I love music. When I was in high school, a new music teacher offered use of a school instrument plus free lessons to anyone who would join the band. My best friend and I went for it. She got the tenor saxophone; I got the trombone. When the band came together for our first rehearsal, we stank; it was every person for himself, but we learned.

And I’ve learned some positive life lessons along the way from my musical encounters.

1) Learn the basics. When I first blew into my trombone, I got nothing. I blew harder; still nothing. You have to clamp your lips tightly together, then kind of spit the air through them. I was rewarded with a lovely blat, and promptly was encouraged to practice outside. Grampa said he could hear me down at his house when he was in the garden. (I think he meant that as a compliment.) Once you have the basics, keep on learning. Isaiah 28:10 says, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”

2) Follow the leader. The junior high chorus I accompanied was performing “This Little Light of Mine.” The director inserted a fermata (hold) between “let” and “my” in, “I’m gonna let my little light shine,” and reminded the students to watch her. When we reached that spot, several m-m-m-m-m-my’s made their appearances, with many red faces of those not paying attention. In the end, with all eyes fixed on her, the director was able to hold that pause for as long as she wanted without fear of anyone jumping in for an impromptu solo. In 1 Peter 2:21, we’re advised to follow Christ’s footsteps. He is, after all, the Ultimate Leader.

3) Counting is critical. I was playing with a municipal band at an outdoor concert and we were down to the final measures of “Gaslight Gaieties.” The trombones were playing on the beat after a two-measure rest. Guess who made her solo debut on the last rest. Counting is critical in life, too. In Psalm 90:12 we’re told to “number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

4) Focus is essential – keep your eyes on your own page. Last summer, while practicing duets with my piano partner, I noticed she had this beautiful run of notes. My eyes latched onto her music and I promptly lost my place. Not unlike my brother’s admonition to “keep your eye on the ball” when playing softball, focusing on my own music will keep me in better contact with the notes I should be playing, rather than those I dream of playing. In everyday application, if I concentrate on what I have, I won’t waste time worrying about what I think I need.

The Apostle Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11).

5) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. There are seven Psalms that include this phrase. Some refer to singing; some to instruments; all encourage joyful noise. Awhile ago, I convinced my church choir to do “Swing Down Chariot,” a huge arrangement in four parts. We adapted it to our own style and ran with it. In the end, the arrangers probably wouldn’t have recognized the piece, but it gave me great joy to hear the choir give it their best effort. I was pleased with the result, and I like to think we made the angels smile, too.

6) Listening is crucial. Our music teacher told us, “If you can’t hear the person beside you, you’re playing or singing too loud.” James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” We’re all in this together.

7) Don’t be afraid to start over. I was accompanying a middle-school chorus at a year-end megaconcert and they came in too early. The director simply stopped everything, smiled at the kids, then at the audience, and said, “Take two.” We sailed through the piece without a hitch. Every day is a chance to start over, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13).

In this new year, my prayer is that we’ll all take time to read the Bible and learn the basics; follow our leader, our lord and savior, Jesus Christ; count our blessings; keep our focus on “things above” (Colossians 3:2); spread the joy; listen more, speak less; and try, try, again, to be the people God would have us be.

Happy New Year!

Brenda J. Norris is assistant Sunday school leader and choir director at the West Lubec Methodist Church. She may be reached via bdnreligion@bangordailynews.net. Voices is a weekly commentary by Maine people who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.