Five Questions with Adam Page, Musician (And Cool Guy)

At this year’s Sydney Festival Family Week, my 3 year old daughter and I both found ourselves enthralled with Adam Page, whose show, In The Loop, was the most delightful romp through different instruments, soundscapes, and audience participation. I was taken with the charming songs he made with looping different sounds, while my girl was delighted by “the man who played his beard.” So, it was my pleasure to have the chance to ask Adam to tell me more about his work, how music has shaped his life, and what it means to children. See a bit of Adam at work in the videos at the end.

More on Adam Page on his website.

1. Please tell us a bit about your background with music. How did you get interested in music as a young person?

Music was always playing in our house when growing up. The radio was always on. My Dad still says “A house isn’t a house without music”. I started playing instruments at a young age, grade 3 I believe. I always had great support from my family so it was an easy decision once I decided I wanted to be a ‘musician’ when I ‘grew up’!

The town I come from , Mt. Gambier, has always had a great music community. That community embraced me as a young musician and I learnt a lot about music, especially jazz, before I undertook tertiary education in Adelaide where I completed a degree in music with first class honours.

My Dad still says “A house isn’t a house without music”.

2. What instruments do you play?

How have you chosen what instruments to learn?

And, can you tell me a bit about how you’re integrating technology into your music?

I play A LOT of instruments… to name a few; sax, piano, bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, Native American flutes, drums and I attempt singing! I have spent the most amount of my practice time on saxophone. The other instruments just organically showed up in my hands and I gave them a go!

In terms of technology, I use looping pedals and effects – guitar pedals essentially, but I run all kinds of instruments through them with great results!

3. Have you found that playing music has helped you develop any other skills in life (i.e. – patience, coordination, that sort of thing)?

Music has helped EVERY aspect of my life. Definitely patience and coordination, but also communication skills, business, relaxation techniques and focus

4. It seems like making music is a true joy for you. Aside from making a financial living, what gifts has music brought into your life?

Music is like a best friend to me. It’s always by my side when I need it. It is a way of expressing my emotions which is incredibly important if you are to grow as a human being.

Music is like a best friend to me.

5. What is your favorite thing about playing for an audience of children?

Children are you most honest critics! If they are not into it, they will do something else! You’ll know pretty early on if you’ve captured their imaginations. When an audience of kids are really getting into my music, it is a real joy for me as I know they are being exposed to something entirely different to what they would be used to, and hopefully they walk away inspired and thinking about music a little differently.

See Adam show off his many talents in his promo for the Adelaide Fringe Festival, earlier this year.

I love this video about Adam and music education.