It is dedication that creates a prodigy and experience that builds excellence.

Senior Henry Bair has achieved both through almost years of commitment to the art of music. From practicing scales on a piano at just four years old to composing and producing his own music as a senior in high school, Bair is planning on turning his passion into a career within the next few years. 

His journey began in childhood with his first instrument, the piano. Bair didn’t stop there however, and took interest in learning how to play a variety of new instruments, improving his capacity and knowledge as a musician.

“My first instrument was the piano and I was four, but I didn’t really get into music until 2020, during the pandemic, which is when I picked up guitar,” Bair said. “It was technically my third instrument because I played trombone in middle school. [Now I play] guitar, bass guitar, drums, and cello.” 

The instruments that he plays have a great impact on his musical interests. Despite his roots in the classical style, these days his preferences as an artist lean more towards modern music, specifically the alternative and indie music styles. Bair takes a lot of inspiration from the bands that he listens to.

“There’s a lot of technical stuff that’s specific to alternative music, where the production can be more raw sounding, less perfect,” Bair said. “I think that that’s a really interesting way of doing music. 

I take a lot from [indie bands such as] The Strokes, Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., [and] Beach Fossils.”

His interest in this style of music goes further than the experience of an average fan. Instead of just listening and enjoying, Bair pays close attention to the unique intricacies in the production of these songs.

“I think The Strokes is interesting to look at, because it’s very simple music on the surface, but also has a lot of harmonic complexity behind it,” Bair said. “The other one that’s really interesting is Dinosaur Jr. because they’re very loud, but everything is super intricately done. [They use] really cool complex chords, cool rhythms, odd time signatures and stuff.”

Yet he never abandoned his pursuit of classical music, staying true to his roots in the world of Beethoven and Mozart. Despite beginning his classical instruction with the piano, and dabbling with trombone along the way, he currently plays the cello as his main classical instrument.  

“I appreciate playing classical a lot,” Bair said. “With classical it’s more about the skill and the technical side of things. Playing the cello can be a very calming experience when I get in the zone, even when the piece is faster or more intense.”

Bair is in AP music theory and an active member and student officer of the Heritage High school Orchestra. Orchestra director, Mrs. Balkema, takes note of how much of a valuable and appreciated addition Bair is to the school’s orchestra. 

“He’s really dedicated, and he’s reliable, he’s one of our student officers, so I can count on him to do what he’s supposed to,” Mrs. Balkema. “And he has a really good sense of humor, he doesn’t take things too seriously. Like, he’s able to do his work, but then he’s also able to have a sarcastic fun side.” 

According to his orchestra directors, Bair seems to have a powerful grip on music. It is extremely evident to his AP Music Theory teacher, Ms. Day, that he is definitely one of a kind. Mr. Day talks about his impressive talents as a young musician. 

“At least with AP Music Theory, so far, everything has come really naturally to him,” Ms. Day said. “He has a really strong background in music, he’s very intuitive in a lot of ways, like he seems to understand music in a more mature way than some other students do.”

Bair uses his knowledge of music theory to produce his own, technically intricate, songs. These songs are personal projects that he keeps to himself, as he mainly experiments with the distinct sounds each instrument can make and how they work individually and together. 

“I have mostly demo titles right now, there’s this one called Ringing,” Bair said. “That one was interesting to record because I have three different versions of it, and each time I rerecord it using different production techniques. The version I have right now was interesting to record because I have a normal amped guitar sound layered with plugging the guitar directly into the computer, which gives it a much thinner sound, but it’s a much clearer sound at the same time.”

To Bair, music is also a vessel, a form of emotional release that helps him express himself in a way that nothing else can.

“Playing the guitar, it can help release very intense emotions,” Bair said. “Also, I frequently use writing and producing music as a form of emotional expression, because there is a lot you can say with melody, rhythm and textures that you can’t say with words.”

After years of dedication to the art, music is more than just a hobby, a career, or even a passion.

“Music is one of the most important things in my life,” Bair said. “It’s hard to explain but there’s a certain way of thinking that comes from a musical perspective that I don’t think I would have otherwise.”