Once a band nerd . . .

Off to band rehearsal tonight, with the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band. The band, which has been around for 23 years, is known far and wide (Ballard to Federal Way at least) for its devotion to those old-fashioned marches, by John Philip Sousa and his contemporaries (O. R. Farrar, Henry Fillmore, and other luminaries of the 19th and early 20th century march genre.)

We're a sedentary band in part because members range in age from 20-something to 80-something, and because...well, why NOT a sedentary Sousa band? We even have a sedentary majorette.

I joined about 3 years ago, urged on by my son, who plays French horn. "Get your flute out and start practicing," he said, after I incautiously said "That looks like fun" after one of the band's outdoor concerts.

It is fun. We play for a variety of spring and summer events in Seattle, usually beginning with the Syttende Mai parade in Ballard (celebrating Norwegian Independence Day, May 17.) One year the only transport we could find was a yellow school bus, not the easiest venue for a full-throated band performance. But the trombones pointed their slides out the windows, the drums held back a bit, and we were off! When we played the Norwegian national anthem, elderly ladies in national costume waved their miniature flags and cheered us on!