This document discusses the author's journey as a musician and the challenges they have faced along the way. It describes learning new instruments like drums, the importance of practicing alone without distractions, playing shows with small audiences, and relying on bandmates for feedback. The author expresses their passion for music and determination to continuously improve despite obstacles.

1. Zakkary Segarac

2. “Throughout life there are a number of obstacles one
must overcome to achieve their goals. These goals are
never met however, without the mindset and confidence
to succeed, as well as the passion it takes to dedicate so
much to the pursuit of that success. But the struggles that
are endured along the way are usually worth the invested
time and work that it took to reach those goals because in
the end you have something to be proud of knowing that
you earned what you were after.”
- Myself

4.  This picture is from our first show at Club Alouette. There
wasn’t much of a turnout, but if it weren’t for these guys I
don’t know where I’d be. I was the last member to join our
band; Kick on the Ape, but being in an actual band has
brought me places I couldn’t go without the rest of the
members. Having other people to practice with, share ideas
with, and get constructive criticism from has made not only
me a better musician, but all of us as a whole. Without the
freedom and openness that we have to make suggestions to
each other, we wouldn’t have made some of the music that
I’m very proud to say we’ve written. These guys are like my
brothers and I can rely on them to be straight with me
when it comes to making our music sound the best that it
can.

6.  For the longest time I refused to learn to read sheet music
because it seemed like a lot of work for the same thing that
tab music can do, but being able to read sheet music is
defiantly one of the best skills to have when you’re a
musician. Some people can only read tabs or rely on
memorization to get them by. When you take the time to
learn to read sheet music, it gives you the skill to sight
read, meaning that you can read and play any piece of
music you put in front of me, even if I’ve never heard it
before. Along with learning to read music comes music
theory, the structure of how all music works. Theory is also
an essential part of being a great musician. Knowing how
to play is one thing, but knowing why you play what you
play is even better. Music theory gives you the
understanding of how a piece was written and when you
put theory together with reading, it opens up a new world
of opportunity by giving you the skills to improvise, change
keys or transposition.

8. “Music is also always there to comfort me; it’s what’s
keeping my mind from going to waste, and possibly my
life too. I’d take the ability to be able to provide people
with the joys of music over wealth any day. The feeling of
appreciation for the pieces I write is like no other, and it
defiantly makes it worth all the hours I’ve spent
perfecting my art.”

9.  Every person has their sanctuary where they go to get away
from the world. Some people like to read, some people like
to play games, but when I want to get away from everyone
and everything, I like to jam. Having an area dedicated to
just my instruments and playing music has made me a
much better performer. There’s no TV in this room, and no
computer or phone either. When I come to jam, there can’t
be any distractions or else I’m not giving my full attention
to practicing and getting better. (And I get distracted easy).
And if I’m not giving it my all, then it’s wasted time. No
body likes a sloppy player, and the goal is to always keep
improving. When I step into the jam space, the cell phone
goes off, I tune the world out and I turn my amp up.

11. “From the first day I picked up my guitar I knew that
music was going to be a significant part of my life, and I
also knew that it wasn’t going to be easy to go from
completely inexperienced to being in a band that plays
shows. But in order to come as far as I have, I’ve kept a
positive mindset. I have learned songs where I’ve made
mistakes or been unable to play a certain piece, but
challenges like that are always going to arise along the
way. Being positive about using those setbacks as
learning opportunities is what keeps me motivated to
improve.”

12.  In my opinion, being able to play percussion is the hardest
of many instruments. To be able to fully harness the full
potential of a drum kit is not an easy skill to learn. While
playing drums you are constantly counting bars, beats and
phrases to keep time, which can become very tedious for
you, and the whole band if you miss one beat or come in
too late. Playing percussion also requires you to separate
each of your limbs to play on their own, which is probably
the hardest part of drumming. When I play I always want
my right hand or foot to do the same as my left, or vice
versa. Currently, I’m a very amateur drummer, but I see a
new instrument as a challenge to overcome, and learning to
drum is by far the hardest obstacle I’ve had to face, but
once I get my bearings on percussion it will be the fourth
instrument that I have learned to play.

14.  This photo is from when my band played our second show
at a place called Hardcore Church. We got the invitation to
play this show from my friend who was also performing
that night, and we took the opportunity even though we’re
not a hardcore band. There were about 70 people at this
show, and when it came time for my band to play, it ended
up with only about 15 people in front of the stage, and the
rest decided they’d rather be outside smoking. Even though
we barely had an audience, we still played a hell of a
set, also considering that my lowest string snapped even
before we started. We didn’t belong there, we didn’t have
many fans, but we were determined to play our best, and
that’s what being a performer is about. You have to have the
determination and self-motivation to keep moving forward
and persevere through the bad times, because even if that
show sucked, you can only get better from there.

15. “Being a performing musician has certainly taken a lot of
dedication, but the years, the cost and the effort couldn’t
even begin to match the level of passion I have to
continue to pursue to be a better performer and to
always keep improving. There are always going to be
obstacles that I will have to face along the way, but
overcoming them is what proves that I am always
improving, and everything I’ve put into getting that far
are well worth it.”