Excused Music

It's funny how things come back to you without prompting, sometimes after decades. But I still remember that particular morning in the infants' class, because I believe it may have changed my life.

There we were - all five-year-olds - singing lustily away at the top of our voices. I don't remember what we were singing, but I do remember the teacher, dark and be-spectacled. She was young, but of course to us she was ancient. Then, with her head tilted and crouching a little, she came along the line, to listen to each child in turn, her forehead crumpled with concern. The infant voices rose and fell in almost perfect harmony.

She stopped in front of me, her face clearing, and she smiled, "Oh, it's you dear - you needn't sing any more. I've got something else for you to do. You can tidy the stores cupboard."

After that, and for the rest of my school career, I was always "Excused Music".