Teaching Approach:
I have over 10 years experience teaching a wide variety of styles to students of all ages. I am happy to travel to student’s homes. I am quite adept at assessing the direction a student is (or seems to want to be) heading in and tailoring the lessons to that direction. I specialize in jazz, pop, R&B, beginning classical, theory and improvisation. I have worked with many method books – classical (Alfred’s, Bastien’s, Suzuki, Easy Classics to Moderns), jazz and pop (Jamey Aebersold, various gospel, R&B, and pop books), and I always use what will best support the student’s development in their desired area of study.

Background:
Studied jazz piano with jazz greats Jaki Byard (formerly of the Charlie Mingus group), Don Friedman, and Hod O’Brien. Studied classical theory and composition at Queens College, NYC. Performed with many jazz groups in the early 1980s. As musical theater director of the Off-Off Broadway Castillo Theater in NYC (1993-2001) arranged music for over 20 productions, led a small pit band, wrote scores for 3 original musicals, and performed on CD recording of Sally and Tom: The American Way. Currently the bandleader and keyboard player for the R&B group The Soul Sensations and keyboard player for jazz trio Agua Dulce.

Contact:
Daniel Belmont
351 Pleasant Street #10
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-5609
dbelmont2@gmail.com
danbelmontmusic.com