 Born in Manhattan, Ettinger started his musical life after taking piano lessons as a child.During his teens, he played keyboards and bass for a variety of local bands, including Joey Miserable and the Worms, The Special Guests, The Hues Blues Band, and David Peel and the Lower East Side.After studying music, philosophy, and literature at Columbia University, he received his master's degree in composition and conducting from Mannes College of Music.