What started as a few weeks with her brother-in-law’s electric guitar has turned into a passion for junior Alizeh Irfan, who is now a self-taught guitarist.

Irfan has been carving her own musical path for a year and a half, watching online tutorials and asking questions from friends and more experienced mentors including Holy Trinity physics teacher Dr. Trevor Herntier. “There’s boundaries to what I can play because I’m a beginner. Typically I can only play really simple electric songs,” Irfan said. “Recently I’ve learned how to play barre chords so I can play a little more complicated songs now.”

For Irfan, music has always been playing in the background. “My mom used to joke that I could only concentrate when music was playing,” Irfan said. She began playing instruments young, starting with the ukulele in fifth grade and later the piano in seventh. “I took piano lessons, but it never held my attention the way string instruments did.”

“I listen to a lot of foreign music, Bollywood is my roots,” Irfan said. “I also listen to a lot of disco, jazz, and rock. I dabble in heavy metal and sometimes indie.” Irfan lists Jane’s Addiction, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Strokes as some of her favorite bands. 

“I definitely want guitar to continue to be a part of my life,” Irfan explains. “I don’t know if I’d want to do it professionally, but I’d really like to start a band.” 

For anyone looking to teach themselves an instrument, Irfan preaches consistent practice. “It’s going to sound like it sucks in the beginning, but the more you play and practice, you’ll see improvement.”