High Notes - Q & A with Musician Danielle Perry

         Name: Danielle Perry                                                                                               Residence: Batavia, NY                                                                                     Occupation: Payroll Generalist for Batavia Downs Gaming                                                Years with the GSO: 4Q.  Which instrument/s do you play?                                                                                 A.  Percussion and some piano    Q.  What was your first instrument?  When and why did you start playing?                       A.  I started taking piano lessons when I was 7 years old.  My entire family played                    the piano; it was the thing to do!     Q.  What are your fondest musical memories?                                                                    A.  Marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade with the Attica High School                           Marching BandQ.  What advice would you give to beginning instrumental students?                                  A.  Don't give up on learning an instrument!  Stick with what you enjoy.  If                                 something becomes dull or uninteresting to you, change it up - try a new                           instrument, try a new approach, but never give it up!  It does get easier, and                        even more fun, too!Q.  People would be surprised to know that I......                                                              A.  After graduating from high school, I took a hiatus from music and never                               intended to return to performing music... until my sister begged me to join the                   Batavia Concert Band.  Now, six years later, I play in four different groups in                        the community. I'm making up for lost time!Q.  List 3 adjectives that best describe you.                                                                      A.  Open-minded, Optimistic, ThoughtfulQ.  What would you like to be doing in 5 years?                                                               A.  Continue to work at a job that challenges me and that I enjoy; travel as much                     as I can; continue to play percussion and grow as a musician; surround                           myself with the people I loveQ.  Which famous musician/composer would you most like to meet?                                A.  John Williams.  He has composed the scores of some of my favorite movies,                      and he always writes such full percussion parts.  But, to be honest - meeting                     Beyonce would be great, too!Q.  If you could play another instrument, what would it be?                                              A.  Trombone or CelloQ.  What do you enjoy most about being a musician?                                                      A.  Working with such a talented group of people.  I've learned a lot just from                       watching and playing with Bob Chaplin, Dave Funston, and other veteran                            musicians in the GSO.