The second earliest vivid memory I have is of being at school in a music lesson. We started to play the recorders under the instruction from the teacher. I was trying my best, as I like to do things right. So I was smashing out 'Three Blind Mice' on this recorder as best I could, giving it the full welly treatment because when I do something I do it properly. So, as I was playing the teacher came over to speak to me, and I was thinking, I am nailing this. Here comes the teacher to give me some praise. Unfortunately none of these things transpired. The teacher removed me from the group and sent me out of the classroom because she thought I was being bad at the recorder on purpose. This was heart-breaking for me, as I was genuinely trying the best I could. How badly must I have been playing for the teacher to think I was being shit on purpose? I was just shit and enthusiastic.

from A Class Act by Rob Beckett, 2022 
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Instrumentation
Descant Recorder
Teaching Assistant
Class (minimum of 20 recorders for audience to perform on)

Duration
10 Minutes

​Dedication
Written for and Commissioned by The Hadit Collective.