5-Krishna C: Musical Story

Music, my story with music has been one of new connections, new beginnings, happiness, and endings.

 My story starts when I was 4 and new to Guam. I had just moved there from the east coast. I had no friends my age, and had trouble making them because I was different from the locals. I had wanted to play the drums so badly that I had irritated my mom because I would always be hitting things around the house.

 She eventually asked a local drum teacher in the area if he was willing to teach me, he had turned her down because he said I was “too young” to teach. She begged him for a chance because she wanted me out of the house, and he eventually gave in.

I quickly picked up the basics of the drums and started playing songs like “Rolling in the deep” by Adele. I remember performing for parents during concerts and even though I was only around 5 at the time.

Mr. Chan, my drum teacher, was more than just a teacher, he became another parent for me, teaching me how to be kind to anyone and always give people chances. The same way he did for me. My mom was going to school at the time and one day couldn’t pick me up after my lesson. So I stayed with Mr. Chan and he took me to McDonalds and then dropped me off at my moms college. That was when I knew that he was a special person. 

I was the first younger kid Mr. Chan had taught which is why he was unsure about me, but he now accepts them because he realized that he has the ability to teach them. 

I moved to California when I was 8 and had still played the drums, although not as much because I didn't have a teacher. I just had my own little set. Once school started I didn't touch instruments until the 5th grade when the middle school teachers came out to the elementary schools and introduced new instruments to us.

I had chosen to play the trumpet and excelled at it. Once I got to middle school I decided to switch instruments, and started to play the french horn because we  didn’t have one in the band. I fell in love with the sound. It wasn't in your face like a trumpet, it wasn’t low and deep like a trombone, but it was a smooth sound that loomed over and above all the others, not in your face but if you knew what to listen for you would hear it. I loved it.

 Once 8th grade hit, the drummer in the jazz band went on to high school, so I decided to step in, and it felt like I was a little kid again just banging on things around the house. Even though it wasn’t anything new to me, being the only person and having everyone looking at me made me really uncomfortable and nervous, so after 8th grade I didn't really touch the drums.

 During middle school though I would often learn new instruments to fill in where we were lacking a little. So I learned how to play the trombone and tuba too. Now knowing 4 instruments I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to play once I got into high school. 

I chose the french horn. It was always the instrument that spoke to me the most and it felt like I could relate to it. Like my personality lined up with the instrument. My freshman year I ended up winning the MVP of the band that year and the teacher wanted me to try out for the upper class band.

Although, with sports becoming more prominent in my life I need to make a decision on what I was going to do. I wouldn't be able to do both band and sports, and give them both my all. I ended up choosing sports.

I don't regret my decision because of how far sports has taken me and will take me, but some days I'll remember songs I used to play and I'd close my eyes and be in the moment. Just to feel in the moment again.

WC-707