If you’re attending your elementary kids’ orchestra concert, you’d probably expect the typical instrumentation like violins, cellos, tubas, and trumpets. Probably some missed notes played off-beat at times would be completely acceptable. But what’s not normal – and was totally unexpected – is ten-year-old Garret Podgorski bringing a fuzzed-out electric guitar and taking the stage at his school show.

Ten-year-old Garret Podgorski waits calmly and confidently as he’s introduced by his orchestra teacher.

Podgorski was originally asked to play bass guitar for his orchestra, as his teacher noticed he had a natural ability to find the notes and to find his way around the instrument. Plus, she knew he had some experience playing guitar already and the switch to another stringed instrument would be a natural transition.

She felt he had the talent to pull it off – and boy was she right!

Coming across a YouTube video of him shredding the electric guitar, she knew he was unique in his talent and she had to let him showcase his gift in front of a crowd.

In 2012 when the video was taken, Podgorski had only been playing guitar for two years. No one would have believed this, though.

He nervously tests his sound levels and plays a few notes. Without much hesitation and the distortion cranked, he dives right into Van Halen’s ‘Eruption’ – the exact song that put Eddie Van Halen and the band Van Halen on the map. Eddie Van Halen became known as a pioneer of guitar playing to the masses shortly after Van Halen’s Self-titled album containing ‘Eruption’ was released in 1978. Van Halen pulled out all his tricks on this recording, and Podgorski had learned them all.

He starts flying around the fretboard bending notes and showcasing his fast fingers. The crowd moves to the edge of their seats and lets out a roar. Everyone can feel the energy in the room change. At this point, not only is the guitar-playing amazing but watching the faces of his fellow students is absolutely priceless. He then starts playing the neck of the guitar with both hands, tapping notes perfectly in rhythm. It’s so impressive! Just like Eddie Van Halen.

This technique takes most guitar players decades to perfect. Finally, the nearly flawless guitar shredding is coming to an end. Just a few more bends and its time to take the guitar off. As the last note fades out and he pulls the strap off his shoulder, the crowd gives out a massive round of applause and appears to catch the protege off guard.

I don’t think he was ready to receive that much attention but, he smiles and bows to the audience like a natural-born performer.

These days the now 18-year-old Podgorski is still making waves with his guitar playing and has a very successful YouTube channel with over 5k subscribers. YouTubers are still going crazy watching his ‘Eruption’ video as it has had over 6.5 million views and has accumulated nearly 35,000 likes. Also, people have added thousands of comments praising him for his wonderful talent at such a young age. Well done, Garrett!

To see the amazing guitar solo, watch the video below!

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Source: YouTube/GarrettPod