6324 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8 Phone: 250-933-1900

Andrea Smith

Andrea Smith has been playing music professionally for the past 25 years. She studied songwriting with Mae Moore and Ron Hines at the B.C. Festival of the Arts in 2001, as well as jazz performance at the VIU where she graduated in 2011. Her style—described as crossover—is influenced by blues, country, pop and jazz idioms. In 2005 Andrea won the first place in the songwriting competition at the Shuswap Lakes International Writers Festival. In 2007 her second CD, Sweet Embrace, took home both the Female Songwriter and Producer/Engineer of the Year (Pat Coleman/Rick Salt) awards at the Vancouver Island Music Awards. Mainly a vocalist, she plays a variety of instruments, and teaches guitar, voice and piano. Andrea has shared the stage with Pat Coleman, Don Thompson, Ken Lister, Miles Black, Robbie King, Smiling Jack Smith, and has opened for Powder Blues, Dave Gogo, Trooper and Blue Rodeo.

Website: www.andreasmith.ca

I started taking vocal lessons with Andrea in 2009, after several years of guitar lessons. The first time I met Andrea she was extremely kind, and seemed excited to begin our lessons together. It really helped put me at ease and made me feel comfortable. She was always patient with me during difficult exercises, and encouraged me to keep working towards my goals for range and volume. Andrea created an excellent environment for lessons, always keeping my personal learning style in mind. She gives wonderful constructive critique, and constantly made sure I was working to the best of my ability. I got to sing what I wanted to sing, and was never confined to a single style or genre. (Well, except by my voice of course.) My lessons with Andrea were a wonderful part of my life for two years, and I’m sad to have to move. If you’re considering vocal lessons, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather recommend.

-Taylor Stiller