The piano is often considered the ‘King of Instruments’ as no other instrument covers all 88 notes of the frequency range and its number of available octaves is unparalleled. Its versatility of sound is also beyond compare as it can create sounds as soft as a whisper or as loud and rumbling as a thunderstorm.
When pianist and composer Adam Cook sits down to play this most revered of instruments something quite magical happens. His face softens, his hands become feathery-light and his torso sways as his fingers dance across the keys. Adam is transformed from a shy, modest man into an accomplished pianist that confidently commands the keys.
Adam’s love of the piano started with a tiny toy keyboard when he was four years old and his parents could quickly see their son had a gift. Piano lessons promptly followed and little did anyone know it would lead Adam to study music with some of the best and lead him to a life dominated by music.
Raised and schooled in regional WA, Adam was a smart student as well as musically gifted and he finished school a year earlier than his peers.
“I was about 14 when I started to get good at the piano; that’s when I started learning how to improvise and a whole other universe opened up for me. You simply couldn’t keep me off the keys,” Adam says with a chuckle.
Adam entered university at the tender age of 16 and after a year studying composition at the University of WA (as well as receiving a piano tuition scholarship) he was invited to transfer to The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra to study with one of Australia’s leading composers, Larry Sitsky.
He also travelled to France to study and with a growing number of degrees, diplomas and accolades to his name he returned to Australia to take up the position of Resident Accompanist at ANU. Then came national and international touring as Principal Accompanist with the Australian Children’s Choir.
But Adam isn’t a big fan of talking about his accomplishments; it’s when he talks about music that he’s the most comfortable.
“For me, playing piano is like being able to speak another language. But you don’t need another person to speak with. It’s like you can talk to yourself but you’re also having a conversation with the instrument. It’s a really profound experience.”
There’s no doubt Adam could play any piece of music you put in front of him (Adam calls it “Dead Fly Music” due to the bevy of black marks spread across the page) but Classical and Jazz are his musical genres of preference.
When it comes to Jazz”¦ “it’s the harmony of it” that Adam loves the most.
“I was taught the fundamentals of jazz harmony and some basics on a few different styles within jazz then I just took it from there. Jazz harmony as a discipline and as a concept is the part I find the most interesting.
“I’m really enamoured by how pieces can fit together and how – in the final analysis of Harmonic Theory – there’s no upper limit to its complexity. It’s an infinite language.”
After years living in big cities Adam’s now chosen to leave the bright lights behind and move back to regional WA.
“I’ve explored and experimented with the idea of a big city and then inevitably backed away from it. I’ve tried several times in several different cities but it’s not the climate for me.”
Living in a small country town surrounded by nature, Adam’s life is still filled with music; teaching, composing, playing gigs and recitals. But whether Adam’s playing classical compositions by Bach or jazz scores by the legendary Dave Brubeck, he says he feels incredibly grateful.
“I’m grateful we’re in a world where there’s an opportunity to do this for a job; that’s pretty good, I’d say. Even in its hardest, or more annoying moments, it’s still brilliant.”
