{"id":4785,"date":"2013-02-20T15:22:48","date_gmt":"2013-02-20T14:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=4785"},"modified":"2013-02-20T15:28:29","modified_gmt":"2013-02-20T14:28:29","slug":"scholars-spotlight-cory-adams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2013\/02\/20\/scholars-spotlight-cory-adams\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholars’ Spotlight: Cory Adams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continuing the series profiling some of this year’s Music Scholars. This week, percussionist Cory Adams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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I was 3 when I got my first drum kit. It was a toy of course, yet I think it did spark my passion for percussion and music. I started taking snare drum lessons when I was 8 years old at primary school; we weren\u2019t fortunate enough to have a drum kit, so kit lessons would have to wait until I started high school.<\/p>\n

\"Kit<\/a>
Kit and caboodle: Cory Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kit playing seemed to come naturally to me, and as my teacher saw potential in me, he asked me (when I was 12) to start playing with \u2018Saxation\u2019. This was a saxophone ensemble (with rhythm section of course) that was run by members of staff from the Wakefield Music Services. This environment enhanced my playing dramatically, so I immediately started playing with the music department at school. I joined the swing band, concert band, orchestra, guitar group and choir- to drum of course! I even joined the folk group to play djembe.<\/p>\n

Progressing through the drum kit grades quickly, in year 10 I decided I wanted to become an all round percussionist. Therefore my teacher introduced me to the glorious instruments that are the timpani drums, xylophone, glockenspiel and vibraphone. This did however mean I now had to learn how to read treble and bass clef- it\u2019s so much harder than drum kit music!<\/p>\n

At this age (15), when I was preparing for my grade 7 and being the principal percussionist at school and at music centre, I was asked to be the principal percussionist for the Wakefield Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra. This was a real eye opener. The standard of playing in these ensembles was incredible, and being a \u2018newbie\u2019 I was petrified. It didn\u2019t help either when I had to play Shostakovich\u2019s Fifth Symphony and the intro to Also Sprach Zarathustra<\/em> on timpani in my first concert.<\/p>\n

It was also at this age when my theatre\/show playing was tested. I was asked to play for an amateur dramatics group\u2019s performance of Annie<\/em>. I had such a great time, however it was disappointing that I couldn\u2019t actually see the performance as I was stuck in the orchestra pit. I must have done a good job, because a year later I was asked to play again, this time for their medley\/compilation of various musicals.<\/p>\n

I was 16 when my teacher asked me to play with him for the Wakefield Metropolitan Brass Band. My initial reaction was, \u201cyou mean the youth band?\u201d His response was, \u201cNo, I mean the proper one\u201d. I could not have been more ecstatic- the band are a Championship Section band, which play against the likes of Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick and Grimethorpe- the band that play in the film \u2018Brassed Off\u2019. This was the start of my dramatic improvement in all forms of percussion. I soon later (in 2011) completed my grade 8 with distinction.<\/p>\n

From loud and raucous music to the soft tranquil haven that is Jazz. I have been playing jazz for 3 years now in a trio back home, and I have to tell you- it is a real money earner! And everyone knows we all need a bit of money now and then. I was quite sad to be leaving my trio when I came to university; however I didn\u2019t know I\u2019d be meeting three awesome jazz musicians. I now play with these guys and we are The Colossus Quartet- we are taking bookings so please get in touch!<\/p>\n

I should now probably talk about what I actually do at University. Aside from the jazz quartet I play with the University Concert Band, Big Band and Orchestra. I love playing with these bands as I get to play so much tuned percussion; my tuned ability really has improved because of this. I look forward to my years at Kent being involved with the music department, I\u2019ve already made many great friends and I\u2019m sure I will make many more.<\/p>\n

Cory Adams<\/strong><\/p>\n

Read the other profiles in the series here<\/a>.<\/p>\n