close bond between us. With many of her other students, Carrie had to refer to her partner as her “roommate” in fear that the truth might hurt her business. My lesson with Carrie that day became my most special personal memory attached to music, so this summer I caught back up with her to talk about the day.
When I arrived at my lesson that day, I knew that Carrie shared my feelings of hopelessness and sadness over the tragic election results. We talked briefly about how painful it was and then decided to just play some music to get our minds off of it. She reflects on how she felt that day, explaining “I was depressed. As has always been the case when I’ve been depressed, music served as my sanctuary.” We had been working on a Les Misérables songbook at the time, and she had me play “Bring Him Home” with CD accompaniment. “Bring Him Home” is an aching prayer of a song, and when I finished the piece, Carrie was crying. She is a woman of such composure and it was strange, even shocking, to see her in tears. “When you played that beautiful arrangement, we had been working on trombone for six and a half years. We had developed a high level of trust. So when I heard your ascending octave at the beginning of that beautiful piece and the musicality that followed, I felt safe in crying,” she says, looking back.
It was a healing moment. She told me that it made her realize she had "the best job in the world." She says “music, specifically chord progressions, and empathy comprise much of my spiritual identity. My work with music students combines those things in a way I find deeply meaningful.”
It’s easy to assume that Carrie doesn’t live the most luxurious life. She teaches music lessons all day, every day in the living room of a small house she shares with her wife. But, her constant positive attitude and her wholehearted love for her job prove otherwise. I’ve always loved music, but this memory and the connection I felt with Carrie that day help me never take for granted how truly powerful it can be and how it can move you when you need it most.