Did you like the French horn? Or was it pulling teeth either way?
I always wonder about music because I have zero aptitude for it and came from a family that was the same. They figured I'd be a pain in the ass if they tried to force it (happened to my dad, who I think butchered the violin something fierce) and if it made no one happy, the energy could be spent elsewhere.
I liked band and orchestra. And I chose the French horn, at the time, in 5th grade. So it wasn't exactly like pulling teeth. I love music, I have a good voice and spent time in choir as well, and I love being able to read music. So overall I'm "good" at music and enjoy all aspects of it.
But the French horn is the most difficult of all the keyed brass instruments to play, primarily because it has the smallest mouthpiece. And I have relatively big lips so it was even more difficult for me to play.
The problem is, every kid wants to play trumpet or trombone or saxophone. Very very few want to play French horn. So elementary and middle school band directors, devious little shits that they were, steer unsuspecting kids to the French horn, to make their numbers. I got roped into that, and my parents didn't know any better to prevent it from happening. I mean, I already owned a trumpet that was given to me by a neighbor, and I wanted to play trumpet, and the band director convinced me I was a "natural" at French horn, despite the fact that my physical attributes made me decidedly NOT a natural.
So years later, I regret spending a MASSIVE amount of time on an instrument that's difficult to play at all, and even more difficult to make it sound good. Don't get me wrong, when played well, the French horn is a beautiful instrument, and it's vital to the sound of every symphony orchestra. But to be able to play at that level takes not only a ton of time and dedication, but simply, the physical makeup to be able to do so. I didn't have it and never was going to.
