music from a teacher

My school life was spent in Sussex, England and was far from a pleasant experience. Looking back, my most pleasurable school time memories seem to stem from music. I had only been attending school for two or three years, when a sudden burst of music erupted the routine in the form of a new teacher who was musically inclined.

Along with starting a guitar playing class after school, which I was unable to participate in due to not owning a guitar, this new staff member began to include popular music in the school life. I first began to notice music as something other than my Mother singing around the house because of this teacher's enthusiasm.

One specific song that stands out from my memories is Morningtown Ride by The Seekers. When first hearing it, I was opened to a new style of music that I discovered I had a liking for. Looking back, I recall mistaking several of the words at the time, but I recall listening intently to the enjoyable melody and well-blended vocals. It appealed strongly to my imagination, which set off into a colorful daydreaming whenever hearing the song. The teacher played it in class a few times, and at extra curricular activities such as choir and end of year parties.

Later in life, I heard this song again. I remembered it with a smile and heard the lyrics correctly. I laughed at my earlier errors. I purchased the tune as a vinyl single during my teens, and later on as an album, still enjoying the atmosphere and trail of ideas and pictures it conjured up for me. These days, I rarely play the song, but when I do, I generally wear a reminiscent smile.