Dec 31, 2018, 5:37 pm
Last edit by: tcook052
This new annual thread has been carved out of the previous thread in an effort to reduce the number of megathreads on the AC forum. For those interested previous versions are the original 2004 - 2014 thread , 2015 edition, 2016 edition , 2017 edition and 2018 edition.
The original thread started by accident but quickly became a popular place to come and discuss off topic things such as hockey, new movies, or almost anything that wouldn't fit into existing AC forum threads. Air Canada or Aeroplan topics such as flight feedback, in-flight services issues, status or mileage earning/redemption are all topics that should go into existing AC forum threads so others can benefit from this information. Topics about hotels or airlines and/or their loyalty programs, destinations, in-flight travel tech. or anything best discussed elsewhere on FT may be relocated to that forum as this thread isn't meant to import travel topics to this forum that are better discussed on other forums. FT is an amazingly diverse and large community so members are encouraged to seek out all of its resources.
While the conversation is more relaxed as it would be in a lounge that doesn't mean however that the FT rules don't apply here as they definitely do so please refrain from controversial topics such as politics or religion, avoid profanities and treat other lounge patrons with the same respect you expect.
tcook052
Air Canada forum moderator
The original thread started by accident but quickly became a popular place to come and discuss off topic things such as hockey, new movies, or almost anything that wouldn't fit into existing AC forum threads. Air Canada or Aeroplan topics such as flight feedback, in-flight services issues, status or mileage earning/redemption are all topics that should go into existing AC forum threads so others can benefit from this information. Topics about hotels or airlines and/or their loyalty programs, destinations, in-flight travel tech. or anything best discussed elsewhere on FT may be relocated to that forum as this thread isn't meant to import travel topics to this forum that are better discussed on other forums. FT is an amazingly diverse and large community so members are encouraged to seek out all of its resources.
While the conversation is more relaxed as it would be in a lounge that doesn't mean however that the FT rules don't apply here as they definitely do so please refrain from controversial topics such as politics or religion, avoid profanities and treat other lounge patrons with the same respect you expect.
tcook052
Air Canada forum moderator
The Forum Lounge Thread (2019)
May 8, 2019, 7:01 pm
#961
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
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Posts: 1,881
May 8, 2019, 8:16 pm
#963
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
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May 9, 2019, 6:59 am
#964
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YHZ/YQM
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 1,618
When your almost teenage daughter asks how great she sounds playing the tenor sax she has practiced for at least 12 hours of her life, she does not actually want an honest answer nor does she want any helpful tips. One should liken this question to your spouse asking "how do I look in this outfit?"
She'll stop crying eventually and then we can all go along blissfully ignoring the dying goose in the basement.
She'll stop crying eventually and then we can all go along blissfully ignoring the dying goose in the basement.
May 9, 2019, 7:22 am
#965
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Location: YVR
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The toughest part with wind instruments is getting the right embouchure (not a shocker). I think it took me half a year to get my Alto Sax to sound respectable enough to be accepted into my high school junior band and Jazz "A" band. 
May 9, 2019, 8:29 am
#966
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
My daughter played the baritone horn (like a mini tuba) for a couple of years until the school band folded. For the first while we referred to it as "Bart, Bart the whale fart." Things will improve - hopefully. Though the french horn player in her band never advanced past dreadful.
She is a very intelligent kid who does mostly senior high school level subjects so not used to something not coming very easily to her. I've tried to explain to her that it takes hundreds and hundreds of hours to even start sounding decent with an instrument.
Lastly - you got a song stuck in my head...
"I bought a french horn and I wanted to play it in spite of my neighbours who begged me to stop..."
May 9, 2019, 9:33 am
#967
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
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Posts: 1,582
When I was in high school band, my mother made me practice my trombone outside in the yard - fortunately we lived in the country with no close neighbours! On the bright side, a sax does actually sound nice once you figure out how to play it...unlike a trombone, baritone or tuba.
May 9, 2019, 10:36 am
#968
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC e75K, *G, SPG/MR PPE
Posts: 315
We had musical instruments for a bit in Grade 7, and a supply music teacher. She wouldn't let me play anything with a reed since I had braces, so I had to play the flute (disaster) and then the trumpet (also disaster). I finally got dumped on the "bells" which is a fancy word for xylophone.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
At that point, it was too far along in the year to not get off the bells. So I just stuck with it with the plan I'd transition to the oboe or saxophone in Grade 8... and then the next year they cancelled music. We still had our religion teacher (Ontario Catholic system), because god forbid they cut that, but music was apparently an easy target.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
At that point, it was too far along in the year to not get off the bells. So I just stuck with it with the plan I'd transition to the oboe or saxophone in Grade 8... and then the next year they cancelled music. We still had our religion teacher (Ontario Catholic system), because god forbid they cut that, but music was apparently an easy target.
May 9, 2019, 11:15 am
#969
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,571
Speaking of French Horns, it reminds me of the punchline to one of my favourite jokes:
... well, his kissing wasn't that good, but I loved the way he held me
May 9, 2019, 11:24 am
#970
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
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Location: SFO
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We had musical instruments for a bit in Grade 7, and a supply music teacher. She wouldn't let me play anything with a reed since I had braces, so I had to play the flute (disaster) and then the trumpet (also disaster). I finally got dumped on the "bells" which is a fancy word for xylophone.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
At that point, it was too far along in the year to not get off the bells. So I just stuck with it with the plan I'd transition to the oboe or saxophone in Grade 8... and then the next year they cancelled music. We still had our religion teacher (Ontario Catholic system), because god forbid they cut that, but music was apparently an easy target.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
At that point, it was too far along in the year to not get off the bells. So I just stuck with it with the plan I'd transition to the oboe or saxophone in Grade 8... and then the next year they cancelled music. We still had our religion teacher (Ontario Catholic system), because god forbid they cut that, but music was apparently an easy target.
May 9, 2019, 12:38 pm
#971
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC e75K, *G, SPG/MR PPE
Posts: 315
May 9, 2019, 2:09 pm
#972
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
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Not quite. My kids go and have gone to Catholic school. The high school happens to be one of the better schools in the area if not the best so we lucked out. There are a ton of non-catholics (Hindu, Sikh, Muslims, other Christian denominations) who also chose this school just because its good even though they know its Catholic. So they put up with the Catholic stuff just to get a better school. And for the record I am Catholic :-)
May 9, 2019, 2:42 pm
#973
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 424
We had musical instruments for a bit in Grade 7, and a supply music teacher. She wouldn't let me play anything with a reed since I had braces, so I had to play the flute (disaster) and then the trumpet (also disaster). I finally got dumped on the "bells" which is a fancy word for xylophone.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
At that point, it was too far along in the year to not get off the bells. So I just stuck with it with the plan I'd transition to the oboe or saxophone in Grade 8... and then the next year they cancelled music. We still had our religion teacher (Ontario Catholic system), because god forbid they cut that, but music was apparently an easy target.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
At that point, it was too far along in the year to not get off the bells. So I just stuck with it with the plan I'd transition to the oboe or saxophone in Grade 8... and then the next year they cancelled music. We still had our religion teacher (Ontario Catholic system), because god forbid they cut that, but music was apparently an easy target.
I hope the oboe nightmares don't come back.
May 9, 2019, 2:52 pm
#974
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,881
We had musical instruments for a bit in Grade 7, and a supply music teacher. She wouldn't let me play anything with a reed since I had braces, so I had to play the flute (disaster) and then the trumpet (also disaster). I finally got dumped on the "bells" which is a fancy word for xylophone.
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
By the time our real teacher came back, she was like "what on earth? reed instruments make the most sense for people with braces."
May 9, 2019, 3:00 pm
#975
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
Not quite. My kids go and have gone to Catholic school. The high school happens to be one of the better schools in the area if not the best so we lucked out. There are a ton of non-catholics (Hindu, Sikh, Muslims, other Christian denominations) who also chose this school just because its good even though they know its Catholic. So they put up with the Catholic stuff just to get a better school. And for the record I am Catholic :-)