#Why Music Matters with Dr Adam Reece – Brass & Piano Tutor for Da Capo Performing Arts, JENCA Music Rock School, teaching on the Music in Action Bursary Scheme
Tell us a bit about your musical background and journey so far:
I started learning brass instruments when I was 13, and then, when I left school, I began learning the piano. Music has taken me on a wonderfully varied journey ever since.
I was signed by 3beat Records, a prominent UK-based independent record label specialising in dance, electronic and urban music, and achieved number one in the charts with the label. From there, I moved to Ireland, where I toured with a rock band, gaining a completely different experience of performing and making music.
I then went on to complete an MA in Music and Learning Disabilities, followed by a PhD focusing on the effect of music on communication. Those studies really deepened my understanding of just how powerful music can be, not only as a form of expression, but as a way of connecting with and communicating with others.
I now live in Jersey, where I’m involved in a variety of musical projects with Da Capo Academy of Performing Arts, Jenca Music RockSchool, Music in Action, Dementia Jersey and Autism Jersey. It’s been a long and varied journey, and I’m very grateful that music has continued to open new doors for me along the way.
You've had an incredibly varied career and musical journey. What is a highlight for you?
A highlight for me was performing in a recording with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. I was playing piano on a recording of a Christmas song that I had co-composed, and having the opportunity to play alongside such an incredible orchestra in such an iconic setting was a truly unforgettable experience. There was something incredibly special about sitting at the piano and hearing the orchestra around me. It was such an incredible feeling. In fact, I’d say this was the first time I really moved from thinking about the music to simply feeling the music.
My nerves vanished, and I was completely immersed in what I was doing in that moment. Everything else seemed to disappear, and I was just there, making music. Nothing can ever replace that feeling. It just cannot be bought!
What do you love about teaching young musicians?
I love seeing a young person’s confidence develop and watching their enjoyment grow as they start to make progress. There’s something really special about seeing that moment when a student realises they can do something they perhaps didn’t think they could do before.
Music gives young people the opportunity to challenge themselves, discover what they are capable of and, most importantly, enjoy the journey along the way. Watching that confidence blossom is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.
What difference can learning an instrument make to a child?
Learning an instrument can help in so many ways. It can develop confidence, enhance focus and concentration skills, and support social skills. For young people with learning needs, it can also help with eye contact and motor engagement skills.
But, most important of all, is the sense of joy that comes from learning an instrument. There is something incredibly rewarding about making a sound, learning a new skill and gradually seeing your own progress. Music can give a young person a real sense of achievement and something they can feel proud of.
What are you looking forward to this year?
I’m looking forward to seeing students enjoy their lessons and continue to make progress. I’m particularly looking forward to working with my students to showcase their progress in the end-of-year showcases with Music in Action.
The sense of pride that students develop when they step outside their comfort zone and share their music with an audience is just incredible. Seeing them stand up, perform and realise how far they have come is a wonderful thing to witness.
For me, those moments really capture what music is all about: growth, confidence, connection and, above all, the joy of sharing something you love with other people.