Instructor Spotlight: Andrew Freedman

1. How long have you been teaching at Garden Street?

I have been teaching for just shy of one year!

2. What is your favorite thing about the students at Garden Street?

The students are super respectful and all have their own unique personalities which makes my job fun. Most importantly, they love music and I get to watch them explore and develop as musicians and humans.

3. What initially drew you to singing and playing piano?

My parents always had music on in the house, mostly classical music and some jazz. My father is an amateur pianist himself and I remember hearing him play through classic pieces after coming home from work. I started taking lessons at a young age and from there it was just constant exploration – I developed an insatiable appetite for music. I had to try as many instruments as possible and I grew up listening to many types of music.

4. Are you practicing any other instruments?

Yes. Singing, guitar, bass, drums in addition to piano.

5. How do you maintain a busy singer songwriter schedule with teaching?

The great part about Garden Street is the flexibility, I was only teaching two days a week until now (3 currently) so the rest of the week is dedicated to performing, rehearsing, composing and practicing. Even on days that I teach, you may find me with my keyboard ready to head to a gig afterwards :)

6. Where are you from and why did you move to the area?

I am from Los Angeles, California and I moved to NY to be apart of one of the greatest, if not the greatest music scene in the world. The amount of perspective, opportunity and creative energy that exists here is unlike anything I have ever experienced. There is no choice but to grow in this kind of environment.

7. What advice do you have for students for practicing at home?

Explore – find what fascinates you and dig into how things work. Music goes way beyond notes on a page. As for a practical tip – sing as much as possible, things on the radio, the pieces you are playing and practicing, the pitch a car motor makes on the street, anything really.

8. What would you do if you were not a musician?

I would be a writer. Music is still on top of my list of ways I can express myself, writing would probably be next. Or maybe cooking...

10. What is one interesting or unexpected fact about you that most students do not know?

I've performed in 5 countries.