Self-taught Pianist/Composer Andrew Gilpin Followed the Example of Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, J.S. Bach

Completely self-taught and home-schooled, pianist/composer Andrew Gilpin now shares the concert stage with a Juilliard graduate, performing in concert halls across North America.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) November 15, 2006 --When self-taught pianist and composer Andrew Gilpin steps onto the concert stage, as he regularly does with his duo "Ebony & Ivory", he doesn't have the weight of a well-known music school or teacher behind him.

Following in the footsteps of such musicians as J.S. Bach, Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix, Andrew has forged a successful career in music built solely on his own talent and determination.

My father attempted to give me a piano lesson when I was 7

but I just hated it. It turned me off the piano for about 6 months. I came back to it, though, because I really wanted to be able to play Scott Joplin rags. After that, I just had to put in the time - minus the music lessons.

I used to get some strange looks when I told people about my background. They'd always ask who my teacher was. As I got older, though, it mattered less and less.

A lot of musicians today are outside the mainstream

The whole idea of getting a major record deal or playing at Carnegie Hall in order to be successful -- that's really kind of outdated. Learning how to get my music out there is kind of the same as learning to play the piano -- you feel your way along, finding out what works and what doesn't.

Andrew, who was also entirely home-schooled, had a lot of time to pursue his musical interests. "I used to get some strange looks when I told people about my background. They'd always ask who my teacher was. As I got older, though, it mattered less and less."

For the past 3 years, Andrew has been performing with clarinet/sax player Fred Jacobowitz, a two-time graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School. Known to concert audiences as "Ebony & Ivory", Andrew and Fred have toured North America, performing in concert halls, schools, and theatres. They have also recorded with such jazz notables as Dave Weckl and Victor Wooten.

Andrew's self-guided, independent nature has been a blessing rather than a curse, especially in today's competitive music market. "A lot of musicians today are outside the mainstream," says Andrew. "The whole idea of getting a major record deal or playing at Carnegie Hall in order to be successful -- that's really kind of outdated. Learning how to get my music out there is kind of the same as learning to play the piano -- you feel your way along, finding out what works and what doesn't."

With an upcoming tour of Washington, California, Arizona and Utah, several solo piano albums in the works, and hundreds of concerts and compositions under his belt, Andrew seems to have found out what works.

For more information on Andrew, Fred, and Ebony & Ivory, please visit their website at http://www.ebonyandivory.ca.

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