Donald R
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
Donald R
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
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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