Daniel W
5.0
(3)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Drums
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues
5.0
(3)
Daniel W
5.0
(3)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Drums
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
My Studio
Ages Taught: 10-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
MM, University of Houston, Composition BM, Baylor University, Music Theory and Jazz Drums
Awards:
2014 - Performed at the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival in Scotland
2013 - Performed with Gerald Massoud at Houson's Dacamera Jazz Series
2012 - Performed with American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle
2011 - Percussionist with Waco Symphony
Overview:
I am a dedicated teacher who understands the enormous value of music and have devoted my life to it. I care deeply about my students and thier musical dreams. I graduated from Baylor University in 2011 with a degree in Music Theory and Jazz and then went on to pursue a Masters in Music Composition at the University of Houston. All the while I've continued to hone my skills as a drummer and I have been fortunate to play with dozens of artists in every genre from classical and jazz to gospel, rock, and country.
EXPERIENCE
I've been teaching music, in some capacity, since I was 17 and captain of my highschool's drumline. In college I taught drumset lessons to students of all ages and in graduate school I taught a music theory course for 5 semesters as well as classical percussion to 6th - 8th graders. Getting to know my students, what they like and don't like, what they read and listen to, is one of my favorite things and I think it really helps engender a life long passion for music when a teacher takes a personal interest in the students lives. I enjoy playing and listening to so many kinds of music that I may not have even known about had it not been for some of my teachers, and I hope to enrich the lives of my students in the same way.
METHODS USED
No single approach works with every student when teaching drums. There are simply too many styles and methods to choose from. But when working with beginners, I tend to focus mostly on developing a good internal sense of rhythm and good listening skills. Then if the student wishes, we may specialize in classical, jazz, rock, latin, or whatever style the student is interested in. There are many excelent published methods to choose from and I occasionally assign etudes and excersizes of my own.
LESSON STYLE
I am a very hands-on teacher. We do lots of improvisation and call and response games and sometimes I turn on a record or even bring a guitar to jam with the student. Playing drums is a very visceral, tactile excersize, and I often tell students, "That right there, that is how it's supposed to sound! Memorize that feeling and try to recreate it everytime." I am also a huge advocate of having students listen to as much music as possible. Playing drums is still very much an aural language and listening to other drummers is enormously important. Drumming should always be fun and I always remind myself and my students of that.
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
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RATING & REVIEW
Nicole
Daniel has great energy and his technique keeps my daughter interested in continuing to play.
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