Adam Samuel, Grade 10:

Jaiden and I are singing “Man or Muppet” from The Muppet Movie. It is about the main characters, Gary and Walter, questioning themselves and their true identity.

Q: How did you get started in music? Who are your greatest musical influences?

A: I got into music by just listening to it. I would hear it and think, “Hey, I want to do something like this!” I think Charlie Puth and Hobo Johnson are my greatest musical influences: Johnson because of the emotion he conveys when he is performing and Puth because his songs are in my range, so they were easy to learn when I was younger.

Q: Do you aspire to do anything with music in your future?

A: I want to bring music into teaching. Since learning through songs is so much easier and more effective than just reading textbooks, I plan to make music for other teachers to use to help their students.

Q: What is your favorite part about Performance Friday and/or performing in general?

A: I like Performance Friday because of the feedback. It is easier to figure out what I could be doing better with someone else is telling me specifically.

Q: Do you get nervous to perform in front of people, specifically your peers? How do you quell your nerves?

A: I do not usually get nervous or anxious while I am performing. Right before I step onto the stage, however, there’s definitely a moment of doubt, and the only way it goes away is if I just get onto the stage.

Q: What do you love most about music? Has music helped you in any way through the pandemic?

A: Music for me is a way to cope with my issues. Most of the time, I turn to music to tune the world out.