David has been a musician since the age of six beginning on piano, then playing woodwinds in school (flute, saxophone, clarinet), and finally his main instrument guitar (since 1996, theory, songwriting/composition, improvisation, classical, electric (rock, blues, experimental, ambient, jazz), and steel-string (folk, American, country, fingerstyle)). David also is a young maestro playing the classical music of northern India since 2003, having studied within the preeminent Maihar Gharana on sarod with Ustad Aashish Khan and Pandit Rajeev Taranath and earlier on sitar with Ustad Roshan Jamal Bhartiya. He attended the University of Colorado (Phi Beta Kappa honors, EPO Biology ’08) and received a BFA performer/composer degree from California Institute of the Arts in 2008.
Music pedagogy has been an important part of David’s life both as a devoted lifelong student of broad musical interests and as a teacher first offering guitar lessons to students in 2003. He has taught lessons, classes, and workshops in California and Colorado for schools, educational organizations, and as a private instructor. David fosters enjoyment of music and practice by tailoring repertoire and selection of pieces for practice for each student, or by supplementing a student’s choice of musical repertoire and style with further and deeper exploration thereof. Lessons and assignments emphasize:
I am excited to be one of the teachers at Monkton Guitars! I have a Bachelor’s in Music Performance from Albion College, Michigan, and have taught violin for 22 years in Colorado. Since moving to Colorado in 1997, I have performed with the Fort Collins and Greeley Symphony Orchestras. Currently, I am a member of the Stratus Chamber Orchestra in Denver. I am also a free-lance musician.
To grow as a teacher, I was involved with two violin pedagogy courses led by Barbara Barber at the Peak Arts Academy in Boulder. Private violin teachers from many cities took part.
Currently, I am accepting students from ages six (6) to adults. My teaching style is traditional and orchestral. I use Suzuki songs for my younger students. I want my students to have fun while learning to play the violin: I am open to teaching contemporary music tunes and fiddle. When recitals are held, any student is welcome to take part!