Teen POV: Opportunities and Experiences

By Liam Stidham

Every great musician usually started with an influence, like watching a music video on TV, or watching a live concert on YouTube. In my case, when I was 8, I was with my parents watching a video of my favorite drummer, Taylor Hawkins, and then out of the blue, I told my parents that I wanted to play the drums. They were surprised but supportive and the next summer I went to a place called BandAid School of Music, and the School of Rock, in the US.

When I came back to San Miguel they put me in a private drumming class to help me out. The first lessons were helpful but I was craving something more fun! And then! Some friends told us about this amazing local drum teacher right around the block! My mom was glad that she found a teacher for me, so we gave him a shot, and my God was he great! It has been 3 years since my first lesson with him, and it has been amazing seeing how much I've improved since then. I was one of his first ten students and now he's close to a hundred!

About 2 years ago, Atabal, my school, was having its annual talent show, so me and my friends decided to play as a band. We came up with the name Musik Maschine. It was a hit! We even got some good tips that day! And my band is still playing to this day. Luis Flores, my teacher has been really great, helping us improve and looking for opportunities for us. So far we have played at places like Café Rama, El Sindicato, Bendito Mercado and Parque La Conchita, in Los Frailes, my neighborhood. We are not the only band he has helped create.  There are at least ten more. Yeah, ten. And one of those bands is Cat Litter. A teenage rock band formed by three young girls, all of them also from my neighborhood and school. My teacher Luis threw this really cool event for them at Teatro Angela Peralta last week, and it was great!

When it comes to good bands in San Miguel, you need to see Cat Litter. They are a grungy rock band that makes kids and adults alike dance, jump around and just wanna have a blast! I won't be surprised if they get on TV someday soon. I even heard that this famous audio engineer, Myles Wakeham, who now lives in our neighborhood, recorded their whole concert. I hope that one day he will record my band too!

I am very lucky to live here and to have all these opportunities and experiences, with a supportive family and a great teacher like Luis. He is always thinking about the next great thing for his students, like throwing Master Classes for us with world famous drummers, like Kross Vazquez from PXNDX, Eduardo Torruco from Panteón Rococó and soon the drummer from La Gusana Ciega, Germán Arroyo. All of these experiences are shaping us young artists. And the cool thing is that one day all the best musicians are going to come from Los Frailes, my community in San Miguel de Allende, México!

Follow us on Instagram!

Cat Litter: @cat_.litter

Musik Maschine: @musik.maschine