JD’s love of music began with an old upright piano.
Growing up, the piano sat in the family home. While it was a wonderful thing to have, it came with one small problem, it could never quite hold its tune. As JD began taking piano lessons and learning the slide trombone, the out-of-tune instrument became a source of frustration. “The sound that I heard in my inner ear never matched what the piano was playing,” JD recalls.
Unfortunately, the trombone often took the brunt of that frustration. “I would slam it down on the floor,” he says with a laugh, “slightly bending the curve of the brass until it was almost flat.”
Looking back, JD says that old piano taught him something valuable. “I should thank that piano,” he reflects. “It taught me to trust my inner ear and sharpen my listening when hearing music.” That lesson stayed with him. During his college years, JD joined the elite A Cappella Choir, where he was surrounded by fellow students studying music and developing a deeper understanding of sound and pitch.
Today, music continues to play a central role in JD’s life. As a resident at Regis Frankston in Victoria, JD shares his love of music with others. Whether singing on his own or as part of a group, it remains both grounding and uplifting. “Singing by myself helps keep my mind alert and warms my soul,” he says. “When I’m in a group, it’s fun to share and learn new songs and sounds.”
While JD no longer plays the slide trombone, his connection to music has never faded. He regularly sings with the resident choir, performing Christmas carols and recently taking part in the One Voice Choir. The invitation to join in singing at the home was a turning point. “That invite opened the door for me to express myself through music again,” he says.
Since then, JD has continued to explore new ways to connect with music, including an interest in learning the violin, proof that it’s never too late to try something new. “You’re never too young or old to learn new ways of expressing yourself through music.”
JD’s taste in music is as wide-ranging as his experiences. From Gregorian chants to disco and soft rock, he enjoys an eclectic mix, with a particular love for classical composers like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Handel, as well as hymns, musicals and songs from classic films.
One song stands out as his favourite, Harold Hill’s rendition of Seventy-Six Trombones from the 1962 film The Music Man. “It’s not because of any special message,” JD explains. “I just find it encouraging. It invites my mind to imagine endless possibilities.” The song reminds JD that dreams can take many forms. “Some dreams, like developing an interest in music, can become worthwhile pursuits,” he says. “Others are better left as pipe dreams, like convincing myself I could have been a great Major League Baseball player. Given my physique, that clearly isn’t going to happen.”
