Černý studied violin at the Prague Conservatory (1906–1912) with Ferdinand Lachner and Jindřich Bastař, and chamber music with František Spilka.
In 1922 at the Festival of Contemporary Music in Donaueschingen, Černý befriended Paul Hindemith and they became lifelong friends.
He performed works by Miroslav Krejčí, Pavel Bořkovec, Alois Hába, Iša Krejčí, Jindřich Feld, Jiří Jaroch, Jiří Matys, Josef Matěj, Jan Kapr and Jan Tausinger among others.
[3] Černý's viola playing excelled in virtuoso technique, with remarkable temperament, beauty and expressiveness of tone.
Černý owned and played a very large German viola which was once thought to be made by Giovanni Battista Grancino.