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Learn more about Grady

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  One of my middle school teachers encouraged me to pursue what I loved - I'll never forget that small bit of encouragement. It allowed me to have the courage to focus on my passion for music, I realized that if I was going to pursue something for the rest of my life that I should do the thing that brought me the most joy.

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  Oh gosh, that totally depends on the week that you catch me listening! Right now I could have the neo soul group Hiatus Kaiyote on loop indefinitely. They're scratching the audio itch I have right now, seamlessly blending complex rhythms, melodies and harmonies - while keeping you in an ASMR trance.

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  I feel like this is kind of a trick question lol! Of course I could describe some technically hard piece or something with complicated chords/rhythms. But I think the task that is truly the hardest is discovering your own authentic voice. Miles Davis is a great example of an artist who could be playing complicated or simple but you're not thinking about that - you're hearing his unique expression. That journey is harder than any technical aspect(!)

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  I think every instrument has its own unique challenges. For example some people might say piano is a very complicated instrument but it's also an instrument where you don't need to worry about tuning. Someone might say the cello could be easier because you usually only play one note at a time but the reality is playing one note in-tune on the cello is a very hard task! I wouldn't say any one instrument is the most complicated, just that each presents their own unique challenges.

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  I'll answer this as a teacher. To me, being successful as a teacher is about discovering how the student that I'm working with learns and what motivates them. I'm not a teacher with a "set system" that I just move my students through - every student has different ways of processing information and different needs as far as information and encouragement that a teacher can provide! So to me success as a teacher is about flexibility, listening and learning from my students just as much as they learn from me.

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Well that's a tough one! If I could have Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock and Beethoven in a room with translators that would be a dream. They all transcended their genre in expression, depth and affected changes in the society that brought out the most hopeful sides of humanity.

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  I had the opportunity to study with one of the great music teachers alive right now, Stefon Harris. When we first met he asked me to play. I had all these complicated, technical things that I played for him to impress him. After I was done he gave me 4 notes and asked me to improvise with just those four notes and I totally stumbled - I could barely make one melody with just four notes. That was the start of a journey to lead with expression instead of technique and a lesson I carry with me everyday.

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I'm not exactly sure what others might say but for myself I try my best to grow as a teacher, musician and human being everyday. I try to show the same respect, empathy and belief that the teachers I had growing up were generous enough to impart to me and share the joy of a creative life!