Hello!
I’m looking forward to working with you, and helping you grow into the best pianist you can become. A little about my approach to teaching:
With over 15 years of dedicated teaching experience, I carefully tailor lessons to your strengths and weaknesses to provide the most well-rounded education possible. Above all my focus is on principles-based learning, which principles you are then able to apply yourself to any music you learn and in disciplines far beyond the piano as well: teaching you to fish so to speak, rather than handing you fish. We’ll build a foundation of deep and functional musicality, a strong technical and theoretical foundation, understanding of appropriate historical styles and context, a practical approach to the stresses of performing, and more. Together we’ll strive toward focused artistic development and guiding a lifelong love for creativity, music and growth!
Lessons are held in downtown Sandpoint, Idaho and remotely via Zoom.
develop a clear mind,
robust technical mastery,
and confident performances.
fees
40 min — $90 USD
60 min — $130 USD
Local students and select circumstances: please inquire.
testimonials
Daniel was recommended to me for my son through a friend. 1-on-1 lessons for him was a much better fit than group lessons. Daniel is patient, encouraging, yet sets firm boundaries and expectations. Students know what is expected of them. My son’s progress and understanding continues to grow weekly. As a pianist myself, I am thrilled with our experience. He’s clearly a great musician but also drops information on the history of the piano, composers, and music in general.
— Monica S.
As an adult returning to piano after a 20+ year hiatus, I cannot say enough positive things about choosing Daniel as a teacher. The holes in my music education are rather large and together we have started to bridge the gap. He is thoughtful in selecting pieces to build skills but also allowing freedom to try various styles and preferences. He provides a low pressure yet serious feel to the lesson — he is as invested in your development as a musician as you are.
— Monica S.
“Every detail was thoughtfully executed. We're thrilled with the outcome.”
“a pianist of striking sensitivity and sterling musical intelligence, considerable technical skill, and a bold, mature and individual musical voice.”
Marc Silverman
about your new teacher
An internationally acclaimed pianist, Daniel Hughes won first prize and the audience favorite award at the 2021 Glory International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2020 Sound Espressivo International Competition, and top honors at the Oregon Petri, Lillian Pettibone, and Maude Sardam Collaborative scholarship competitions, as well as the collaborative division of the Oregon MTNA competition. Among his collaborators are singers from the Metropolitan Opera, Grammy Award winners, top Billboard artists, and distinguished international virtuosi including Robert McPherson, Alexander Schonert, Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini, and Lars Mellander. He has appeared as soloist with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony and toured throughout the Americas and Europe, performing in major venues such as the Teatro Colón and the Arlene Schnitzer concert hall. Highly regarded in masterclasses with Tamara Stefanovich, Andrew Brownell, Arnaldo Cohen, and the Takács Quartet, Daniel is also an active chamber and collaborative musician with emphasis in the vocal, flute, and cello repertoires. He is a student of Irene Peery-Fox and previously studied on scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music with the late Phillip Kawin, after beginning his university studies at Portland State University with Julia Hwakyu Lee; he has also studied with Heasook Rhee, Jonathan Klibonoff, Scott Rednour, Lisa Marsh, Chuck Dillard, Velma Schludermann, Geneva Wright, and his dear ma Corina Hughes who was his first teacher.