Blog #3

Later today, I will be having my first band practice in college. To say I am excited is, of course, an understatement. I want to take this DIY blog to reflect on my relationship with music up to this point. Or at least, the SparkNotes version because this would be a really long blog if I was unnecessarily long-winded. I liked music when I was younger and had several bouts of attempting to take piano lessons, which I hated. When I was 11ish, I picked up the piano again to learn songs from video games. Learning from YouTube, I got way better at piano and eventually, I went from learning video game music to Billy Joel, Elton John, and other more retro stuff. That's around the time I got really into listening to music. And yes, it was also my "born in the wrong generation" phase. I cringe thinking about it. My brother (I think partially inspired by me) started learning guitar soon after this point, and I stuck with piano. Then, the quarantine happened. Around May of 2020, my brother played an album for me: The New Abnormal by The Strokes. It had come out the month before. I guess it was bound to happen at some point, but this album made me realize, "Oh wait, maybe there is some really good modern music." Then I listened to some more stuff by The Strokes. They basically convinced me to start learning guitar. So, I practiced a lot during the quarantine. In the summer of 2021, I learned the Strokes' whole debut album, Is This It?, on guitar. I knew then that I wanted to be in a band. I tried joining up with a friend from grade school who could sing, but we only ever met a couple times. However, she introduced me to her friend (Alli) who could also play guitar and sing. What I didn't know at the time is we basically had the same taste in music. The three of us got together for a jam session, and it was fireworks between Alli and me. Looking back, we left my other friend in the dust (I felt bad). But Alli and I kept practicing, and we got good enough that we played out at festivals and country clubs this summer. We really wanted a full band though. So, when we both ended up coming to UD, we knew that would be one of our priorities. I found a bassist (in English class), and she found a drummer. Today (September 15th, 2024) we plan to meet for our first band practice. I'm so excited and have been waiting for this for a really long time! I hope it goes well, but I'm going in open minded. 

Comments

  1. MC KrausDecember 4, 2024 at 1:02 PM

    Oh my gosh wait, I think I know Alli! I think she is friends with my roommate! While I didn't really have "born in the wrong generation phase" (trashy 2000s pop really speaks to me) I understand what you mean. I am a total theatre kid, and I understand connecting deeply to a piece of music and just immediately connecting with it. The new Wicked movie is my current obsession. It's so cliche but true: music is such a beautiful thing. It is so neat that you wanted to learn songs you heard and stuck with it-- I commend you. Good luck with your band!

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