Donald R

5
5.0 (3)

Instruments: Piano
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Latin, Funk, Salsa, Showtunes, Merengue, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Avant-garde

Where I Teach:

In Your Home My Studio

Ages Taught: 10-80

Levels Taught:

EMAIL US OR CALL 877-687-4524

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ABOUT

Degrees / Training / Special Info:

1998-BA-California State University East Bay

Awards:

1975 Don won the American Music Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Performance of Modern Music and also won a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston

Overview:

I began studying classical and jazz piano at the age of 5 in the Chicago area with Bob Ravenscroft(currently resides in Phoenix and very influencial in the Phoenix Jazz Scene) at Alan Swain Music Studios. I was fortunate to have played in the New Trier West Jazz ensemble in high School. Our band competed in the Montreaux Jazz Festival sweeping 9 of the 12 soloist awards. At 16 I began playing professionally in the Chicago Area in combos, trios and backing up vocalists. I was very forutnate to have studied with three amazing teachers, Herman Shapiro in Chicago(a professor at DePaul University and a student of Rudolph Ganz(The Director of the Chicago Musical College, Carl Mosbacher-a professor at New York University and the Mannes School of Music and Julian White in the Bay Area who was a student of Egon Petri. These 3 teachers greatly inspired me and I will do my best to do the same for my students.

EXPERIENCE

I really enjoy sharing the passion of music with developing musicians. I have taught all ages and levels. I really get a thrill out of watching people progress. Adding music to someone's life is really wonderful. I have been passionate about music for the last 50 years of my life and sharing this passion gives me great joy. One of the reasons that I really love teaching is because it really gets me involved with music. It even motivates me to practice. I think my students can tell that music is my passion and then they feel more passionate about learning piano.

METHODS USED

I analyze each individual student. I design a plan according to their needs. I give students arrangements of pieces that they will be inspired to play. A lot of my teaching is based on some of the great teachers that I studied with in the past. I am 59 years old and currently teach in the San Diego area. I have been teaching for 40 years. I was playing professionally in the Chicago area when I was 16 years old. There are quite a few method books. Faber, Shaum, Hal Leanord, and Willard Palmer are all good for absolute beginners. Once a student gets past the basics I usually take a different approach.

LESSON STYLE

I always try to make the lesson fun. I look for things that will keep my students inspired. I am extremely patient. I always encourage my students in a positive way. I try not to be too pushy. If a student doesn't want to learn a piece then I will try and find something that they are more inspired to learn. I like to give them a choice. I will play a few pieces for them and see which one they like more. I had one student learning the first Bach two part invention and I sent her a youtube video of 5 famous pianist playing it. She really enjoyed that.

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

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RATING & REVIEW

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Joy H.

Donald R. is an exceptional piano teacher who has been instructing both of my children. His deep knowledge of piano is evident in how he customizes each child's lesson plan to match their individual learning styles and interests. He maintains the highest level of professionalism, always arriving on time for lessons and showing flexibility when we need to reschedule due to other activities. What sets Mr. Donald R. apart is his creative approach to teaching. He consistently finds innovative ways to encourage my children to explore different types of music, keeping them engaged and excited about learning. His hands-on teaching style during lessons helps them grasp new concepts effectively. Based on our excellent experience, I highly recommend Mr. Donald R. to anyone looking for a dedicated and skilled piano teacher.

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