HALLELUJAH
For the longest time, playing guitar was a solo activity. I felt content with playing for hours at a time with my back against my bed and the only movement being the rustle of the curtains. The sound of the strings was like morphine rushing through my veins, putting me in a euphoria. But playing alone could get lonely. I wanted someone to appreciate my music, to listen to it and understand me through it. The summer I was 14, I found that person.For the longest time, playing guitar was a solo activity. I felt content with playing for hours at a time with my back against my bed and the only movement being the rustle of the curtains. The sound of the strings was like morphine rushing through my veins, putting me in a euphoria. But playing alone could get lonely. I wanted someone to appreciate my music, to listen to it and understand me through it. The summer I was 14, I found that person.
I don't remember how I met Zeinab, but I know that we went to the same little private girl's school, and she lived down the street from me. She was cute and loving, and though our slight language barrier (since I was fairly still new to Egypt) we began to spend many days together playing our guitars. Zeinab was new to playing, but that did not hinder our time together, for she had a voice like an angel. With her voice and my guitar, we made a great match, and together we wrote and made music that would turn our young hearts into a kaleidoscope of butterflies. Through our music, we found friendship in each other that could not match with anyone or anything. Through music, we were able to understand each other and bond. Zeinab showed me the real impact of music. She showed me that music brings people together and that music made people happy.
Our favorite song to play was Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright, and til this day, that song reminds me of that summer and all I learned that summer. By then, I had truly become competent in my ability to play guitar, because I taught someone else to. Gradually, Zeinab picked up skills that I lent her and by teaching her how to play, my own talent was better defined. I gained confidence because I had more ears to hear my music, and my talent was more concrete. But more importantly, writing our own music showed me that music can convey a message or idea better than speaking can, because no matter where you are from or what language you speak, music is a universal language that anyone can understand.
I don't remember how I met Zeinab, but I know that we went to the same little private girl's school, and she lived down the street from me. She was cute and loving, and though our slight language barrier (since I was fairly still new to Egypt) we began to spend many days together playing our guitars. Zeinab was new to playing, but that did not hinder our time together, for she had a voice like an angel. With her voice and my guitar, we made a great match, and together we wrote and made music that would turn our young hearts into a kaleidoscope of butterflies. Through our music, we found friendship in each other that could not match with anyone or anything. Through music, we were able to understand each other and bond. Zeinab showed me the real impact of music. She showed me that music brings people together and that music made people happy.
Our favorite song to play was Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright, and til this day, that song reminds me of that summer and all I learned that summer. By then, I had truly become competent in my ability to play guitar, because I taught someone else to. Gradually, Zeinab picked up skills that I lent her and by teaching her how to play, my own talent was better defined. I gained confidence because I had more ears to hear my music, and my talent was more concrete. But more importantly, writing our own music showed me that music can convey a message or idea better than speaking can, because no matter where you are from or what language you speak, music is a universal language that anyone can understand.
♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪