Daniel S
Instruments: Piano, Violin, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Avant-garde
Daniel S
Instruments: Piano, Violin, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 8-80
Bachelor of Music, Brigham Young University
Masters of Education, University of Utah
Presidential (full tuition) Scholarship, BYU
Music Department Head, Guangzhou Nanhu International School (2007-2011)
I love teaching piano and violin lessons to students of all ages from beginner to upper intermediate levels. I studied piano performance with Robert Smith and violin performance with Percy Kalt at BYU; I have also studied with Jeffrey Shumway, former Head of Keyboard Studies, BYU and Carroll Meyer, Boise State University. These wonderful teachers guided and inspired me to attain and pass on classical technique and style to the next generation of musicians. My students, with commitment and effort, will find joy and satisfaction in playing works of the classical masters such as Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.
I began teaching lessons at age 14 to young neighborhood beginners. As I progressed through the years, I expanded my range of student ability from beginner to upper intermediate, and from ages 6 to... well, older than me and I'm now 60! I have taught hundreds of students and enjoyed every one of them. I find that the more effort, especially in consistent and efficient practice (to be explained and demonstrated by me), that my students put in, the more pleasure and satisfaction they get out of it! So look forward to a great experience and you won't be disappointed.
I am somewhat flexible on books and methods, but unless my students have already invested time and money in a particular published method, I start them on the Bastien series, which is not too expensive and is well designed and effective. As they progress to intermediate, they will be expected to buy some classical music, collections, and technique books. In addition, I will write out some exercises and guiding information and instructions to assist them in their practice and approach to style and technique. Feel free to re-use materials you may have from older children, neighbors, or family and friends. Bring what you have along to the first lesson, and I'll make a determination as to its usefulness and appropriateness to you or child's level and needs.
I approach piano and violin instruction from a foundational, constructive perspective, combined with building rapport and reciprocal clarifying communications. Essentially this means that the student and I interact to build understanding by using the familiar to grasp the unfamiliar. An example is: When teaching hand position, I use the natural position the student already has when the hand is relaxed to build the hand playing position. The student is encouraged to ask questions, to feel free to make mistakes in order to take the risks necessary for true understanding and growth, and to engage in productive discussion leading to personal clarity with regard to their playing.
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