Berklee Graduate with 8+ years of teaching experience teaches all styles of Piano, Keyboard, and Synthesizer. Lessons open to all ages and levels - Approaches teaching based on your needs!

Find out more about Dean

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  I began my journey with music at a very young age. At around two years old, I was banging away on an old keyboard my parents happened to have at home. I was fortunate not to be pushed too intensely early on, instead beginning formal piano lessons around age ten and growing naturally from there.
  
  At thirteen, I developed a deep love for jazz music, which soon led me to take lessons focused on that style. Throughout middle and high school, jazz became the foundation through which I honed my musical abilities. In mid-2020, during the pandemic, I shifted my focus toward songwriting and production, integrating the piano and music theory skills I had developed over the years.
  
  My passion for music, and for the piano in particular, has only continued to evolve. I love how music constantly recontextualizes itself as you learn more. There’s always something new to discover, and that endless journey is one of the things I love most about it.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  I love so many different styles of music and artists that it’s hard to narrow things down. These days, I make a conscious effort to keep my musical palate open, often taking recommendations from friends and listening without preconceived judgments about genre or artist. I’ve found that this openness allows me to become obsessed with music I never would’ve discovered on my own.
  
  While I hold a deep love for jazz and funk, I also listen heavily to contemporary genres like pop, R&B, and alternative music. Of course, listening to any song on repeat can eventually wear on you, but overall I truly love music in all its forms.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  My goal with any course is always clarity rather than confusion. Difficulty, when it arises, should lead to growth and understanding, not frustration. What’s riveting or challenging for one student may feel familiar to another, so I make it a priority to tailor each course to the individual.
  
  That said, the courses students tend to connect with most are often creative rather than purely technical. This might look like introducing a new chord voicing, developing a melody and learning how to support it with harmony, or finally breaking through a tricky music theory concept. Helping students push past creative blocks expands not only their musical freedom, but often their confidence and self-expression as well.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  Every instrument has its own unique challenges, and I don’t believe any instrument can ever truly be mastered, as that pursuit could take more than a lifetime. While piano presents its own hurdles with coordination, touch, and feel, I find stringed instruments such as guitar, bass, violin, viola, and cello particularly challenging early on.
  
  The physical demands, especially fingertip sensitivity and endurance, can be difficult for beginners, as discomfort and blisters are common. Each instrument asks something different of the player, which is what makes learning music both challenging and rewarding.

• What are your keys to success?

  Consistency is my most important key to success. Showing up every day, even for a short amount of time, trains the brain like a muscle, gradually allowing you to take on more as you practice. Small, regular efforts compound over time.
  
  Another key is what I like to call learning the language. Just as immersion in a culture is essential when learning that cultures' spoken language, surrounding yourself with music and musicians helps you internalize music concepts much more intuitively. Whether that means joining a school band, starting a jam session with friends, or listening more attentively, you’re constantly absorbing musical information that consciously and unconsciously shapes your musicianship.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Chick Corea - My piano hero. His rhythmic sensibilities and genre-spanning creativity were my introduction to true freedom on the instrument.
  
  Jeff Buckley - A once-in-a-generation artist with a voice and emotional depth that never grow old. I would love the chance to talk with him about songwriting and life, especially since his career was cut tragically short.
  
  Jack Antonoff - A brilliant writer, producer, and visionary, both in his own projects and in his collaborations with artists like Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter. His approach to music resonates deeply with me, and I’d love to pick his brain, and maybe see if we’d be friends.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  On the first day of my Audio Technology 1 class, I was eager to learn about all the buttons, knobs, and features of the recording console in front of me. Instead, our instructor, John Escobar, began with a lesson I’ll never forget.
  
  He explained that technology is just a tool, like a hammer used to drive a nail into wood. A hammer doesn’t build a house on its own, and a recording console doesn’t create music without people playing instruments, making decisions, and moving faders. Without intention, the technology has no purpose. That lesson stuck with me. Understanding the goal, emotion, and intention behind a piece of music in a recording is far more important than knowing every piece of equipment in the room.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I consider myself a persistent and adaptable teacher. I make it a priority to ensure concepts are truly understood, often explaining ideas in multiple ways until they fully click. Many music theory and technology concepts take time to internalize, and I’m committed to meeting students where they are, even if that means revisiting the same topic more than once.
  
  I also pride myself on being a lifelong learner. I’m constantly searching for new books, articles, and pieces of music that can support my students’ growth, while continuing to educate myself in the process. As Phil Collins said, “In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.”