Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Khaled Walid. I am currently a PGY-3 EM Resident at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain. When I’m not riding the adrenaline wave at the Emergency Department, I like to practice my hobby – playing the recorder.
First things first, what IS a recorder?
It’s no surprise that I get asked that a lot. So, a recorder is a woodwind instrument that looks like a flute but is distinct in that, rather than horizontally, it is played vertically and has a mouthpiece or ‘fipple’ which changes the way air is introduced through its system. Without getting too technical, generally recorders have a more ‘traditional’ sound compared to modern flutes, reminiscent of the Middle Ages or ‘baroque period’ where they originally gained prominence.
So, why choose this seemingly unconventional instrument as your hobby?
This requires a little bit of a backstory. When I was in University, I went to Japan for an overseas elective in Trauma and Plastic Surgery. I was pleasantly surprised and captivated by the country’s culture and its people and am proud to have made many good friends while living on campus. What was interesting to me was their widespread celebration of the arts and investment into extra-curricular activities, particularly surrounding music.
Almost everybody I met played an instrument. Some were so proficient; they would perform in front of audiences. By the end of my time there, my curiosity was officially piqued, and I was eager to start learning how to play on my own. I adored the violin and piano, but those instruments are pretty expensive, not to mention loud (my Dad would’ve killed me!). I looked for something fun and easy to pick up, yet affordable and not terribly noisy.
It was around 5 years ago that I bought my very first recorder. I remember distinctly – it was Eid and I skipped all the family gatherings just so I could concentrate on learning how to play. I must have been in my room for hours and, after about 4 days, the result was me playing out the ‘Titanic’ theme tune. Call it cheesy, but I genuinely learned how to play that just by reading and learning the gradients of high and low notes and mixing it together.
How did you learn to play?
I have been playing for a few years now and, while I wouldn’t call myself an expert player, I will say that I have a decent musical ear. I have a fairly unique way of learning to play – after learning various notes and getting comfortable with transitions, I began to create and write down my own notes (I have a notebook with my very own personalized ‘encrypted’ musical language) based off of the octaves and sounds I hear in music.
With a bit of practice, I can replicate most any song or instrumental just by listening to the changes and finding my own way to translate that to notes using my recorder.
How do you make time to play?
Admittedly, I stopped playing as frequently as I used to once Residency began, but have made it a point to always get back to the instrument even after a hectic workday. Even a half hours’ worth of practice keeps skills polished, so the key is persistence and a maintained enthusiasm to continually improve. Outside of practice time, if ever there is a party or family gathering, you will often find me using the recorder as a party trick of sorts as it’s a great way to break the ice and even get people to sing along!
What are your future plans?
I love music in general but have no specific plans when it comes to the recorder besides feeding my passion to play. I don’t see myself doing this professionally though, and besides the family gatherings, don’t perform in front of a crowd of strangers (though I guess a talent show at my own hospital wouldn’t exactly be outside my comfort zone).
Ultimately, my goal is to improve the way I hear and replicate notes and explore the potential and diversity of sound through the recorder.
What advice would you give for others looking to take up an instrument?
I think the biggest take-away from learning to play the recorder has been that it’s never too late to learn a new skill. I always thought that I wouldn’t be able to pick up an instrument unless I’d been practicing since my teenage years, but that’s not true. All that matters is for you to admire or be passionate enough about something and persevere – foster that passion and dedicate yourself to what you love, and trust me you will only improve with time.
Find Khaled on Twitter @DrKhalailah