The musical instrument that changed my life

Whether you're plucking away on a ukulele while riding out this pandemic, or have mixed memories of being forced to learn the piano as a kid, playing a musical instrument can have a big impact on your life. 

Today on Now or Never, you'll meet people picking up an instrument for the first time, leading to some life-changing moments.

Proving you're never too old to learn a new instrument, Lawrence McKnight started playing the clarinet at the age of 79. What started as a way to keep his mind sharp evolved into a poignant way for him to connect with his late wife, Blanche.

As an ultra-Orthodox Jewish teenager, Danny Fonfeder accidently heard a guitar riff by Aerosmith on the radio. How that one moment turned his whole world upside down. 

13-year-old Keisha Giesbrecht tells us how love of her violin and K-pop is helping her through isolation.

When the Metis community of Stanley Mission, SK experienced a string of losses, they decided to think outside the box to help them grieve. Caroline Merasty and a group of elementary school kids are learning to play the fiddle - and hope to revive the rollicking fiddling nights that used to dominate this community.

When Kat Estacio immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, she struggled with feelings of belonging. But then one day she walked into a university talent show, and saw a band rocking out on the kulintang - a traditional Filipino instrument. And that moment changed her life forever. 
 

Originally aired in January, 2021