Neil Armstrong, Astronaut and musician
At a young age Neil received “his love of music from his mother”, Viola Armstrong, a pianist. She taught him to play the piano. When Neil Armstrong was 6 years old his father, Stephen, took him on his first plane ride on the Tin Goose, a Ford Trimotor airplane.
In the eighth grade Neil joined the band at the Upper Sandusky School in Ohio. He chose to learn the baritone horn.
Neil’s mother said, “I asked him why he chose such a big horn? He was such a little fellow and it seemed to be more than he could carry. But he said he liked the tone. So, of course, we didn’t discourage him. And perhaps the school band needed a baritone player. I never had to remind him to practice. He just naturally set aside time for that.”
Some evenings the Armstrong family children would join with their mother, Viola, on piano with Neil on baritone, June his sister on violin, and Dean his brother on cornet to enjoy playing music together as a family.
The Armstrong family moved back to Wapakoneta where Neil entered high school. He played in the high school band, for church events, and for the Boys Scouts. He completed his Eagle Scout training and by the age of 15, Neil Armstrong earned his license to fly, before receiving his driver’s license.
While in high school Neil formed a jazz band called the “Mississippi Moonshiners” to play at assembly intermissions and school dances. Jerre Maxon, the trombonist in the band said, “Neil was a very good musician. He had a strong driving after beat, you know, and really kept us going. He sure loved music. He said music contributed to ‘thought control,’ and he always tried to improve his playing.”
In the book "First Man" Armstrong said they got a gig for four nights for which they split a five dollar fee. He also said they were not so good. "When we played the Star-Spangled Banner only half the audience stood up"
In Wapakoneta high school of the 45 piece band members six were boys. Maxon said, “After the football game, when we went downtown to parade, Neil would turn his cap around and March backwards, just for laughs. Sometimes we would trade off instruments. I suppose we drove the band director crazy-but those were good times.”
Maxon says, “But with the exception of these episodes with the band and the “Moonshiners, Armstrong was a quiet, reserved young man, who said little. I think one of the hardest parts of the moon mission for Neil will be the public speaking.”
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Neil Armstrong in his band uniform
Neil Armstrong on tuba with the ‘Mississippi Moonshiners’
Neil Armstrong...Purdue University Band?
