Teaches online
Teaches all skill levels
Age: 9+
Speaks English
Teaching since 1998
Bachelors of Music Performance
About Dan W.
5.0
(4)
Welcome to my profile!
As the Principal Horn of the New York City Ballet, I have dedicated my life to making beautiful music since early childhood. I began studies on piano at the age of two, composition at age five, and finally the horn at age nine. My performance experience is extensive, ranging from orchestral, concert band, chamber music, and solo repertoire, to pop, rock, show tunes, and jazz.
I strive to be very adaptive in my teaching style. Some students need to be pushed, others need a slower pace. People have different learning styles, different strengths and weaknesses, different goals, different personalities. I'm a born problem solver, so my first questions to new students focus on determining their goals and intentions, their current level, and the best strategy for getting them to where they'd like to be. One of my greatest joys in life is working with motivated goal oriented students through private lessons and ensemble coachings. As a musician, yogi, athlete, and health nut, I aim to integrate as many skill sets as it takes to best aid the student.
I have been teaching private horn lessons and performing professionally for more than 2 decades. Students of mine consistently place high in region and all state auditions, and have gone on to study at major music schools across the US and Europe.
Here are some of my Performing credentials:
* Principal Horn - New York City Ballet Orchestra
* Principal Horn - Glimmerglass Opera
* Substitute Musician with the Philadelphia Orchestra
* Substitute Musician with the New Jersey Symphony
* Principal Horn - Pennsylvania Ballet (Philadelphia)
* Principal Horn - Ocean City Pops Orchestra (NJ)
* Substitute Musician for My Fair Lady and Lion King on Broadway
* Recordings for NASCAR, Sony Classical, and Naxos Records
* Hornist and founder of Universal Brass Ensemble
* Active Clinician, Chamber Musician, Orchestral Musician, and Soloist
* Performances with Dave Brubeck, Aretha Franklin, The Who, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana, Mannheim Steamroller, Patti Lupone, Leann Rhimes, Josh Groban...
* Bachelor Degree in Horn Performance, with outside studies in Piano and Composition from Indiana University.
Education credentials:
* Visiting Faculty at Bennington Chamber Music Conference - 2018
* Faculty Westminster Choir College - 2003-2006
* Faculty Summertrios festival - 2002-Present
* Coach and clinician at Rutgers University, James Madison University, University of Central Arkansas, Kutztown University, Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University
****Please contact for availability. I do not use the calendar function on this website.
Instructor details
Location:
Teaches Online
Teaching Hours
Monday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Tuesday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Wednesday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Thursday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Friday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Saturday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Sunday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Pricing
45 minutes
$125
60 minutes
$150
90 minutes
$175
ReviewsWrite a review
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5.0
4 Reviews
Andy
Teacher's studio
Dan is my horn instructor!! He is extremely professional, well versed in all aspects of teaching and a pleasure to watch in action. It would be a mistake not to make him your first choice as a french horn instructor.
Posted May 13, 2018
Lauren
Student's home
He’s very helpful for all levels, he’s very patient and has helped me learn the French horn since I started. He is extremely kind and knows how to fix any problem you’re having. His expertise on horn makes him a great teacher.
Posted Mar 31, 2018
David
Student's home
I have studied with Dan for the past few years now and my playing has improved drastically. Dan is fantastic in that he always reinforces technique whenever you are doing something wrong and builds good horn playing habits. He has so many different, methodical and intuitive ways to approach any kind of horn playing problem, and they have been all effective. In addition to the technical aspect, he helps to build great musicianship through focus on phrasing and expression that have elevated my playing and the way I approach music, from both a technical and musical stance. Lastly, his lessons are really fun! He's got a great sense of humor and friendliness that makes the learning enjoyable and memorable.
Posted Apr 2, 2018
Experience
Substitute Musician
May, 2017 - PresentPhiladelphia Orchestra
Substitute Musician
Jan, 2017 - PresentNew Jersey Symphony
Substitute Musician
Jan, 2017 - PresentLion King on Broadway
Principal Horn
May, 2014 - PresentOcean City Pops Orchestra
Principal Horn
Sep, 2011 - PresentPennsylvania Ballet Orchestra
Education
Bachelors of Music Performance
Sep, 1998 - May, 2002Indiana University
Affiliations
American Federation of Musicians
Jun, 2002A labor union representing professional musicians in the United States and Canada. Founding in 1896 as the successor to the "National League of Musicians," the AFM is the largest organization in the world representing the interests of professional musicians.
Languages
English
Native Proficiency
Dan's Gallery
Instructor details
Location:
Teaches Online
Teaching Hours
Monday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Tuesday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Wednesday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Thursday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Friday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Saturday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Sunday
7 AM-8:30 PM
Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Pricing
45 minutes
$125
60 minutes
$150
90 minutes
$175
Private Lessons
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