What inspired you in the beginning to start playing guitar?
I knew I wanted to play music at a very young age, before I had even chosen an instrument to study. I'm not sure why - I think I was just drawn to the idea that a person could create this captivating kinetic artform with just their hands and mind right in front of you, like magic. Somewhere around the age of 8 or 9 the guitar became the obvious choice for me. I'd like to think that the distinct timbre of the guitar and its vast musical versatility are what led me to study it, but mostly it must have just looked to my 8 year old self like a cool and exciting instrument to play.
When did you begin teaching? How long have you been playing?
This is an interesting question, because I think that true students of a craft start teaching from day one. It's a way to process the information and understand it more. I remember the first song I ever learned; I brought my guitar over to my friend's house and taught them how to play it as well. It's such a special thing to be able to learn and share a special skill. After a number of years, I started giving my first formal guitar lessons in my late teens. Even now I continue to grow and learn as I teach, as an instructor and a performer.
Who was your most influential teacher?
I've gathered so many things that I consider important to my musical journey from so many different people and experiences. If I were to choose a top influence considering my performing career and what has helped guide and teach me as a guitar player, I would have to accredit all of the tremendous musicians I've worked with over the years. I've garnered so much experience performing and studying with other professional performers of all different types of instrumentation. Considering my teaching career, there has been no one that I have learned from or been influenced by more than Childbloom founder Kevin Taylor. He has taught me so much in the way of instructing the young guitarist and how to continuously improve at being a true teacher.
Do you frequently perform? What are some memorable performances for you?
I perform quite often, sometimes several times a week. There are so many memorable occasions that come to mind: There have been many times when I am performing with my Tango ensemble in a hall full of Tango dancers and the footsteps of the dancers move and sway with the beat of the guitar, and the lilting melodies and direction of the ensemble command the energy in the room. It's special to be part of that atmosphere. There have been times that I have performed on live television and radio, which was always very exciting. Images of performing at certain celebrations or memorial services over the years come to mind. There have been shows with beautiful vistas where I played on rooftop terraces overlooking downtown, and shows on river boats floating down the river. It's fun to try to think back over all of them, but there have been far too many to choose just one, and hopefully many more to come. Ultimately, a performance in a small room with only a few attentive listeners in the audience has been at times just as special as a performance for a crowd of hundreds of people.
What are the ages you like to teach?
I truly like to teach all ages. Younger children possess an astounding level of enthusiasm and the gift for pursuing adventure, making them great students and quick learners. Older kids/teenagers can often fall in love with the music and the instrument, and therefore be as good as they want to be because they choose to commit totally to the art. The older the student, the more likely they are to understand some of the more complex musical aspects like theory and advanced technique. A student of any age can do great things.
What kind of music are you gravitating to these days?
I have an obsession with diving into different styles of music from all over the world and inundating myself with the repertoire, theory and history. Music is certainly a language, and there are so many languages to learn if you want to be able to hear (and tell) their stories. I've been infatuated with North American Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass and Ragtime, South American Andean folk music and Argentine Tango, Spanish Flamenco, African music, Celtic music, etc. I am currently on a deep dive into the world of Brazilian Choro music, which is one of the most colorful and exciting styles of music I've ever studied. The combination of European melodies with African rhythms combined in the melting pot of Brazilian culture has created a wonderful artform. It's also a great musical genre for guitar players in particular, because of its specific approach to melodic movement that works great with the capabilities of the guitar.
How can folks get a hold of you?
I can be reached by email or phone and found on my site at AdamCarneyMusic.com, at Childbloom.com, or with any of my projects, including CarosAmigosMusic.com and HoraOnce.com
