I was always drawn towards percussion instruments. There is something about drums or drum like beats that just gets to me in a way I can’t put it in words.
Music, for me, up until now was only for listening pleasure, other than using it as a background to conduct activities for teaching/training.
Learning a musical instrument was on my bucket list… but I have always had a packed schedule and though I have done dozens of courses and workshops ranging from useful to downright crazy in my life , I never got around actually signing up for music classes until this year (2015).
I zeroed in on an institute close to my place….Rhythms Institute of Fine arts.
Naturally, my choice of instruments was the drums ….not the Djembe which I play at the monthly drum jam but the drum set.
Then, as an afterthought and because I have time on hand while waiting for some personal issues to settle, I also signed up for keyboard classes.
I almost dint.
What I was looking for from the course and what Rhythms offered:
It has to be somewhere close by (5 minutes from my place)
Flexible timings / not eat into my personal time (weekdays.. weekends the timings and the number of hours worked for me)
Safe and Comfortable atmosphere (Really at ease here)
Reasonably priced (Verrry reasonable)
A “good” teacher. (It is one thing to be skilled at something. Totally different thing to impart it well to someone who wants to learn).
That sums it up for the course and the institute.
The intention behind learning music was not to become a professional musician or to perform on stage.
All I wanted was something to calm me down, to bridge the gap between listening and playing, to make music a part of my daily routine beyond crooning in the bathroom, and to just simply enjoy the process of playing a musical instrument.
I found it all.
And surprise! Surprise! It wasn’t with drums. It was with the keyboard. Not to say drums aren’t fun. I do enjoy playing ‘em too. But it was keyboard that offered me all of the above when I wasn’t even expecting it.
The thrill of getting the notes right and to be able to play a song flawlessly is joyous.
I am glad to have a “good” teacher who makes sure I learn and learn it well. Playing the keyboard relaxes me. I am calmer and sleep better ever since I started the course. I take pride in playing some of my favorite songs week after week, me who only listened to music, who never thought could actually play any musical instrument… the gap is closing.
I thoroughly enjoy the process of playing the keyboard and eagerly wait for classes every week.
As for music being a part of my daily routine, today, not a single day goes by where I don’t play the keyboard. It is now my most treasured item in my room.
I feel truly blessed to be learning it and to experience peace on the keys whenever I like;)
To think all my needs are met from an instrument that I almost dint sign up for.
