Sharing The Gift Of Music

BY THE TIME he was twelve, Andrew Baird knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. It was the moment he first picked up a guitar, and something clicked. “I remember it vividly,” he says. “I didn’t know the practical side of pursuing music yet, but I knew I wanted to keep playing forever.”

Now, years later, Baird is turning that passion into something bigger than himself in the form of a vibrant, inclusive music school right here in Mueller, the Music Academy of Austin.

Born in Houston and raised in Austin, Baird’s musical journey has taken him across the country and back again. He studied guitar performance at Berklee College of Music and earned a master’s degree at the prestigious New England Conservatory. After launching his career in New York City, Baird continued his studies with a second master’s in education, this time focused on teaching the next generation of music educators. He spent years training teachers in NYC’s public schools, all the while writing, performing, and recording his own music under the solo project Bird Actors.

But something kept calling him home.

“I started coming back to Austin more often, trying to imagine if there was a way to build something here,” he recalls. It wasn’t until he attended a show at the Alamo Drafthouse that he accidentally stumbled into Mueller. “I had no idea this neighborhood even existed,” he laughs. “But once I started meeting people and getting a feel for the place, I was hooked.”

CONNECTING THROUGH MUSIC

Drawn to Mueller’s energy, walkability, and strong sense of community, Baird saw a unique opportunity to create a space where people of all ages could connect through music, whether they were picking up an instrument for the first time or returning to one after decades. That vision became a reality earlier this year when he opened the school of his dreams.

The Music Academy of Austin offers private lessons in guitar, piano, voice, drums, ukulele, bass, and orchestral instruments, along with group classes in early childhood music and music production. More recently, he’s added student ensembles, including a jazz group and even a Taylor Swift tribute band. He plans to expand into classic rock, chamber music, country, and more.

“It’s important to me that the school speaks to each individual who walks through the door,” Baird says. “We’re not just teaching notes and scales. We’re helping people learn to express themselves musically.”

That mission is personal. Though his family leaned more toward sports than sonatas, there was still creativity in his blood including an uncle who composed music, and a cousin who sang on “The Mickey Mouse Club” back in the ’60s. But it was the teachers who spotted his natural talent early on and encouraged him to keep going that truly made the difference.

“They gave me a sense of identity through music,” he says. “Now I want to offer that same gift to others.”

COMMUNITY IMPACT

His school is already making an impact. Summer band camps have become a local favorite, and students are regularly invited to perform and record throughout the year. Baird hopes to expand partnerships with local businesses to showcase student talent, while also working behind the scenes to secure grant funding for scholarships and eventually offer college credit through music theory and curriculum aligned courses.

“In the short term,” Baird says, “my goal is to build community, help people connect and give them something to feel proud of. But looking to the future, I want this school to be a real resource for Mueller and beyond.”

For now, Baird is just grateful to be here, doing what he loves in the place he calls home. “This is truly a dream come true,” he says. “I just want to give others the same chance to find joy and confidence through music just like I did.”

BY SCOTT EDDY