Bethany Jameson remembers fourth-grade music tryouts and her affinity for brass. Her performance on the trumpet led her father to buying her one—and to a lifelong love affair with music.

He made sure she understood the commitment.

“He said ‘we just paid a lot of money for this, so you better play it,’” she says.

Boy, does she.

The 35-year-old studio manager at Naples’ Orangetheory Fitness began playing taps in eighth grade and by high school was in high demand. Whenever a veteran’s funeral was held at the Croghan American Legion in her hometown of Beaver Falls, New York, she would be pulled from school to provide one final plaintive farewell following a 21-gun salute.

She performed on county and state levels and was selected to play with the John Phillip Souza National Honor Band.

Her involvement has deepened since she moved to Southwest Florida in early 2003: She plays with national nonprofit Bugles Across America, performing taps at military funerals within a 60-mile radius.

She fondly recalls conversations with dad about that long-ago trumpet purchase.

“It’s kind of become a running joke with my dad,” she says.

“Do you think you got your money’s worth?” he asks her.

The answer would be a resounding “yes.”