Learning Outcome #1: Increase Self-awareness of Personal Strengths and Areas for Growth

CAS
Learning a new instrument

What: I bought a 5-piece drum set without ever having learned how to play a percussion instrument. I gradually acquired skills and technique while teaching my self to play the drums.

Why: Since around the sixth grade, one of my music teachers instilled in me the importance of the arts. I was immediately attracted to music and i began to take lessons for violin and guitar. I realized i had a sense for rhythm and musical ability and this boosted my self-confidence. It was not easy at first and at times it was even painful; to the point where i began to accumulate blisters and chalices on my fingers. When I bought the drums, I wanted to prove to myself that i could learn such a complicated and difficult instrument on my own. Just like when i learned to play guitar, I received some injuries in learning to play, such as hitting my hand with a drumstick or hitting my eye. However, my drive to learned an instrument that i enjoyed more and more each practice continued through out the experience and it proved to be worth it.

How: The key thing to learning an instrument is to brush up on the background of the instrument and observe the technique of other drummers. However, I had to learn basic rhythms and drum patterns before moving on to more difficult techniques and skills. As I progressed and learned to play along enough skill to compose my own drum patterns.

Value: As i explained before, music has always been a vital part of my life and learning a new instrument was like further dwelling into what could be my vocation. Music is not simply a hobby to me, but a way of expressing my worth and the hard work i put into what i do.

What I Learned: What i learned from learning to play the drums was the importance of determination and how even though i am a better musician that i was a year ago, I still have a vast amount of improvement and growth that i can accomplish and i plan on doing so. This drive not only applies to learning a new instrument but has also flowed over into my other activities such as exercising and my academics.

Duration: 150 Hours