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NFMAA students speak with Marine band member

By CHUCK BALLARO 3 min read

news@breezenewspapers.com

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts band program members got an inspirational message from the top last week — a musician who serves one of the most important people in the world, the president.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Leslye Barrett, who has played for “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Corps Band for the past 23 years, spoke to the students and answered their questions about the band and her musical background for 40 minutes.

Christina Moffat, the director of the band program, said the Marine band has picked certain schools to do educational presentations via Zoom so the students can ask questions, learn about the people who perform, and keep them motivated.

“I think they’re reaching out because they know we’re having a hard time with band and kids who aren’t able to perform anything because they can only play outside,” Moffat said. “I was one of the band directors they happened to reach out to and asked to do a presentation.”

Barrett, who plays the oboe, said many people pick up an instrument because they believe it’s something they will enjoy. The key is to keep that joy.

“The more you do something, the more you forget why you started doing it in the first place,” Barrett said. “I never would have expected at your age that I would become a Marine. Just a musician.”

There are very few openings with the band, maybe a handful per year. Those who audition do so behind a curtain so that other band members aren’t persuaded by sex, race, color or creed. As many as 80 tuba players often try out for one position, Barrett said.

“If you make the band, you go to your local recruiter and sign up for the Marines Corps, specific to the band. That way, you don’t get sent to Parris Island. They train new arrivals on all military protocols,” Barrett said.

Like the Marines, there is great attention to detail, commitment to what they do, and great camaraderie, friendships and a family feel are built from playing together all the time, said Barrett, who added she had to recover from music-related injuries that nearly ended her career.

Barrett told the kids they perform at the White House more than 200 times per year and typically tour the country in October. Because of COVID-19, they won’t this year, choosing instead to do educational outreach.

Most important, she encouraged the students to stay with their music, for the pandemic won’t last forever.

“If you have just started, stick with it. There’s a learning curve and you may not sound like you want it to sound, but keep listening, go to You Tube and listen all the time,” Barrett said. “Stick with it.”

The United States Marine Band’s mission is to perform for the U.S. President and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Founded in 1798 by an Act of Congress, the Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization.