Alyx Henderson

Pre-College
  • Technology & Applied Composition
Alyx Henderson headshot

Contact

Departments

Pre-College

Private Instruction

TAC

Education

BM, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Houston, Texas

What is your favorite recording? Why?

"Misty" by Ella Fitzgerald. The mood, her voice, the pacing - to me, this is the definition of beauty in music. 

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Video games and Video Game Audio/Music, Food, Traveling!

Who were your major teachers?

Jonathan Ring, Maryclare Bryztwa, Joni Perez

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

You don't always need to know exactly how a something works - the most important thing is to experiment! 

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

How can I get a DAW! Many students don't utilize student discounts while actively in school. 

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

There was not a defining moment. Music runs through the blood of my family on both sides. It had to be, and I always wanted it to be.

What was a turning point in your career?

When I discovered Ableton during my time at SFCM. It was the "instrument" I had been searching for all along.

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Developing Video Games! 

What is your daily practice routine?

I always open Ableton to review/work on music projects. The most important thing to hone creativity, to me, is to never force it. Some days I don't feel like working on my music, and that is OK! Never force it - it takes away the beauty.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

J Dilla, Mahler, Prokofiev 

From a music history perspective, what year and city are most important to you, and why?

Detroit in the 80s - The birthplace of Black Techno; so influential to many genres we hear today! 

What recordings can we hear you on?

Xyla - Ways (Leaving Records)

Biography

Though she originally moved west in 2013 to study classical French Horn performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Houston-born Xyla has built a beautiful life in San Francisco as an all-genre electronic music producer. She is most recently known for blurring the lines between house, breakbeat, and footwork, and is often influenced by jazz and R&B.

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