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When Kathy Black was in the sixth grade and a music teacher asked what instrument she鈥檇 like to play, Black made a beeline for the drums. She got her first drum kit in 1970, when Chicago was one of her favorite bands because of its combination of rock and jazz.

Black played drums in her high school鈥檚 marching band, which won the 1976 Indiana state competition with Black as a member. She played other mallet instruments like the marimba and xylophone as well, and nearly majored in music in college.

鈥淚 decided to major in something more practical, but I did hook up with some bands while I was at the University of Colorado and they got me playing classic rock and roll,鈥� she says.

After graduating, Black moved to California and spent the next 25 years working as a computer programmer and vice president of engineering while raising her children. Life got in the way and she put her drum kit away, until her son started to play and asked if he could have the kit.

Weary from the travel her job required and ready for a change, Black enrolled at Lewis & Clark Law School at the age of 46 and earned her degree in 2009. She also rekindled her passion for music

鈥淚 bought the drum kit of my dreams since I actually had money,鈥� she said.

Black, now in-house counsel for the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, plays with a handful of bands, including Jazz Asylum. Her most consistent gigs are with the band 2^nd Time Through, which describes its set list as 鈥渁n eclectic set of music for your feet.鈥�

鈥淔or me it鈥檚 such a total departure from an intellectually challenging job like being an attorney. It鈥檚 nice to use a different part of your brain and do something physical,鈥� Black said. 鈥淟ive music is always a riot and you never know exactly what is going to happen. You also meet totally different kinds of people than anywhere else.鈥�

Along with playing music, Black serves on the board of directors for the national non-profit Music for All. The organization advocates for music programs in middle and high schools and encourages students to compete so they hone their musical talent while building leadership skills.