Something Special

Since I was a little, I’ve always had a love for music. When I was eight years old, I’d obsess over watching American Idol much past my bedtime. I’d sing at the top of my lungs Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” on the karaoke machine I begged Santa to bring. I’d strum a guitar, without knowledge of any chords, and make up funny little songs. I’d watch my sister play piano and ask to sit in on her lessons until I eventually had my own.  This love for music has stayed with me, and has even heightened in high school. During my freshman year, I picked up a guitar and decided to learn. I decided that strumming crazily like I did when I was little wasn’t a good way to play music. I wanted to move on from piano into a whole new world of six strings instead of keys. My first guitar was a present for my fifteenth birthday, and I named him Max. My interest the instrument, and receiving Max, led to a frenzy of learning. I’d teach myself every chord, strumming pattern, and picking pattern, until I had it down. I constantly set goals for myself. I’d hear a song on the radio and say to myself, I really want to learn that riff, and then I’d go home and do it. With the help of multiple YouTube tutorials, I had acquired a skill that I could constantly work on and enjoy. I always have inspiration to play from watching in awe as my favorite artist’s fingers move up and down the neck of their guitar in such a graceful way, with such complicated chords. When I try to play it how he does, it isn’t as graceful but I practice every day until it is. Even though my fingers turn purple, I never stop going. It’s something I’m proud of. I love to express my creativity through different combinations of chords.