About Us
We believe children have the strongest imagination, & therefore creative potential.
In After School Audio enrichment classes, children are given a safe and positive reinforcement environment with the necessary tools, guidance, and support in order to explore their creativity, and you will watch them thrive in an atmosphere where they blossom into their unique personal best.
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We are professionals at both music-making & working with kids.
Our staff
Darrow Andelin
Program Director
Darrow is the founder and program director of After School Audio.
For as long as he can remember, he’s been a songwriter – but only beginning as an instrumentalist in his rebellious teenage years, when Darrow’s heart chose the guitar. Being mostly self-taught on his guitar until college, he began studying classical music & received his BA in Ethnomusicology, studying the developmental processes of music in humans – asking fundamental questions about the underlying purpose of music.
His research led him to the understanding that at the heart of creativity is having the confidence to make mistakes. & so he brings the vision to cultivate creative confidence – knowing everyone is a uniquely gifted musician, totally capable of developing a beautiful, unique, and empowering relationship with music.
Bringing this intuitive approach to learning music, combined with teaching students to have a music theory compass for aiding in direction, Darrow’s mixing of his insights, experiences, & passion for music have developed a unique curriculum to cultivate creative confidence for anyone.
During the 2020 lockdowns, Darrow had a realization that caused him to expand his insight about music-learning into Life, in general. Since then, he has dedicated countless hours preparing the sharing of his new music project and vision for the More Beautiful World, called Dream Life Renegades – to encourage people to live their dream, regardless of what anyone else thinks – that if everyone was doing what they were inspired to do, this world would be that World.
Whether in the classroom, on-stage, or in his personal coaching – Darrow always encourages others to heed the beckon of their inner-child, above all else.
Jade Jiaxue
Assistant Director
Jade is a passionate and versatile composer and musician. With an extensive background in classical piano performance, Jade’s music-making journey started with programming loops and experimenting with sound samples in GarageBand, one of the earliest and most popular digital workstations specifically designed for non-professional users to enjoy music production. Inspired by this experience, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Film Scoring in 2016. She has since composed and produced soundtracks for more than thirty short films, several of which have been honored with national and international awards.
Eager to have an impact within educational communities, Jade completed her Master’s degree in Music Education at California State University, Long Beach, in 2021, with a focus on culturally responsive education. As a teacher, she integrates classical, modern, and popular music samples to demonstrate music-making in culturally relevant and contemporary contexts that connect with students’ lives. Moreover, she values the importance of tailoring pedagogical methods to individual students’ interests and always brings joy and patience to her classes.
As the newest member of After School Audio, Jade upholds the program’s mission to provide a safe environment that allows students to explore, experiment, and create. She looks forward to helping kids of all ages and backgrounds enjoy music learning in a non-traditional way and thrive through creative expression.
Trevor Whitney
Instructor
With a sound that is as dazzling as it is heartfelt, Ruely is the project of 24-year-old Trevor Whitney, the triple threat talent hailing from Seattle, Washington. A singer, songwriter, and producer, Whitney’s passion to create music with a purpose is evident in both his emotionally rich compositions and his empathetic lyrics.
Whitney hopes to provide a listening experience that both capitalizes on emotional reflection and brings forth interpersonal growth. Many of Whitney’s works are motivated by the hardships of humanity, seeking to lend a helping hand to those coping with tragedy, struggling with mental illness, or to simply lift someone up on a bad day. If anything, Whitney’s music strives to inspire hope in those who need it most.
The overarching theme of Whitney’s discography truly demonstrates his belief that music creation should be inspired by the way you feel, rather than by the demand for a certain kind of song. Whitney’s fervor for music began at a young age, with the name ‘Ruely’ nostalgically inspired by a childhood nickname his parents gave him. Whitney has blossomed into a full fledged musician with vulnerability being his driving force.
Check out Ruely’s, “Home is an Emotion.”
