Why take piano lessons from me?
SHORT VERSION
I’ve played piano in bars; in restaurants; at private parties; for fun; in bands; on the road; behind opera and blues singers; for profit; in dance classes; behind comedians and ecdysiasts; for musicals; on the street; for hours and hours; in recording studios; etc. I’m an experienced teacher seeking adult students, any level. I teach: popular, blues, analysis, classical, jazz styles, rock, theory, standards, ragtime and more.
MORE DETAIL
I am probably best known for being the founding Executive Director of Smuin Ballets. Also I recently stepped down as founding Executive Director of Chamber Music San Francisco.
For twenty years prior these projects, I was a professional pianist and producer. I worked with scores of singers in classes, cabarets and musical shows. I was the understudy bandleader at Beach Blanket Babylon for 13 years, and taught at American Conservatory Theatre as well. See Past Projects for plenty of detail.
During that period, I was giving piano lessons to 8 to 10 adult students per week, and developed my teaching methods. I am now returning to teaching, though I plan to work with only 4 or 5 adult students.
PRICING
I charge $75 per hour, or $200 for four weekly lessons, paid in advance. You can book a single lesson, and at the end of that lesson either pay me $75 and that’s it, or $200 for four lessons including that one.
IMPORTANT: My students record each lesson on their smartphones, so make sure that you have an audio-recording app installed, and - most important - that you know how to use it! You don't want spending your precious lesson time fiddling around with a new app...
I do not give lessons online, only at my studio in the Outer Sunset of SF. However, on the right are a few videos where you can learn more about me and my teaching philosophy, and sample what I offer:
DANIEL INTRODUCES HIMSELF
DANIEL PLAYS A FEW THINGS
TOPIC 1 - FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER
TOPIC 2 – INTERVALS AND SCALES
TOPIC 3 – CHORDS 1 (TRIADS)
TOPIC 4 – CHORDS 2 (TRIADS IN SCALES)
TOPIC 5 – CHORDS 3 (7TH CHORDS, TO II-V-I)
TOPIC 6 - BLUES