Daniel B
Instruments: Piano
Styles: Classical
Daniel B
Instruments: Piano
Styles:
Classical
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 7-80
DMA, Eastman School of Music, Piano Performance MM, Juilliard School of Music, Piano Performance BM, Eastman School of Music, Piano Performance
2016, Finalist, Teaching Assistant Prize for Piano Instruction
2015, First Prize, The Marshall Prize, Grieg Young Artist Piano Competition
2015, Second Prize, National Association of Music Educators
2012, New York Debut
2011, Rave Review in the New York Times
I am a classically trained pianist from the New York area who has performed chamber music and solo recitals throughout the world including Steinway Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Tenri Cultural Institute. I have been a featured artist at the International Bergen Arts Festival, held in Bergen Norway. I have won prizes in numerous competitions including first prize in the Grieg Young Artist Piano Competition held in Sarasota, Florida in 2015. My students have won concerto competitions and have given successful performances throughout the Rochester area.
I have been teaching students of all ages since high school. While studying at Eastman, I have been responsible for teaching lessons to college-aged students of varying levels and abilities. I have also taught young beginners and older students returning to music. I have found that my wide ranging and diverse knowledge of the piano repertoire helps to engage students and encourages a personal relationship with music. My experiences have taught me the importance of having an adaptable teaching style that changes to help students reach their full potential: It is never enough to simply be a good pianist. I am happy to work with students of all ages and abilities who are eager to learn about playing the piano!
For young students starting piano lessons for the first time, I recommend either Bastien or Hal-Leonard method books. I also encourage the development of aural skills, rhythm, and note reading through games and listening assignments. I develop technique from the upper arm down, starting with muscles that are larger and easier to control. For adults, I cater my lessons and teaching to the needs of each student. I encourage being intellectually curious and experimental in approach to piano playing. To ensure that technical concepts stick, I always make sure that an evaluation about what image or physical sensation helped to incorporate new technical ideas. For students of all ages, I stress that the ears are the most important part of playing or listening to music. The skills I teach encourage life-long learning in my students without being boring! Playing the piano should sound and feel good!
I pride myself on instilling a passion for music and music making in my students. To do this, I make my lessons responsive to the particular needs of each student and I consciously draw attention to what a student does well as well as what a student can improve. In this way, my students develop a strong desire to refine and polish their playing and listening while acknowledging and enjoying what they do well. Music cannot be fun if the only feedback a student gets or a teacher gives is critical. I stress the importance of comfort at the piano: no pain, no gain is never applicable to becoming a better pianist! Therefore, I encourage my students become very aware about how their physical gestures influence the sound that they produce. This ensures that students are confident and in control when approaching new, more difficult pieces of music. I always work to establish a trusting and personal relationship with my students so that lessons are effective, fun, and educational!
Check out our A+
Rating from the Better Business Bureau
100% Risk-Free Trial Lesson
If you are not satisfied after your trial lesson, you will not be charged and we can match you with another teacher.