My musical director wasn’t happy with the performance of one of our percussionists. Repeated attempts to get the drummer to improve failed. Finally, in front of the orchestra, the director said in frustration, “When a musician just can’t handle his instrument, they take it away, give him two sticks and make him a drummer!”

A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: “And if he can’t handle that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor.”

Quincy Wong

Vocabulary Help

  • attempt – tentativa
  • drummer – baterista
  • fail – falhar
  • handle – lidar, manusear
  • happy – feliz
  • improve – melhorar
  • stage – palco
  • stick – baqueta
  • take it away – tomar
  • whisper – sussurro