Piano Lessons in Rockville, MD

D'Niko E

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Double Bass Piccolo Oboe Bassoon Music Keyboard

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I was in high school when I first became a professional musician and it was a defining moment because it forever changed the trajectory of my life. Now I can never imagine living a life without it.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I enjoy the sounds of other instruments. and It's interesting to experiment with varied sound patterns.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
There's not too many that are into music, but my father did tell me a couple of times that he use to play bass guitar with Bootsie Collins.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I would probably work as a scientist for NASA or some sort of engineer.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I really enjoy Avant Garde because it involves a lot of out-of-the-box thinking and abstract sounds.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I do not have a formal degree, but I have graduated from the school of 'Hard Knock' lol...all jokes aside a lot of what I have is raw talent accompanied with my unconditional love for music.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
We'll I've performed my dream piece (Giant Steps) ten times over and sometimes I still play it.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
It looks like and sounds like a ton of listening, a series of warm-ups on long tones, formulated note patterns and song list for scheduled engagements and then I finish off with a series of cool down exercise with scale patterns and more long tones or this practice session may look a bit different depending upon the instrument.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I enjoy using the Essential Band Method series, Universal Methods, Jamey Abersold Books and Charlie Parker Omni Book. These books are great at helping to lay down a solid foundational teaching and engages and encourages students to challenge themselves into achieving new heights in their performance.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
I think that mastering dexterity and a really great sound can be most challenging but with lots of consistent practicing you can overcome any challenge.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Performing at Charm City Lights, Artscape, and Afram, as well as touring and recording with great and renowned musicians and artist like Gary Bartz, Angelo Moore, Fish Bone, and opening up for Bad Brains are just few of my greatest accomplishments!

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Yes most of my students received awards and accolades at the end of every school year for their achievements and rendering outstanding community service as valuable memebers of their school band program.

When will I start to see results?
It can take anywhere between 1-2 days or 30 day, maybe longer depending on the interest and commitment level of the student.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes I did; there were several actually and they all inspired me in different ways. My high school music teacher and mentor helped me to build a solid foundation for my playing. He taught me the bases and prior to him there was my middle school music teacher and he taught me discipline. Others that come to mind taught me everything in between and inspired to become the talented and gifted musician that I am today, through their impartation of wisdom, mentorship, constructive criticisms, performance opportunities and encouragement.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I love how the tenor saxophone speaks. It's smooth and clean and conveys spontaneous ideas in ways like no other. The range of the tenor hit sweet highs and savory lows. I'm able to shape and bend a sound exactly the way I hear it in my head. It suits me like a glove, a natural connection that makes all the sense in the world.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Be goal oriented when you practice. Listen to whatever it is that you are trying to master as often as you can. Have fun while you practice but focus less on what you're really good at and more on your challenging and weaker areas. Also before you practice. Make sure to get plenty of rest and eat well. Always strive to make the best of your practice time.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
They will show genuine interest by often time asking you to get them their own instrument.

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