Which musician has influenced you the most?
I love to play music, so the musicians that had the most amount of influence are the ones that are closer to what I do or want to do. J. S. Bach and F. Chopin are composers that give me so much pleasure to both listen and play, and their music has impacted me from the beginning of my musical journey. I also have fostered a love for jazz that started with Louis Armstrong, and carried over in full force to the magical touch of Bill Evans. Today there is a musician that convincingly takes the number 1 spot for my attention, which is Tigran Hamasyan. I also have been influenced throughout all my life by pop and folk artists like Rui Veloso, Tom Jobim, Coldplay.
What can you teach me about your instruments different than any other teacher?
It’s part of my philosophy to put a lot of focus on the mastering of the basics. I feel like spending so much time developing the basic building blocks of any genre of music has made my learning process so much easier and this is what I would do with my students. I’m referring to mastering simple rhythms, simple melodies and harmonies, playing everything in a way that allows the body to understand the feeling of each note we play.
How did you learn to play your instrument?
I learned to play my instrument by learning music—and vice versa. I started formal piano lessons when I was 7, and by age 9, I’d begun the classical program where I really picked up my technical skills. But what I remember best were the “Musical Training”, which combined music theory, ear training, and rhythm practice. Those lessons were what truly excited me; I'd go home and experiment, playing the chords we learned and making my own arrangements. I’d challenge myself to pick up songs I heard on the radio before even sitting at the piano. I’d sing melodies I made up on my way back from school, figuring out the notes in my head. I’d endlessly tap out rhythms to an imaginary metronome, creating grooves (much to my family’s annoyance). Altogether, learning my instrument was a blend of technique, curiosity, and daily exploration.
How do you go about writing a song or composing a piece yourself?
My process is usually very intuitive. I like to learn about different theories, perspectives and creative processes, and then I try to let that through in a very intuitive way. I’ve tried a lot of different things, with schematics, concepts and theories, and found that I prefer the results when I don’t enforce these concrete ideas too much.
On what equipment do you play today?
A good acoustic grand piano is always the most pleasurable medium to play music for me. I’m never too fixated on models. But I like acoustic piano in any form they exist, grand, upright, old or new, as long as they are taken care of. In terms of electronic keyboards, I’m using a Korg SV-2 as my main keyboard, that I chose for its simplicity and quality of the keybed. I also use a Modal Cobalt synthesizer for sound design, that is a powerful but simple to use synth.
What personal trait has helped you when you practice the most?
Patience is definitely a key trait. Sometimes we want to be able to play everything right away. But the mindset that we should first be able to do the easy things very well before moving on is very important. Curiosity and playfulness also play a big roll. It’s something that you cannot force, but you can definitely be mindful about, because people really do forget sometimes that we should be having fun while making music.
What does your instrument have that others don't?
My Korg SV-2 has a quality over quantity approach which is what I like about it. Both the sounds and the effects are very high quality, with no extra unnecessary features. The keybed is one of the best I’ve tried in any keyboard. It fits my needs very well for these reasons.
The piano is a wonderful vehicle for musical exploration. You can go anywhere with it. Develop beautiful or intricate melodies. Play simple and relaxing harmonies, or go places where no one has been before. Be maximally expressive in each musical phrase, or play groovy rhythms. It’s an instrument for those who want to be inside of the music they play, mentally, emotionally and physically.
What you pay special attention to when you teach?
I want that my students understand the how and the why of each exercise. The goal is to foster independence, because that is the best way for each person to truly figure out one’s wants and needs in music. An independent student will know their own rhythm of learning, will move on to more advanced practices more quickly and get the most out of each lesson. My role as a teacher is to make sure that, together, we walk the fine line of being optimally engaged. That means that we are not working on things that are so easy that they are boring, nor too challenging to be discouraging, but instead, to work on what’s the right amount of challenging to be excited about. I also always try to be very patient and give lots of positive reinforcement.
How do you build up your music lessons?
That can depend a lot on the student’s goals. But with me, there will be always some concrete tasks to work on at home, and then we’ll work on them in class. Depending on each person I’ll try to adjust the balance of clear technical tasks, and fun and creative playing. But I like to keep the lessons as practical as possible. We’ll likely play a lot of piano duos as well :)
What do you do with children?
For me the most important thing for kids is to foster a long-lasting love for music. What that means exactly often varies a lot depending on the individual. But I want kids to have a good time with music, have fun, have their minds open to lots of different types of music, and the opportunity to make music in style that they already like. This would all be done in combination with more didactical practices to ensure that they can witness themselves grow.
What was until now your greatest experience as a musician?
As cliche as it may sound, the best feeling I’ve felt as a performer, is when, after a good concert, with a meaningful project, there are people in the audience that you love there to support you. It never mattered for me if it’s a big or small stage, if it’s a huge band or solo, if I play with an incredible and well-known special guest, or just with friends. The final concert of my Performance Master in HKB was so really special, because I was playing my music, with friends, my family came from Portugal to see it, and so many important people to me were there. It was a very emotional moment for me.
What was the largest stage that you've performed on?
In terms of numbers the spot goes, without a doubt, to my Bragança’s (my hometown) annual festival. I played there this summer (2024), and there were over 20 thousand people watching. Defenitely an amazing experience.
Which musician would you like to play with?
There’s a portuguese singer-songwriter called Rui Veloso, one of the most famous musicians in Portugal. I know all of his songs! I think that some people are just born with great taste in music, and he is one of those people. I certainly would love to play with him :)
Which record would you bring to a desert island?
I’m going to take the liberty to pick 3, otherwise it’s way too difficult. Today, as I’m writing, these would be my picks:
1. The Well-Tempered Clavier (J.S.Bach), played by Glenn Gould. There’s a reason why timeless music is timeless. I will never get tired of this combined work of two musical geniuses.
2. Portraits in Jazz, by Bill Evans. Surely, the album I’ve listen to the most. Bill is at his best – he is light and fun, and yet, the music is incredibly deep.
3. Mockroot, by Tigran Hamasyan. I think I would be happy with any record of his, if it was picked at random.
I almost feel bad for only picking music from pianists/keyboardists. Not that bad, though.
On which stage do you prefer to perform?
Because of how many amazing concerts, and the reputation, and the over-all vibe, I would pick Sala Suggia in Casa da Música, Porto – with a project of mine, that is. It’s a great stage, and I have a personal connection to it.
After music, what is important in your life?
Friends and family, God and my church community, good food, swimming in the lake, playing any type of competitive game :)
