MASTER Fingerstyle, Modern and Classical Guitar | Berklee Scholar & Conservatory graduate | Personalized Lessons for All Levels

Find out more about Daniel

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

  I began studying music at 7. Fun fact, I did not want to do music at all and told my parents to take me out of the conservatory for the first couple of months. Fortunately, they didn't 😅, because I quickly fell in love with music and guitar. A little later on, as a teenager, I decided music was going to be what I would do for a living!

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

  Although I'm not an expert on the genre, I love listening to jazz. I think it has so much depth that I could listen to thousands of songs without getting bored. For me, it feels almost like listening to a good podcast. It's as if the musicians are talking to me and exchanging ideas with each other.

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

  I immediately think of harmony, as it is both difficult to understand thoroughly and incredibly fascinating once you begin to internalize it. Without a doubt, this will always be one of my favorite topics to teach in music. With harmony, you can truly understand what lies behind each musical work.

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

  I think every instrument has its own difficulties. It's hard to make a clear comparison, especially since I don't consider myself as good at other instruments as I am at the guitar. Every instrument has its own technical universe, so my answer would be: All of them!

• What are your keys to success?

  Consistency... It doesn't matter if you only practice for 10 minutes a day, but if you do it EVERY day, you will be developing one of the most important virtues: discipline. With discipline, you will automatically increase your daily practice time little by little, and your progress will increase exponentially. Remember that no one is born knowing music; it's all about practice and more practice, but the most important thing is to enjoy the process.

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

  Chris Martin (Coldplay singer) - Coldplay is one of my favorite bands, and I specifically think Chris has a very different view of what it means to be a “pop star.” I think that's very cool.
  John Williams (film composer) - Since my main occupation, besides playing guitar, is composing film scores, John's music has inspired me throughout my life. I consider him a genius at what he does.
  Agustin Barrios (classical guitarist) - He was one of the pioneers of Latin American guitar music and, without a doubt, one of the best composers for the instrument. Many call him “the poet of the guitar.”

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

  While at Berklee, I had the opportunity to study with Berta Rojas, one of the greatest figures in classical guitar today and a Latin Grammy winner. That in itself is a dream come true that I never imagined would happen. Thanks to that, I was also able to meet and have dinner with Sergio Vallín (guitarist for the Latin American rock band Maná). In the blink of an eye, I was sitting there eating pizza with two celebrities whom I admire greatly.

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

  I really enjoy doing everything I can to help my students understand concepts clearly. In addition, I try to teach them in such a way that they can extract the essential information and apply it in any other scenario, no matter how different it may be. Finally, I would say that I am understanding and patient, and I have a personalized learning plan for each of my students because no one learns in the same way or at the same pace. There is always something new to learn, and every day I strive to be a better teacher.