His passion for woodworking began at a very early age. During summer vacations, he spent his time between his uncle’s workshop—a cabinetmaker in the village of Giesteira—and the veneer factory where his father also worked as a cabinetmaker. Interestingly, both worked in Vilela. At that time, he dedicated himself to building model sailboats—the only thing he was allowed to do—in a routine that lasted until he was about 15 or 16 years old.
Later, upon entering the university, he joined the Tuna Académica. There, he began to connect with master luthiers (Arte e Música, António Pinto Carvalho, among others) and developed a curiosity for musical instruments. He continued learning the craft until he began building his own. The Nyckelharpa came about through the influence of Professor Aires Montenegro, who introduced the instrument to Paredes. He practices this art as a part-time pursuit, serving as an escape from the routine and stress of his professional life as a teacher.
