Guitar Lessons in person or online with a doctor of music in guitar performance!

Learn more about Daniel

• When and why did you develop an interest in your chosen field?

  I started guitar when I was 10 years old. By the time I was 12, I decided that I wanted to be a professional classical guitarist.

• What makes you passionate about your subject?

  I really love the classical guitar because of its honesty. The instrument, while very unforgiving, forces you to appreciate every note in your interpretation, and the sound of one guitar playing so many voices is really special in a way that I can't describe. As far as music goes in general, we've been doing it for around 40,000 years as a species, and for me, it's one of the most human things a person can do. Everyone deserves the opportunity to be a part of that.

• What do you like about tutoring? What makes you a "Superprof"?

  I love teaching, and have done it for ten years, for a simple reason: if I want the field of classical guitar to progress, it is not only a desire, but a responsibility to teach the instrument to others. If I want it to be played well, it is my responsibility to teach others to play it well. Beyond that, I simply love the human connections I make with each one of my students, understanding the ways that each of them grasps music in their own unique way. I also love seeing the unexpected ways that music learning affects their day to day life, their relationships with others, and their general approach to learning anything. I do notice that my students grow as people and seem to change for the better after about a year or more of studying the guitar.

• Do you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  I had many teachers throughout my life, and they all taught me a lot. Patrick Roux, who I studied with during my Master's Degree, taught me the importance of putting the music first. Bruce Holzman, who I worked with in Tallahassee, Florida, taught me the importance of psychology in teaching, learning, and performing, and the value of simplicity in interpretation and explanation. Jeffrey McFadden, at the University of Toronto, taught me how to conquer every technical problem that I can think of, and to create a consistent, clear sound. Lorenzo Micheli, an Italian guitarist who I studied with on scholarship in Europe for one summer, is probably my favourite guitarist on the planet, and he taught me the importance of relaxation, mental practice, and having clear musical ideas. Just observing his lifestyle and his approach to music improved my playing, on top of the actual work we did in lessons together.

• What are your keys to success?

  Understand yourself, understand what you are trying to achieve, make it realistic, and make a plan to achieve it. I think this is the essence of learning. Beyond that, I believe that developing an open and exploratory attitude to learning and listening has really helped me to overcome music performance anxiety, push through challenging technical problems, and react positively to the various things that throw us curveballs in life.