Piano with Danaila H.

With 35 years of music-related experience, Danaila is in her 15th year of working as a professional musician and teacher. She has experience teaching from 5-year-old to 55-year-old students, from the beginners to advanced students. Some of her advances students are winners of national competitions and now having a successful career as singers in Europe and America. Born in Bulgaria, Danaila began her formal music studies at the age of 5 with piano and theory lessons. She won her first prize performing piano when she was 10 years old. Her passion for singing took her to participate actively at children’s and youth choirs. As a soloist singer for a National Choir she traveled all around Europe, performing in France, Holland, Germany, Hungary, Greece inter alia. Danaila earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Master’s Degree in Voice Pedagogy in Bulgaria, both with honors, and received a special mention as outstanding student. She moved to South America where for over 10 years she was a full time College Professor teaching Voice, Piano, Voice Technique and Coaching, Music Theory, Ear Training and Choir Conducting. Danaila has been invited to be part of an international jury for Voice and Opera competitions. She has participated in numerous musical events as a pianist, singer, lector, clinician and conductor. Danaila holds a Master’s Degree in Music from Texas Christian University. She awarded assistantship and worked as an Assistant Conductor at TCU Symphony Orchestra and Voice Coach at TCU Opera Studio. She has been nominated and initiated into the nationally recognized music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda. As a conductor she has been performing Operas, Choral-Orchestral, Symphonic, Chamber and A Capella repertoire in America and Europe. *** Lesson Details *** I am a loving, very patient, passionate and enthusiastic teacher. I like to motivate, encourage and enjoy the fun making music together. All lessons are absolutely personalized and based on the student’s age, level and capacity. They are structured and focused for improving skills and achieving student's individual goals. Students will learn how to prepare and use the body to its utmost capability as a complete instrument and resonator system; how to take and manage the proper breath for a maximum efficiency; how to use the appropriate position to guarantee a healthy sound production and singing technique that will protect and improve the individual voice and last for a lifetime. Another part of the lesson is focused on selected repertoire: how to approach, understand and perform a specific vocal piece. If you are an advanced student you will be also taught diction in Italian, German, Spanish, Latin and Russian (depends of your needs). I highly recommend to students to record themselves during the lesson because audio recordings and video recordings are great ways for apprentices to learn by observing their mistakes and strengths. The piano lessons are focused in building and improving the right technique using special exercises and proper repertoire. I am familiar with many of the Piano Teaching Methods and will recommend the best for you according to your age, level and goals. Learning and playing pieces from different periods and composers is important to develop artistic sensitivity as a performer. I specialize in classical training and I believe that a strong background in classical music is important for any musician, regardless of their musical preferences. *** Studio Equipment *** living room, upright acoustic piano Yamaha, also yamaha digital 88 keys, comfortable, place for parents studio--- piano, chair, mirror in small practice room, no parents *** Travel Equipment *** Electronic piano *** Specialties *** *Teachers marked as a Student Favorite have taught a minimum of 25 lessons and have received the highest feedback rating from students. Preferably Classical Music, Opera, Operetta (Music Theatre) and Broadway. I use different methods depending of students age, goals, and intensity of work.