The muse bloomed once teen’s studies ventured behind the music
Eighteen-year-old composer and performer Drew Steven demonstrates a harmonic technique he developed for grand piano. Photo by John Gessner
Drew Steven, 18, of Burnsville, debuts piano sonata
by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers
Classical piano lessons didn’t make 11-year-old Drew Steven’s heart stir.
He was dutiful but distracted, by a gnawing curiosity about what was behind the music.
A few years later, an instructor and mentor introduced Steven to music theory. His interest soared, he turned his bedroom into a recording studio and he even surrendered his hoop dreams.
“I have a basketball hoop outside that’s really nice,” said the 6-foot-4 Steven, 18, who lives with his parents near Buck Hill in Burnsville. “I begged for that forever. Then when I got it, I gave up basketball for music.”
Now with about 10 compositions in his portfolio, Steven debuted an original piano sonata to an audience of about 200 on July 22 at North Central University in Minneapolis. He’s finished his first year at the Christian school, pursuing a degree in piano performance and recording arts.
In addition to writing and studying, Steven is seeking business at his well-equipped Grand Obsession Recording Studios, where he’s already recorded rock bands and a concert harp player.
“The metal and screamo bands were friends – they didn’t pay,” he said. “The concert harp player did.”
Steven doesn’t claim the “musical prodigy” label but said he’s heard it applied to him. He also plays guitar, bass and drums, and gives music lessons to 10 students.
Years of home schooling afforded plenty of time for music, said the son of Doug and Tammy Steven, who attended high school at Christian Life School in Farmington and graduated, with post-secondary options, through the online IQ Academy of Minnesota.
In the summer between his seventh- and eighth-grade years Steven auditioned to play piano in a teen worship band at Evergreen Community Church in Lakeville.
“He has a lot of technique and all that, but he really took to the theory when I started him on it,” said Dave Durry, Evergreen’s musical director. “He was a classical player and had all the lessons and technique, but never understood music. I just taught him a little bit about music theory, a little piece at a time, and he sucked it up real fast.”
The muse bloomed.
“At the time, I’d hit up to seven hours practicing a day,” Steven said.
He already had access to his family’s grand piano upstairs in the living room. At 14, he began assembling his studio, starting with a Yamaha S90ES keyboard and synthesizer he bought with a loan from the folks.
The studio is now outfitted with several instruments, a drum kit, effects, amps, microphones and digital interface – and it’s paid for. Steven has been able to repay his loans working at his father’s cabinet business in Minneapolis.
“I’m spoiled as well,” he offered cheerfully. “My father says the difference between spoiled and blessed is spoiled, you won’t admit it. Blessed, you admit it and are grateful for what you have.”
He’s already released two albums, including one featuring his acoustic guitar playing.
Steven considers himself a romantic composer, inspired by the works of Liszt, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. His sonata incorporates harmonics he creates by reaching inside the piano and making contact with the vibrating strings while he plays.
“I’m more of a composer than a performer,” Steven said. “A lot of people will take sheet music from Bach or Beethoven and play it really well. I’m more of a person that will look at their music, understand what they did, and write my own music that’s similar to it.”
He’s also a musician with a mission. The July 22 concert raised $3,000 for the Evergreen Community Church’s contribution to the Kids Against Hunger ministry.
“I feel that God is the one that’s given me the gift to express myself through music,” Steven said. “That’s what I love to do. In doing so, I want to give back to him and other people in my life.”
John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
Wow. That’s pretty cool.