I had always felt a void in my heart since graduating high school.
Leaving for college meant leaving behind band. Tuba, trombone, jazz, and symphonic.
I let go of music.
And for years and years I had always longed to get back, but never knew how.
Finally, it came on a trip.
I could say it started at a temple in Kyoto. But it was probably in an arcade in Nara.
Most people go there for the Buddhist shrines, but I found myself inside the Taito arcade outside Nara Station for hours and hours.
All on one game:
I went back for more the next day.
After that I was in Kyoto. One afternoon on an aimless walk, I found myself outside a small temple in the park. Dedicated to the god of music.
I bowed three times and went inside. I left my prayer and paid the fee:
And that was that. Back to Osaka.
I then had a crazy idea:
instead of finding another arcade and another drum game,
how about some real drums?
Would it be possible? Could I sit at a set of real drums?
It made me nervous just thinking about it.
I was afraid, so I had to try. It was an adventure, and so I went.
Google Maps took me all across town. I walked far, I took the train. I went to different studios, each place requiring appointments, and I was turned away each time.
But then I found it:
an empty studio
an open door
a quiet set of drums
I had no idea what to think of it:
What was I doing there?
Is somebody going to come in?
Am I gonna get in trouble?
I don't belong here.
This is not mine.
There was a small cracked iPhone lying there charging. I was so anxious. So I left.
I dilly-dallied at a nearby supermarket, and then mustered up the courage to head back. Thinking, if I get in trouble, they'll just ask me to leave, and that would be the worst of it.
I go back,
I go inside,
and no one's there.
I pick up two sticks that match and decide to bang until someone kicks me out.
Two hours later, I've tired myself out. I walk out of there on pure adrenaline. People walk past me, and they have no idea what I had done.
I was still buzzing. I had just had the adventure of a lifetime. I felt like a criminal. The illegal drum trespasser.
After that experience and coming back to Taiwan, I found a music shop in my neighborhood that had practice space you could rent for just seven bucks an hour. I even took a lesson.
Now I go every week to bang on drums for 2 hours.
Recently I've been playing along to songs I know.
I got music back into my life.
My prayers were answered! The Shinto god of music is real.
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Enjoy!