The Wand Chooses The Wizard

Sometimes, an instrument chooses us. The connection isn’t always logical—it could be the sound, the look, or even just where we get to stand in the ensemble. Like the brilliant line spoken by Ollivander in the Sorcerer's Stone. “The wand chooses the wizard.” Instruments are much the same. 

For me, that choice happened when I was two years old. My first “drum set” wasn’t a nice new kit—it was my mom and dad’s pots and pans. My mom still calls it my pots and pans orchestra. I’d sit for hours, blasting my favorite songs and pounding along with my wooden spoons without a care in the world. I loved it. I loved drummers. The way different surfaces made different sounds. Or waiting through an entire song just for that one drum fill that blew the roof off.

The magic stuck—and luckily for me, so did my parents’ support. They signed me up for summer music programs, soundproofed my room (for everyone’s sanity), and eventually bought me my first real drum set. It was loud, but it gave me direction, purpose, and a lifelong love of rhythm. That gift of support made all the difference.

That’s why I tell families: if your child is drawn to an instrument, let them follow that spark. Even if school places them on something else, create space for them to play the one that truly excites them. The instrument they love might be the one that opens up their creativity, confidence, and joy. Because at the end of the day, instruments aren’t just tools—they’re magic. And when the right one chooses you, you’ll know.