From Keys to Sticks: Part II — Strumming the Wrong Chord: The Search for My True Beat
Not every melody can be played on every instrument, just as not every instrument fits every musician. Looking back at my three to four years of piano lessons and recitals, I realized that while the piano built my core foundation, it wasn't my true destination. I needed an instrument that matched my energy. My next detour was the guitar. As a child, I was deeply drawn to music because I loved the visual storytelling in music videos. One day, I saw my uncle listening to the band Gorillaz. The animated music videos for Clint Eastwood and Feel Good Inc. instantly captured my imagination. Hearing the iconic riff in Feel Good Inc. gave me an overwhelming desire to learn how to play it myself. My uncle was a drummer, so his house was always full of drumsticks. I remember grabbing a pair of his sticks, holding them like a guitar, and passionately pretending to play along to the song. Back then, lacking musical experience, I didn't even realize that the riff I fell in love with was ...