BFA (York)
Daniel is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer from Toronto with a passion for exploring music of all genres and origins.
Daniel received his Honours Bachelor Degree in Music at York University where he originally attended for jazz, but soon branched out into Film Composition and world music such as Klezmer, Balkan folk, Baglama, Eastern European Folk, Flamenco, and Celtic. Since graduating he has primarily focused on crafting and performing on soundtracks for various feature and short films, plays, and television pilots, including Netflix releases and one theatrical release under the mentorship of the prominent Canadian Composer, Lesley Barber.
On the performance front he has also performed and written several EP’s alongside other Toronto artists in the genres of rock, funk, metal, alternative, folk, experimental, and flamenco, and continuously explores new and interesting avenues of guitar related genres.
Music for him is a life long pursuit, and he approaches it as a life long student. Through the one know many.
Get to know Daniel…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Camping, hiking, travelling, board games, reading, cooking and exercise!
Musical Influences: Jóhann Jóhannsson, Bonobo, Radiohead, Thomas Newman, Joe Hisaishi, Plini, Periphery, Paco de Lucia, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Neil Young, Devendra Banhart, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Igor Stravinsky, etc…
Favourite Food: Shawarma, anyday.
Least Favourite Food: the over/poorly cooked variety.
Favourite music: Rock, Psychedelic, Metal, Folk, Ambient, Electronic, Original Soundtracks, Folk.
Favourite Song: At the moment it would be The Girl From North Country by Bob Dylan.
Favourite Movie: Jojo Rabbit
Favourite Book: a tie between – Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth; Khalil Gibran, The Prophet.
Favourite Quote: “We have created a Star Wars civilization, with Stone Age emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology.” – E. O. Wilson
Latest Homework from Daniel
Is Daniel Your Teacher?
Sign up now to get your weekly assignments delivered, and never lose your homework sheet again!
April 22nd
Albert
What to practice: Chords for Let it be/Hotel California, first chapter of Guitar Method (Hal Leonard)
Recommended practice time: 10 minutes per day
Keys to effective practice: While playing chords remember to look for moments where you can move numerous fingers as a set unit vs individually, and how fingers are often paired up in said movement (usually Index/Middle, Index/Ring). For the Guitar Method book take time and keep beat while playing, counting 1, 2, 3, 4 evenly as you go. Remember to review and say the notes out loud before playing to help ingrain them in your mind!
Eliana
What to practice: Iron Maiden – The Trooper
Recommended practice time: 15 minutes daily
Keys to effective practice: Start at a comfortable speed and aim to have your rhythm/technique at 90% accuracy, and then push your metronome and the tempo by 3-5bpm and aim to keep that accuracy or build it up to that level. This songs difficulty lies in its tempo and will require a bit of patience to nail it, and the aforementioned is the key! Once you feel you have it at a tempo above where you started loop it a handful of times before pushing it further to really ingrain it. Otherwise pay attention to how and where you position shift, and moments where a finger can take on more than one note (economy of motion) like in the section right after the intro for your index.
Iron Maiden – Trooper play along
Aarna
What to practice: Up to and including Surf Rock
Recommended practice time: 10 minutes daily
Keys to effective practice: Alternate picking! Aim to keep things even between your up/down picking. To do this keep counting as smoothly and evenly as you have been, not letting your picking hand dictate the speed but your voice. It may be difficult at first to switch between strings while alternate picking, so instead of practicing the entire line for instance, try just looping the first 2 bars of the first line practicing going between the B and G string. Similarly, you could practice the first two bars of the second line going between the E and B string. Iron out those harder tricky bits and you’ll be set!
Aarnav
What to practice: Up to and including Aura Lee
Recommended practice time: 10 minutes daily
Keys to effective practice: This song jumps around a lot between strings and notes, moreso than previous material. While playing Aura Lee it will be important to use the correct fingerings (index for 1st fret, middle for 2nd, ring for 3rd fret), otherwise we will end up hitting dead ends where we have to hit a note and the finger we ought to be using will be tied up somewhere else. Keep track of your fingerings though and you’ll be good!
Simon
What to practice: Led Zeppelin – Black Dog
Recommended practice time: 15 minutes daily
Keys to effective practice: Practice alongside the recording or playalong video on youtube at a comfortable tempo and work your way up! This song will end up being the quickest and likely hardest one we’ve learned so far, but to get it to full speed it will take some patience and dedication to approaching it bit-by-bit, day by day. Once you’ve found a comfortable tempo where you can play the song with about 90% accuracy or so, nudge the tempo/bpm by about 5. Once you attain the same accuracy, loop it a few times for extra measure and if all is well nudge it again. Rinse & repeat! Remember, the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time!
Preferred Books for Daniel’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
Hal Leonard Guitar Method
The second edition of this world-famous method by Will Schmid and Greg Koch is preferred by teachers because it makes them more effective while making their job easier. Students enjoy its easy-to-follow format that gives them a solid music education while letting them play songs right away. Book 1 provides beginning instruction including tuning, 1st position melody playing, C, G, G7, D7, and Em chords, rhythms through eighth notes, solos and ensembles and strumming.
Hal Leonard Guitar Method COMPLETE
The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. It is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and reflects some of the best teaching ideas from around the world. This super-convenient Complete Edition features the new and improved method books 1, 2 and 3 spiral-bound together.
Modern Method for Guitar
This pack includes Volume 1 of this practical, comprehensive method book (the basic text for the guitar program at the world-famous Berklee College of Music) PLUS a matching DVD-ROM featuring 14 complete lessons with Larry Baione, chair of Berklee’s guitar department.
Modern Reading Text in 4/4
This book has become a classic in all musicians’ libraries for rhythmic analysis and study. Designed to teach syncopation within 4/4 time, the exercises also develop speed and accuracy in sight-reading with uncommon rhythmic figures. A must for all musicians, especially percussionists interested in syncopation.
Hal Leonard Music Theory for Guitarists
Guitarists of all levels will find a wealth of practical music knowledge in this special book with online audio access. Veteran guitarist and author Tom Kolb dispels the mysteries of music theory using plain and simple terms and diagrams. The accompanying recordings provide 94 tracks of music examples, scales, modes, chords, ear training, and much more! To access audio visit: www.halleonard.com/mylibrary
