From the age of five, I have been deeply immersed in music, starting with piano lessons that laid a strong foundation in musical knowledge and sensitivity. However, by sixth grade, I found the piano to be somewhat cumbersome and impractical for carrying around when I travel, so I started to learn guitar, an instrument that was incredibly fascinating to me at the time. In fact, one of my dreams as a child was even to become a guitarist on stage. This switch proved to be both convenient and inspiring, and I've continued to play the guitar ever since. During middle school, I expanded my musical repertoire by joining the jazz band as an elective and took the initiative to teach myself the alto saxophone, further enriching my musical journey.
Although I started learning piano at a very young age, I was never truly fond of it. I was pushed to learn this complex, heavy instrument when I could barely sit still for more than 20 minutes, making it impossible for me to enjoy. However, as I grew older and stopped taking formal lessons, my perspective changed. After watching an orchestra concert, where the piano player’s performance captivated me and even gave me goosebumps, I found myself drawn back to the piano. I began seeking out tracks that interested me and taught myself how to play them. The videos below are some of the demonstrations I recorded back in high school. Unfortunately, I don't have a piano in Montreal, so I haven't been able to continue practicing here.
"This is one of my all-time favorite piano tracks, composed by Jay Chou in his song "The Secret That Cannot Be Told." The video was recorded after my high school graduation during a nostalgic revisit to the school's stadium. Inspired by the music video, I tried to recreate the moment where Jay Chou teaches a friend, who knows nothing about piano, to play this beautiful song alongside him. The song's theme of farewell and goodbye made it the perfect choice, as it marked my last visit to my high school before leaving my hometown for college."
"This video was recorded during the winter of 2019. Though it was years ago, I can still vividly recall the dusty scent of the piano practice room. It was a sunny afternoon, and I was waiting for my performance with the jazz band for our end-of-year show. As I sat there, sunlight poured in through the small window, casting a beautiful reflection on the piano keys through the colored glass. The sight was mesmerizing, and I felt an overwhelming urge to capture that moment through music. This memory stands out to me because of how everything came together so perfectly in that brief, beautiful moment."
"This is the last piano video I recorded at home, a track that captures the deep nostalgia and reluctance I felt about leaving. The music echoes my emotions as I was moving on from the familiar comforts of home. Yet, life is always moving forward, and with that comes the inevitability of embracing new chapters. This recording is a poignant reminder that, while we may long for the past, we must also continue on our journey to the next station in life."
This guitar, which I bought in Montreal as a present for my 18th birthday, holds a special place in my heart. Moving to a completely unknown country and city for a new stage of my life was intimidating. The transition away from my family was challenging, and this guitar became the only solace I found, serving as the last connection I had to express my nostalgia. Perhaps that's why I often play it before major exams—it helps calm me down and brings a sense of comfort in times of stress.
"Sunflower was the first fingerstyle guitar track I self-learned on YouTube. I was inspired after watching a performance video from a guitarist contest, where I was amazed by the musicians' skill and artistry. Although I had primarily played folk-style music and lacked the specific skills needed for fingerstyle, I was determined to master the track. Through hours of dedicated practice, I eventually succeeded. The video capturing my performance was taken when I was in eleventh grade, making it a particularly special memory for me."
"Event Horizon is one of the tracks I recorded during my first year in college in Montreal. I still remember that it was a rare sunny day in an otherwise endless winter of 2023. That year, the snow in Montreal seemed never to stop, and I couldn't recall a day without stepping outside to snowflakes and freezing air sneaking into my clothes. But on that day, the sun finally broke through the clouds for the first time in three weeks, so I recorded the video to commemorate the moment."
"This is definitely the quirkiest video I've ever recorded. I stumbled upon a short video of a YouTuber playing Bach on a guitar with a chopstick. The idea seemed so out of the box that I had to try it myself. At first, it was almost impossible to make the strings resonate properly. After several failed attempts, I began to suspect that maybe I needed more friction to make it work. That's when I borrowed some rosin from a friend and the rosin added just enough grip to create the sound I was looking for."