Whether it’s through playing an instrument or simply listening to the talents of others, music has a large impact on many people. Starting at around the age of 12, senior Ryan Brewer began his journey to become a musician. Brewer started showcasing his skills with a guitar in the game Guitar Hero in 2012, and he started his own YouTube channel by the name of four-iguy. To this day, he still uploads live streams of himself playing Guitar Hero at very high speeds while hitting every note, which is a very challenging feat.

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I had guitar lessons off and on for about a year, but I really didn’t learn very much, and three different teachers quit so there was a lot of off-time.

— Ryan Brewer

Brewer’s skill does not stop at Guitar Hero. He also records videos of himself playing guitar. When asked about the origins of his skills, Brewer said, “I had guitar lessons off and on for about a year but I really didn’t learn very much, and three different teachers quit so there was a lot of off-time.” Despite his skill with a guitar, he does not think that his skill is enough to earn him any money in a band, so for now, it’s more of a hobby. His YouTube channel has now reached a subscriber count of almost 200.

Brewer mentioned many ways as to how someone who is interested in the music industry could possibly make a living out of it. He said, “Once you get to a confident level, you can start posting on something like Instagram or YouTube. You can sign up for a talent show or a performance at the fair or whatever just to get out there and make your name known.” He believes that people notice when they really have a skill for something. When that happens “good things” will happen, and that’s where people start to make money doing something they love.