Anywhere you go in either the 1979 Performing Arts Center building or Grant Hall (a renovated grade school from the 1920s), you hear trumpets tootling, English horns emoting, choirs harmonizing. Offices butt up against practice rooms where rehearsals blare nonstop. It’s a wonder anybody can think straight.

This is from an article about the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which is struggling with lack of space.

The thing is, I suspect that the writer meant French horns. It’s highly unlikely that there would be such a large number of English hornists at the school. Oboists, perhaps, but even that is doubtful.

Maybe the writer just used English horns because of the near alliterating? What would one say about French horns, anyway? Oh wait! I know, I know (I say as I hold my hand up high and try to get the teacher’s attention, which is actually something I never would have done while in school): “French horns fumbling.”

🙂

And then there’s this:

“If I could have a 9-to-5 job in something that I kind of like and play in an orchestra on the side, I would be happy,” said graduate bassoonist Michael Harris of Lee?s Summit as he headed off to wind symphony rehearsal.

Wise choice, that. Unless you can’t live if you don’t do music full time, you may as well face reality and get a job that pays a living wage. That bassoonist obviously is saying he can live without full time bassooning.