I am a musician. Not professional, but maybe a little bit more than an amateur. I play several instruments, one in a very large concert band, another more eclectic sort with a few other people. It’s fun, cathartic in many ways, and it entertains others (usually). I’m lucky to have the ability and thankful beyond anything my parents made me stick to my saxophone lessons when I was younger.

I encourage people to play, especially if they learned an instrument when they were much younger, but then gave it up after high school or college. I tell them, “It’s like riding a bike!”. And it is. Your muscles never forget how to play.

I know. I stopped playing regularly for several years once I got out of college. Ok, I stopped completely. For nearly ten years. Then one day I moved to a new place, and there was my old saxophone sitting in the back of a closet. I had completely forgotten that I used to play it, and play it quite well, actually. So I decided it was time to play again.

I pulled it out, put it together, found a still-sealed box of reeds in the case, and tootled a bit on it. I was very, very rusty. I kept thinking I couldn’t play it anymore.

So back into a closet it went. But it stayed in my mind. For weeks, then months. I didn’t take it out, but I was very aware it was there. Finally, I did some digging and found a community band that didn’t need auditions, that would take anyone that wanted to play. So I signed up and went to my first rehearsal with them.

The band director gave me some music, and it looked like Greek to me. I was sitting there, holding my saxophone and trying to finger out the notes once again, but I had to think hard to remember what valves to close. One of my fellow saxophonists saw what was happening and told me not to worry.

“You’ll remember how to play the very moment the director raises his baton. Your body remembers. You’ll see! It’s like riding a bike! You never forget.”

He was absolutely right. The very moment the band started playing, my body just took over and the music came out, as if I’d never stopped.

So, if you’re someone who played a lot in high school and/or college, and really, truly enjoyed it, it’s not too late to start up again. Dig that old instrument out of the closet, put it together, find a band and go play again. You’ll remember how to play. Trust me.

It’s like riding a bike.

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