Andy Yalch BIO
After bugging my parents to get me accordion lessons at age 7, they finally gave in and started me at age 8. I fell in love with the instrument the first time I saw and heard one!
My father worked at Jones and Laughlin Steel and his best friend who also worked there had a son who played professionally. His name is Bob Bodnar and he was 18 at the time. He became my instant hero and he was a tremendous player. I was always a natural at playing and played my first gig at age 11 doing a world War 1 play for a womens club.
My teacher was drafted, and he referred me to Mario Dinardo, another fantastic musician and accordionist. I spent many hours at his house, and I also taught some of his students. Mario also played on a local TV show called Lunch in at the ones which then was WIIC channel 11. Mario purchased a Hammond B3 organ and Leslie speaker. I was immediately hooked and played and sold Hammond organs for many years. During this time period we had a neighborhood band called the Montclairs. We lived on Monclair Street in Greenfield. We thought the name sounded classy! At 13 years old, we were really cleaning up. For our trio, we charged $75.00 for 3 hours, while the minimum wage was a dollar an hour.
Also during this time period, I would get many calls to do gigs with adults
who realized I knew a ton of tunes! I remember being on the band stand with whiskey and coke a crooked cigar. Try that nowadays! I started playing saxophone for the High School Bands, and it was then that I decided to make music my career.
I went to Allderdice HS, and was in the band the entire time under the direction of Henry Pasquale. We always had a student teacher from Duquesne University, and very early on I decided that is where I wanted to go.
During all this time, my parents bought me an old upright piano, where I transitioned from accordion to piano. From that point on, 90% of
my gigs were on piano. Being my primary instrument was the accordion, and I did not have the classical piano background required at the time, so I had to major on saxophone.
My saxophone Professor was Nestor Koval a fabulous world-renowned clarinetist. It was a funny thing, but we all came from the same church in Greenfield called Saint John’s Greek Catholic Church, and His mother and my Grandmother were best friends. I was also best friends with his son, Phillipe. Before I auditioned with Nestor, I had no clue
who he was! Since I played piano quite well, both Nestor and Frank Ostrowski hired me a lot and got me many gigs. After all my juries, Nestor would make me sit at the piano and play, and then take requests.
Somehow, I always got an A!!! During my first year at Duquesne, I was teaching Piano at Monroeville Music Center in the Mall. My new friend and soon to become best friend turned me on to a job opportunity. His name was John D’Amico, a world-class jazz and classical pianist. He hooked me up with the Wurlitzer music company, which at the time rented space in Gimbels department Store in downtown Pittsburgh. I sold many pianos and organs during this time. I was also recommended By Jack Purcell to Ralph Destephano, the band leader at the Holiday House, who brought in name acts weekly.
My first gig there was leading the trio that played between the shows. When Randy Purcell, who was a world-class trombonist, came home from touring with Maynard Ferguson’s band, he became the new director. Soon after that, I started playing all of Randy’s gigs and started playing the shows for the acts. I would also conduct the shows for acts with
no conductors. I worked about 8 years there until around 1982 when the Holiday House closed and became a shopping plaza. We had played 7 nights a week, with 2 shows a night. We’d usually get a break in
January and February.
After Wurlizer left town I took a Job with Fulton Piano and Organ
Company which had a store in Monroeville Mall. Every evening I would leave there and go across the street to do the shows. I weighed about 130 Pounds then and my diet consisted of Scotch Whiskey and lunch meat.
In 1982, I was made manager of the Northway Mall Store and was quite successful in that position. I Won an all-expenses trip to Hawaii, then the bottom fell out of the business! My twin boys were born that
Year, and I already had a four-year-old. Needless to say I needed a full time gig.
My wife was home with the kids, and we had no family to help watch them. A teaching opportunity opened up in the Wilkinburg School District where I taught for 30 Years and retired in 2011. I went back to Duquesne for my Master’s Degree in jazz piano and finished with degrees in Jazz and classical Composition. I studied with Dr. John Wilson and Dr. Joseph Jenkins. I did a one-on-one with Dr. Jenkins! Some of the best times I ever
had!! Loved that guy!
During my teaching years, I was so fortunate to be associated with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Carnegie Mellon University. I was on the first Symphony education committee and stayed for many years. We wrote lesson plans for all grade-level concerts. Many symphony members came to our schools to interact with our students.
I was also in a Grant Program led by Natalie Ozeaus called the Urban Music Project. She provided me with anything I needed, including an entire piano lab and all African-style drums and percussion instruments. She took us to many music conventions where we shared our experiences.
I have been a member of the Pittsburgh Musicians Union since 1972. I have been Vice President for 20 years, and have had the privilege of interacting with all levels of the music industry, and have performed with some of the best musicians in the world.
I now play in several bands. The Pittsburgh Do-Wop Big Band; The Riverview Jazz Ensemble; The Pittsburgh Big Band All Stars; The Jazz Express; Johnny Vann Band; The Tom Evans Band; Lou Lucarelli Quintet; Rodger Barbour Band, and various singers throughout the tri-state area.
I have been tuning pianos since 1973, when I worked for the Wurlitzer Company. Pianos would arrive in the store so out of tune that they were impossible to sell. I learned by necessity!
My father worked at Jones and Laughlin Steel and his best friend who also worked there had a son who played professionally. His name is Bob Bodnar and he was 18 at the time. He became my instant hero and he was a tremendous player. I was always a natural at playing and played my first gig at age 11 doing a world War 1 play for a womens club.
My teacher was drafted, and he referred me to Mario Dinardo, another fantastic musician and accordionist. I spent many hours at his house, and I also taught some of his students. Mario also played on a local TV show called Lunch in at the ones which then was WIIC channel 11. Mario purchased a Hammond B3 organ and Leslie speaker. I was immediately hooked and played and sold Hammond organs for many years. During this time period we had a neighborhood band called the Montclairs. We lived on Monclair Street in Greenfield. We thought the name sounded classy! At 13 years old, we were really cleaning up. For our trio, we charged $75.00 for 3 hours, while the minimum wage was a dollar an hour.
Also during this time period, I would get many calls to do gigs with adults
who realized I knew a ton of tunes! I remember being on the band stand with whiskey and coke a crooked cigar. Try that nowadays! I started playing saxophone for the High School Bands, and it was then that I decided to make music my career.
I went to Allderdice HS, and was in the band the entire time under the direction of Henry Pasquale. We always had a student teacher from Duquesne University, and very early on I decided that is where I wanted to go.
During all this time, my parents bought me an old upright piano, where I transitioned from accordion to piano. From that point on, 90% of
my gigs were on piano. Being my primary instrument was the accordion, and I did not have the classical piano background required at the time, so I had to major on saxophone.
My saxophone Professor was Nestor Koval a fabulous world-renowned clarinetist. It was a funny thing, but we all came from the same church in Greenfield called Saint John’s Greek Catholic Church, and His mother and my Grandmother were best friends. I was also best friends with his son, Phillipe. Before I auditioned with Nestor, I had no clue
who he was! Since I played piano quite well, both Nestor and Frank Ostrowski hired me a lot and got me many gigs. After all my juries, Nestor would make me sit at the piano and play, and then take requests.
Somehow, I always got an A!!! During my first year at Duquesne, I was teaching Piano at Monroeville Music Center in the Mall. My new friend and soon to become best friend turned me on to a job opportunity. His name was John D’Amico, a world-class jazz and classical pianist. He hooked me up with the Wurlitzer music company, which at the time rented space in Gimbels department Store in downtown Pittsburgh. I sold many pianos and organs during this time. I was also recommended By Jack Purcell to Ralph Destephano, the band leader at the Holiday House, who brought in name acts weekly.
My first gig there was leading the trio that played between the shows. When Randy Purcell, who was a world-class trombonist, came home from touring with Maynard Ferguson’s band, he became the new director. Soon after that, I started playing all of Randy’s gigs and started playing the shows for the acts. I would also conduct the shows for acts with
no conductors. I worked about 8 years there until around 1982 when the Holiday House closed and became a shopping plaza. We had played 7 nights a week, with 2 shows a night. We’d usually get a break in
January and February.
After Wurlizer left town I took a Job with Fulton Piano and Organ
Company which had a store in Monroeville Mall. Every evening I would leave there and go across the street to do the shows. I weighed about 130 Pounds then and my diet consisted of Scotch Whiskey and lunch meat.
In 1982, I was made manager of the Northway Mall Store and was quite successful in that position. I Won an all-expenses trip to Hawaii, then the bottom fell out of the business! My twin boys were born that
Year, and I already had a four-year-old. Needless to say I needed a full time gig.
My wife was home with the kids, and we had no family to help watch them. A teaching opportunity opened up in the Wilkinburg School District where I taught for 30 Years and retired in 2011. I went back to Duquesne for my Master’s Degree in jazz piano and finished with degrees in Jazz and classical Composition. I studied with Dr. John Wilson and Dr. Joseph Jenkins. I did a one-on-one with Dr. Jenkins! Some of the best times I ever
had!! Loved that guy!
During my teaching years, I was so fortunate to be associated with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Carnegie Mellon University. I was on the first Symphony education committee and stayed for many years. We wrote lesson plans for all grade-level concerts. Many symphony members came to our schools to interact with our students.
I was also in a Grant Program led by Natalie Ozeaus called the Urban Music Project. She provided me with anything I needed, including an entire piano lab and all African-style drums and percussion instruments. She took us to many music conventions where we shared our experiences.
I have been a member of the Pittsburgh Musicians Union since 1972. I have been Vice President for 20 years, and have had the privilege of interacting with all levels of the music industry, and have performed with some of the best musicians in the world.
I now play in several bands. The Pittsburgh Do-Wop Big Band; The Riverview Jazz Ensemble; The Pittsburgh Big Band All Stars; The Jazz Express; Johnny Vann Band; The Tom Evans Band; Lou Lucarelli Quintet; Rodger Barbour Band, and various singers throughout the tri-state area.
I have been tuning pianos since 1973, when I worked for the Wurlitzer Company. Pianos would arrive in the store so out of tune that they were impossible to sell. I learned by necessity!