Alexander Yellen grew up outside of Boston, MA. He started studying piano at a very young age and loved every second of it. When deciding that he wanted to change his music route and go towards the jazz world, he began studying with David Zoffer at New England Conservatory's preparatory school. His educational life has continued as a student at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City where he's studied with such jazz greats as Sy Johnson, Bill Kirchner, Kirk Nurock, Gerry Hemingway, David Schnitter, Francesca Tanksley, and others. Outside of the music world, Alexander has worked closely with WNYC radio producers Sara Fishko and Sarah Montague. Alexander writes all his music with a mechanical pencil given to him by Sy Johnson. Sy affectionately refers to the pencil as a "Mingus Pencil" and told Alexander that his success in the music business relied on his use of that pencil.