John Ayodapo Jegede was a science student in secondary school in Nigeria, and recorded good grades, but music took hold of him, and today,

he is a 300-Level Performing Music student at the Christ Church University, Canterbury, England. On his recent visit to Nigeria, he spoke with Tunde Opalana on why he dumped the sciences for music, and his dream of reshaping the country’s music scene after a fulfilling career abroad. Excerpts:

Why did you opt for music after studying science subjects in secondary school?
I can say it is passion. I have always been interested in playing musical instruments but secondary schools in Nigeria do not encourage one to develop talents in music because there is never an opportunity to practice by playing on instuments and this relly affected my love for it. Practicing music is different from just sitting down in class and listening to the teacher teaching music. Nevertheless, I love the sciences. At the secondary school level at the International School, Ibadan, I offered full science subjects and I did Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry at the Advance level in England, but during this period, my passion for music was waxing stronger. I remember I couldn’t wait to be back at home after school hours to play my musical instruments; I play bass guitar, double bass, piano and the drumset, so music is just something I really wanted to do.

You hoped to study Engineering, but how did you finally chose to study music?
I got to England in 2006 with the mindset of studying Engineering. But at that point, I realised I had to take a decision of my life. I know there are students studying courses that they do not enjoy; probably bcause of parental influence, which I think is African mentality. A lot of people are being denied the realisatuion  of their dreams. I was studying these science subjects but was not happy; I kept on pretending until I could not pretend again and I summon the courage.

How did your parents take it, and what was their reaction ?
My dad saw it coming because of my passion for music and instrument. Luckily for me, I had the support of my uncle who I stayed with in England. He was the one who made the phone call on my behalf and it took the maturity on the path of my parents to accept it. So I dropped all the science subjects, which meant losing a year and re-enrolled for my A/Levels majoring in Music and Mathematics.

What is the synergy between Music and Mathematics ?
Mathematics is based on formulas and principles and music has the same because the playing of music follow certain rules guiding it. Music is like plotting graphs. There is a research that showed that students who can play instruments such as piano tend to do better in subjects like Mathematics and Languages, since music itself is a language with its own principles and formula.

What is your area of specialisation ?
Am interested in performing a lot. Also very interested in teaching people how to play musical instruments. I play with different bands in England. During Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary show in London, I was invited and I played bass guitar at the event

What is your ambition; do you want to go fully into music or want to teach music ?
At this stage of my life, I wish to be involved more in playing and performing. After I might have done that and have my own share of the music industry, I can then think of going fully into academic to teach music.

Who are your role models in music ?
So many of them. I love American jazz musicians such as Wynton Marsalls and Christian Mac Bright. I have met them, played with them and I am really encouragd by them.

What about Nigerian musicians ?
The artistic or creative style of music is missing in Nigeria. There is an erosion of cultural content in Nigerian music; rather musicians are imposting a lot of things from foreign music, which, unfortunately, pollute the Nigerian music. I admire uniqueness. But all the same, I like King Sunny Ade and the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

You talked about the pollution of the Nigerian music; how can this be corrected ?
If I have the opportunity, I would love to come back home later to impact positively on the Nigerian music by teaching reformation of music as a patriotic Nigerian.