by Inman Hebert
Community service can be an important part of the holiday season. From food banks to toy drives, people band together to serve others. As horn players, we are musicians and community members, so we have unique opportunities to help others during the holiday season by spreading the joy of music throughout our communities.
Holidays are filled with social interactions, celebrations, and events. For some, holiday stress is heightened by struggling with expectations or increasing feelings of loneliness. In volunteer work to help others, we spark happiness within ourselves, find a sense of purpose, improve our communication skills, and establish new or develop existing relationships that connect us with our local community.
Volunteering allows us to focus on an audience that matters to us in places where the needs cannot be filled with professional orchestras or professional ensembles. Playing the horn can give joy to those often overlooked by society. Especially during the holidays, music can transport both those who play and those who listen to another place and time, evoking memories and emotions. Listening to music elevates mood and triggers sensations of well-being. Music enriches lives and brings people together for a shared experience.
Service also fulfills a vital professional role in the horn community: outreach. Often, the public views the horn with an air of mystery. Few people know anything about the instrument besides its beautiful shape. By playing more in our communities, we can demystify the horn. We show that the horn not only belongs in a concert hall but also plays an intrinsic role in the community.
How can we locate service opportunities for the horn? As students, we can contact mentors, music teachers, band directors, or professors for existing outreach. Universities may have well-resourced community programs. Band directors often have local connections, such as with local assisted-living facilities. We can research local music groups. Established groups may have venues in which they spread music across the community. Do not be afraid to reach out to them; they will appreciate your help! Volunteer to get involved with whatever groups are around.
Even if we cannot find a preexisting group, we can create our own! Find other students with a similar passion for serving the community. As music students, we are surrounded by other talented, passionate musicians. With those other students, set up public events. Play at parks, retirement homes, schools, or community centers. By playing in these public places, we build connections in the community.
Music is a universal language that connects people. Whether playing carols at a park or educating others about instruments, student horn players can be ambassadors for the horn and share our talents to impact our communities with service, creating musical bonds that spread our love of the horn throughout our society.
