Hi! I'm David.
My own childhood music lessons were among the most formative and meaningful experiences of my life. Looking back, I realize that this is where I discovered my deepest and most personal interests, where I learned to focus and to develop skill, and where I learned to perceive the world—and myself—through an artistic practice. It is a joy and a privilege to participate in bringing this kind of experience to others.
Teaching experience:
I began teaching music to blind and visually impaired students in LAUSD and at the Southern California Conservatory of Music when I was 16. I started a private teaching studio in my 20s and began creating an original music learning method, called Shapes, which I developed into a top 10 music app for iPad in 2013. I was a teaching fellow at Harvard University, where I taught music and GenEd classes, and helped develop a music course in the School of Engineering. I was also a Media and Design fellow at the teaching and learning center, where I designed tools for courses across Harvard College, and I moonlighted as the "expert musicologist" for music industry clinicals at Harvard Law School. I was on the faculty of St. John's College in Santa Fe, where I taught music, philosophy, literature, and mathematics. I have also piloted classroom music programs for middle schoolers through After-School All-Stars, L.A., and have taught music literacy and improvisation to elementary-age kids.
Philosophy and method:
I believe that before taking a single lesson, each of us has a wealth of intuitive musical understanding that we've picked up from the world around us. This forms the basis for our musical tastes and interests, and it's also the strongest foundation for structured learning. For example, if you hear a musician play a "wrong" note in a concert or a recording, it means you already have a sense of the notes that might have sounded "right." Traditional concepts like keys, chords, scales, and even the structure of music notation are based in groupings of notes that align with just this kind of intuition. And so there's an opportunity to begin with what you already know, and to always keep your learning grounded in your own musical sensibilities.
I work with you (or your kids!) to develop your musical ear, explore theory in practical ways, and dive into the aspects of music that excite you most. This might mean traditional piano technique and repertoire, jazz improvisation, songwriting, or learning GarageBand, Ableton Live, or other music technology tools to create and record your own music.
This kind of learning requires flexibility and creativity. It will take a slightly different form for each learner, and it will take unexpected twists and turns. It will draw from tradition, and it will let go of tradition. It will feel like work, and it will feel like play. Above all, it will help you build lasting tools for learning, growing, and connecting—both through music and beyond it.
Practical stuff:
I teach from my home in Topanga on an exceptional Baldwin grand piano that once belonged to my own childhood music teacher. I'm just 3 minutes from the center of Topanga and 12 minutes from Woodland Hills. There's easy parking in front and comfortable space for parents to hang out during kids' lessons.
I offer 30-minute, 45-minute, and hour-long lessons. For younger kids, 30 minute lessons support focus, structure, and consistency. For older kids and teens, 45 minutes is often the sweet spot for staying engaged while diving deeper into playing and developing musical craft. Hour-long lessons are usually best for adults and older kids who are exploring musical projects and concepts more deeply.
My rates are $40 for 30 minutes, $60 for 45 minutes, and $75 for an hour. I recommend weekly lessons because they establish continuity for building skills and musical understanding. We can always adjust the lesson length and cadence as your musical journey evolves. If after our first lesson you decide my approach isn't the right fit, there's no charge for that lesson.
Please reach out by one of the methods below if you'd like to schedule a first lesson, or if you'd like to chat about your specific needs and interests.
I look forward to hearing from you!
