Spotlight Interview: Gareth Laffely — Musical Aspirations

Editor : Gareth, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to tell us about yourself. I understand you have a favorite K12 subject.
Gareth : Yes, I do. I love K12 History. I find it fascinating to learn about famous people and battles.

Editor : Who is your favorite historical figure?
Gareth : My favorite person in history is the Marquee de Lafayette. On a trip to Maine this past summer, my family and I stopped at Mount Vernon and I got to touch the glass frame that held the key to the Bastille, which Lafayette gave to George Washington as a gift. That was awesome. I also got to see the room where he stayed when he visited Mount Vernon and touch the same door knobs that he did!

Editor : If you could meet anyone at K12, who would it be?
Gareth : Amelia Jackson-Zaremba. I love how she makes history lessons fun and come alive.

Editor : Between school and music, you must have extremely busy days. Can you describe what a typical day is like for you?
Gareth : My day starts with school, and then I practice my drums and piano. I also practice karate and staff work, a type of martial art that involves spinning a staff around your body. It is a way to block and counter attacks and was originally used by monks for self defense. I try to get together with friends, too.

Editor : I understand you started playing music at a very early age.
Gareth : Yes, when I was three years old I played on our friend’s drum set (he was a professional drummer). Everyone was shocked that I could keep time and even do a drum roll at that age—they said that I blew them away with my drumming, so I wanted to keep playing! I started taking drum and piano lessons when I was five.

Editor : Do you play other instruments as well?
Gareth : In addition to drums and piano, I play the guitar, flute, and didgeridoo. It’s an Australian wind instrument—a long tube about four feet long made of hollow bamboo. You blow into it in a certain way to get various sounds. It produces a deep, vibrating sound that carries long distances. The Aborigine people used it.

Editor : I understand you write your own music as well. How do you get an idea for a piece of music?
Gareth : I usually begin by playing around on the piano, then I come up with a tune, and next I add the words.

Editor : What has been a highlight musical experience for you?
Gareth : During a Christmas concert series at the Country Music Hall of Fame I did a solo performance, singing and playing one of my original songs on the keyboard called “I Wish Upon a Star.” One of the Oakridge Boys was in the audience, and afterwards he came up to tell me he liked my song. That was really cool!

Editor : Wow! I’ll bet you were excited about that. If you could meet anyone else in the music world, who would it be?
Gareth : I’d love to meet Bryan Adams. His music and voice really inspire me to write my own music.

Editor : What has been your greatest challenge in regards to music?
Gareth : My biggest challenge has been finding the courage to perform in front of large audiences. When I see a lot of people out there, I am afraid that I might mess up and make a mistake and they will laugh at me. To overcome this feeling I find a family member or familiar face in the crowd and concentrate on them. After that I close my eyes and get lost in the music, and then I have the confidence to play for the crowd.

Editor : I hear you have some other interests in addition to music.
Gareth : Yes, I’m also interested in art and animal training. I take fencing lessons and karate. I’m getting ready to participate in my first Karate Olympics, which I am really excited about. I will compete in sparring and kata. I also play basketball and soccer and like to act. I was in a commercial. which was really fun. I went to a recording studio to make a demo of my voice, reading commercials. Joe, the producer, called me to do a television commercial for a bank in Georgia. It was a lot of fun, except that we had to make the commercial in the bank before it opened—I had to get up at 4:00 a.m.!

Editor : Oh my, that is early. So Gareth, what are your short- and long-term goals?
Gareth : My short-term goal is to write a great song, and my long-term goal is to have my music inspire people all over the world.

Editor : Do you have any words of encouragement or advice for other students who may be interested in a career in music?
Gareth : Music requires hard work and perseverance. If you never give up, you can accomplish great things.

Editor : Is there anything else you would like to add?
Gareth : I have been lucky to have great teachers and a family who supports and encourages me. Music isn’t something you do, it’s something you live.