Blackhawks' Wyatt Kaiser Discovers New Outlet for Creativity: Music
In a surprise move, Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser has found another outlet for his creativity, taking up playing the guitar. The 23-year-old has been avidly practicing since August and now owns four guitars, including an acoustic, electric, and portable model that fits into a backpack.
Kaiser's transition to music is not a departure from his passion for learning new skills. Like hockey, where he continually seeks to improve and adapt, Kaiser views playing the guitar as a challenge. "It's been fun picking up a new thing to try to learn," he said. "I've played hockey for so long that your improvements are tiny and tiny. Whereas actually trying to relearn how to do something is fun again."
The Hawks' defenseman has spoken candidly about his journey, acknowledging the struggle to reconcile his hands with his knowledge of music theory. "My brain knows what I'm doing, but my hands need to catch up," he explained. Kaiser's ultimate goal is to develop the skills to play a simple riff and sit down to create music.
Kaiser's colleagues have been supportive of his new hobby, with teammate Alex Vlasic praising his efforts. "We played songs we knew back and forth, and he showed me what he had learned," Vlasic said. Kaiser acknowledged that there is a different level of creativity and artistic ability in music compared to hockey.
Off the ice, Kaiser has been prioritizing practice, taking lessons and honing his skills. He's quick to point out that puck management is an area where the entire team can learn from each other, including himself. "It's really hard to work on during practice," he said. "You can create game-like situations, but [it's different] when you're under pressure."
While Kaiser has had a standout season for the Hawks, his focus remains on continuous improvement β both on and off the ice. With hundreds of reps and years of dedication, he aims to unlock his full potential as a musician and further develop his skills as a defenseman.
In a surprise move, Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser has found another outlet for his creativity, taking up playing the guitar. The 23-year-old has been avidly practicing since August and now owns four guitars, including an acoustic, electric, and portable model that fits into a backpack.
Kaiser's transition to music is not a departure from his passion for learning new skills. Like hockey, where he continually seeks to improve and adapt, Kaiser views playing the guitar as a challenge. "It's been fun picking up a new thing to try to learn," he said. "I've played hockey for so long that your improvements are tiny and tiny. Whereas actually trying to relearn how to do something is fun again."
The Hawks' defenseman has spoken candidly about his journey, acknowledging the struggle to reconcile his hands with his knowledge of music theory. "My brain knows what I'm doing, but my hands need to catch up," he explained. Kaiser's ultimate goal is to develop the skills to play a simple riff and sit down to create music.
Kaiser's colleagues have been supportive of his new hobby, with teammate Alex Vlasic praising his efforts. "We played songs we knew back and forth, and he showed me what he had learned," Vlasic said. Kaiser acknowledged that there is a different level of creativity and artistic ability in music compared to hockey.
Off the ice, Kaiser has been prioritizing practice, taking lessons and honing his skills. He's quick to point out that puck management is an area where the entire team can learn from each other, including himself. "It's really hard to work on during practice," he said. "You can create game-like situations, but [it's different] when you're under pressure."
While Kaiser has had a standout season for the Hawks, his focus remains on continuous improvement β both on and off the ice. With hundreds of reps and years of dedication, he aims to unlock his full potential as a musician and further develop his skills as a defenseman.