Kids Say the Darnedest Things About Hard Key Signatures

Upon seeing that one of this year's All-Region sax etudes is in Db major, one kid said, "Wow, this key fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down."

Kids Say the Darnedest Things About Instrument Makers

KID: So who came up with the fingering system for the saxophone, anyway?
ME: Well, that would be the inventor of the instrument, Adolphe Sax.
(Obligatory "Adolf? As in Hitler?" question from kid follows, as does my discussion of how Sax was Belgian and spelled his first name differently.)
ME: He basically tried to improve upon the fingering system of the clarinet...which makes sense, because legend has it that his father invented the bass clarinet.
KID: What was his father's name?
ME: I have no idea.
KID: Was it Mr. Clarinet?

Kids Say the Darnedest Things at the End of Camp

As I visited each sectional rehearsal of my band this afternoon, one of my trumpet players had an interesting goodbye message for me: "Don't get hit by an airplane!" I assured her that I would try to avoid such things...

Kids Say the Darnedest Things When Wearing Superhero Costumes

A kid at camp spent the entire day dressed as Batman, and we crossed paths at the beginning of the day...

ME: Nice costume. But I bet it's tough to wear that today, considering how hot it is outside.
KID: That's why I'm in here.

(Oh, and Batman apparently plays the trombone. Who knew?)