Conversations with Andrea Stain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Stain

Hi Andrea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Fresno, California, and started playing drums around eight years old. Other percussion followed with middle and high school band. I grew up with music in the house – my father is in finance, but my mother is both a doctor and musician (playing piano and singing, with many of her siblings being musicians as well).

I moved to Southern California at 18 to attend Chapman University and major in Percussion Performance. That hadn’t been my lifelong plan, but my heart wouldn’t allow anything else when the time came. The journey to my percussion degree was a huge struggle, and an intense period of learning, with self discoveries big and small.

Five years after graduating in 2019 and a global pandemic, I’m the music director of a School of Rock in Orange County, and freelance drumming with a few artists. Between then and now, I’ve had jobs in the range of front desk agent at a hotel, to bank teller! I can honestly say this isn’t a trajectory I expected, but it’s one I’m extremely grateful for. A lot of the things I’ve experienced have also pushed me to finally start writing my own music as well.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oof. I am truly blessed in the way of family and community, and that is a huge reason I’ve even made it this far.

Depression and anxiety that are improperly treated or left untreated can really throw you for a loop, you know? I had stretches of that, and once it happened in a competitive conservatory environment, I asked for help much later than I should have.

I also am so grateful for the casual diversity that kids get to experience in in every industry and media today. I did not see myself in the posters up in my middle, high school or college band room, nor in cool fantasy stories on TV. I didn’t see representations of myself in the orchestra, and I often questioned whether I belonged or deserved to be where I was.

My post-grad journey to a full time music career was very tumultuous as well, and took turns I didn’t expect. There were several periods I felt trapped, and feared that I would spend forever using most of time doing things I had no passion for – and that it would devolve into no time or energy for music.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Music Director, drummer, and percussionist that models occasionally. As drum set player, I’d say I specialize in funk, jazz, bossanova and hip-hop. My playing style also has some influence from the short time I spent in marching band! I feel like people know me both for my enthusiasm for drumming in general (and I cannot stress enough that behind the kit is like a safe zone for me, so that feels pretty awesome), and the deeper love I hold for the community of playing with others.

As a Music Director, my favorite thing is to both challenge my students’ perceptions of themselves as musicians, and to give whiplash with their setlist if the context permits. Range is important, so I have them do things like Chic and Pearl Jam in the same set when I can.

I’m most proud of my range as a musician, and my desire to be a lifelong student. I love learning so much.

What’s next?
My most immediate plans for the future are continue growing and learning from this role. I’ve already learned the basics of sound engineering faster than I could’ve ever imagined, started learning a new instrument, begun finding my leadership style and so much more. I think this is preparing me for something I still can’t picture, but I’m excited.

I recently joined the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists as well and am so invigorated by their work. I’m hoping to eventually start helping them scout protégées for organization, and am excited for the prospect of their Women’s Committee. I’ll be stoked to attend the Percussive Arts Society International Convention again this year too; there will be so much knowledge to take in, and I can’t wait to take what I learn about performance and pedagogy, and line it up with our mission at School of Rock!

Finally, I’m really hoping to finally release some music of my own in the next year; there’s a lot happening in general, but be on the lookout!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agavestain/

Image Credits
1. Will Benzian
3. Shannon Yen
4. Gerard Bebekian
5. Amanda Paulsen
6. Cat Freeman