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
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February 18th
Eliana (Lesson link)
Recommended Practice Time: 10 minutes daily
What to Practice: Rise Against – Savior
Keys to Effective Practice: Experiment with how you want to mute the strings, maybe it’ll be with your index, maybe your thumb, some people do this with their middle finger even! Whatever works for you is what works best, which is why there are so many different ways of doing the same thing. Some of this will simply come with time. You may be practicing it for a while, getting the rhythm and the notes pegged down and one day it really might just click with the noise-reduction. For now aim to do your best with that, but definitely get the rhythm and notes down, and keep at it every day. You can already do it in some positions, getting it in the others will be a matter of stick-to-itness, which you can and will do! There’s 2 video references in your homework dropbox to help you with the rhythms. One is just the tricky part to play along with, and the other is more of an overview with the version we were playing, as well as a slightly trickier version that is on the album (which who knows, you may find to be easier!). I also attached a file showing the strumming pattern in case a visual reference helps, which it often does for me.
Good work Eliana, you’re consistently making progress. Can’t wait to see where you take this!
Aarna (Lesson link)
Recommended Practice Time: 5-10 minutes daily
What to Practice: Cream – Sunshine of Your Love; intro riff to Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple.
Keys to Effective Practice: Use the video in your dropbox folder for reference, practice playing through both the intro riff to Sunshine of your Love as well as the Chorus. Do both separate at first then once you’re comfortable with that you can string it all together and play the song all the way through. Focus on having a light touch in both hands, especially when sliding the chorus power chords around, you’ll find it significantly easier this way!
Good work Aarna!
Aarnav (Lesson Link)
Recommended Practice Time: 5-10 minutes daily
What to Practice: Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
Keys to Effective Practice: You already have the rhythms and notes down for the intro riff, so to make it a little cleaner try to be as light with both hands as possible (strumming lighter, and fretting lighter). You’ll find in the long run this will make moving around a lot easier! Use the video reference to play along to know you’re on track. Really put some time in on the verses and on the chorus. It will come! Also, use the dots on your guitar neck as a guide to help track where your fingers are going, it’s what they’re there for!
Great work as always Aarnav!
Simon (Lesson Link)
Recommended Practice Time: 5-10 minutes daily
What to Practice: Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Fats Waller
Keys to Effective Practice: As we get more into shell voicings and jazzier chords, taking a bit of time to focus on using the right/specific fingerings will make ones life significantly easier overall. They may be a bit awkward at first, but look at how some of the notes between one chord and the next are the same, and plant your fingers in such a way as to keep them consistent. The less movement, generally speaking, the better! Keep digging into the melody and playing with a swing feel as you did. The only thing on that front I want you to work on is making more use of the other strings of the guitar versus playing up and down a single string. It can be intimidating at first because it’s a new depth, but you’ll find with a little time other parts of the neck will become recognizable and more at home.
Keep up the effort Simon!
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
