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Award-winning Educator, Musician, and National Merit Scholar
Dan S.

5.0 (107 ratings)

570 hours tutoring

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Hourly Rate: $95
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Response time: 7 minutes

About Dan

Bio

Hi there, I'm Dan! I started teaching when I was six years old, and since then, I've only gotten better—on the one hand, I've been honored with the Mary Lou Williams Music Mentorship award, helped young pianists develop their technique, and supported students in college-level coursework in Music Production, Music Theory, and Ear Training; on the other, I've been helping students exceed their goals for the SAT for the past five years using a time-tested practice-based methodology that has...

Hi there, I'm Dan! I started teaching when I was six years old, and since then, I've only gotten better—on the one hand, I've been honored with the Mary Lou Williams Music Mentorship award, helped young pianists develop their technique, and supported students in college-level coursework in Music Production, Music Theory, and Ear Training; on the other, I've been helping students exceed their goals for the SAT for the past five years using a time-tested practice-based methodology that has consistently placed students in the 99th percentile of all test-takers. Having been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist in 2020 for my academic achievements on the SAT and graduating magna cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Songwriting, Music Production, and Music Education, I teach a broad array of topics in which I aim to support students in their learning and provide them with a framework to succeed long after our lessons!

Since I started teaching on Wyzant in 2021, I've worked with students just starting out with music very early in life, high-school and collegiate learners looking for guidance and support, as well as lifetime learners reaching well into their seventies. With my experience as an award winning pianist, producer, songwriter, arranger, and composer, I bring a nuanced perspective to every tutoring session that not only helps students succeed in academic and audition settings, but also enables them to make the music that they want to make! Whether providing instruction on making tracks, producing vocals, and mixing in Ableton, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools, explaining music theory concepts at every level of experience, or guiding pianists along their journeys in classical, jazz, RnB, rock, and pop idioms, my breadth of experience enables me to help students make deep connections that enhance their understanding and support their musicality.

Whichever subject you choose to learn from me, I very much look forward to meeting you and helping you be the best student you can be!

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Education

Berklee College of Music
Music Education, Production, Songwriting
  • Licensed teacher

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Approved Subjects

Biology

Biology

I have had extensive education in Biology, having taken MIT's Introductory Biology course for undergraduates in my freshman year of high school. Following this, I proceeded to score a 5 on the Biology AP after self-studying, as well as an 800 on the SAT Biology M subject test. I have a deep understanding of the underlying principles of Biology, and have passed them along to all of my former students.
Music Production

Music Production

Coming from my background in classical and jazz piano, music production seemed insurmountable when I began to study it at Berklee—until it clicked, and my whole world opened up. Now, after graduating magna cum laude with productions going out for placement in TV and credits with up-and-coming artists, I help students achieve the same feeling of possibility in any DAW that they choose (though my personal favorites are Ableton, Pro Tools, and Logic Pro). Learn to make your vocals sit just right, get that perfect bass sound, craft hard-hitting drums, or mix and master all of those elements into a professionally-competitive product that resonates with audiences' emotions; you deserve to hear the music that you've always wanted to make!
Music Theory

Music Theory

My approach to teaching Music Theory centers on presenting theory as a vehicle through which music can be better understood or discussed— not as a set of rules, or worse, a jumble of words and symbols that bear no relationship to actual music. Despite being one of the most important skills a musician can learn, theoretical proficiency is one of the most overlooked, because it is often also one of the most mistaught. As a Berklee-educated musician with strong foundations in both classical and contemporary harmony, as well as an active performer and arranger, I teach theory such that it can be called upon every time you listen to, play, or write music. At the end of the day, music is music, and theory is just a way of talking about it— and I want to help you master it!
Piano

Piano

Piano has been a part of my life as long as I can remember—I ran right into one when I was three, and I have the forehead scar to prove it! Things got better after I progressed to sitting on the bench, and especially once I was introduced to some of the best piano teachers and band directors that I could have possibly asked for. Now, some twenty years down the line, I'm armed with a degree in Music Education from the Berklee College of Music that I earned magna cum laude, along the Mary Lou Williams Music Mentorship award, and it's my privilege to get to work with pianists at every stage of their learning get to know themselves and their instrument better with every lesson. Whether teaching scales for the first time, helping students prepare audition repertoire, or guiding students through the paces of learning to improvise or read sheet music, I'm here to use my experience in classical, jazz, rock, pop, RNB, and folk music to help all of my students along their way!
PSAT

PSAT

I scored a 1500 on the PSAT, and as a result, became a National Merit Scholar. Since taking the exam, I have helped peers, younger siblings of friends, and previous students achieve similarly high scores. Additionally, I tutor the SAT extensively and find that the preparations for the two tests are very similar.
SAT Math

SAT Math

I have been tutoring students to their target scores on the SAT for the past two years; on my own first attempt, I scored a 790 on both the Math and Reading sections, and am now passing on the same strategies that I used to succeed. Since I started working with students, those strategies have only become more refined as I developed an understanding on how to allow students to maximize the benefits of their own unique workflows. As someone who still has the college application process fresh in his mind, I understand and relate to the position of trying to do your best to prepare for the SAT alongside surviving the rest of high school; I'm here to make that easier for you.
SAT Reading

SAT Reading

Scoring a 790 on your first SAT attempt isn't impossible; it's what I did during my time in high school, and what I'd love to have happen for your student! After being named a National Merit Scholar in my senior year, I started working as a tutor and haven't stopped since, now having worked with dozens of students on both the new and old iterations of the SAT. As a passionate reader and writer, I have a great deal of experience with both the mechanics and the comprehension of written English, and I work with students to both master the content and format of the exam, passing along strategies built around the internal logic of the SAT and the questions on it.
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

Besides scoring a 790 on the SAT English portion of the exam on my first time attempting the SAT, I am fortunate to be a passionate reader, and have a great deal of experience with both the mechanics and the comprehension of written English. I have tutored several students for this portion of the exam by passing along strategies I used to secure my own success; I observed their growth as high-level readers first hand, and am glad to report that their scores were commensurately high.

Examples of Expertise

Dan has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 2 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Dan S.'s Photo

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Ratings and Reviews

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5.0 (107 ratings)
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Reviews

Very informative and helpful!

I've learned a lot about mixing, balancing and organizing my Logic & Pro Tools sessions by working with Dan! He is very knowledgable on recording softwares, production, and explains things very well. I would highly recommend for anyone looking to get better with recording softwares!

David, 87 lessons with Dan

Great teacher!

Dan helped my son with his SAT reading section. We approached him at the very last minute and he was flexible enough to find time and teach him effective strategies for the test. He was also very familiar with the updated material which was certainly helpful

Lavanya, 2 lessons with Dan

Incredible and passionate Piano Tutor for all levels!

I have been taking piano lessons with Dan for the past month, and he has been incredibly helpful thus far. For some background, I am a jazz pianist who has been playing in bands for the past three years. However, in my first lessons with Dan, he was immediately able to offer me advice I had never heard before, and it has helped greatly improve my practicing routines and habits. Additionally, I have been trying to apply to music colleges for next year, and Dan has been a great help in preparing me for that as well. I highly recommend him for any aspiring pianist, no matter the level!

Alessandro, 12 lessons with Dan

Good

Dan really helped me with memorization. I have struggled with this but he has introduced me to techniques that make memorization easier.

Thomas, 62 lessons with Dan

Knowledgeable and patient tutor

My 16 year old daughter needed help with testing strategies and content. Dan was able to help with both from the first session. We are very satisfied with the tutoring sessions and highly recommend Dan!

Barbara, 18 lessons with Dan

very helpful. went through material very thoroughly

Great teacher. I Appreciate his willingness to really help me understand, not just get the good grade. Thanks again Dan

Nick, 10 lessons with Dan

biology tutor

Dan was able to explain information to me in a new way that I could understand. He was patient and really cared if I understood. I felt much more confident going into the test after meeting with Dan than I ever have. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a bio tutor!

Bayle, 7 lessons with Dan

Knowledgeable Tutor

Dan is really good at helping with SAT English, specifically with being able to reason out the right answers and help me figure out where I misunderstood in my comprehension.

Shreya, 5 lessons with Dan

Knowledgeable, very smart, and insightful

The lesson with Dan was very helpful in setting me on the right path. He provided tips that very very helpful in how to approach the test. He is good at assessing the student and catering the lesson accordingly. Highly recommended!

Rekha, 2 lessons with Dan

Incredibly thorough and understanding SAT tutor!

Dan is very patient with me and understanding. He explains in simple terms and provides examples that help create a better understanding of an abstract concept on the reading section or a grammatical function on the writing section of the SAT. He goes over the type of question the SAT is asking, how to optimize my time (on the reading section especially), and explains to me how I can avoid the same mistake in the future. Overall, I love how simple the SAT looks after having a lesson with him!

Kay, 12 lessons with Dan
Hourly Rate: $95
Response time: 7 minutes
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