Daniel Richards Email and Phone Number

I teach private music lessons, in-person and on Zoom, for students from kindergarten through adult. I emphasize the importance of learning to read music notation through implementing fun, creative music. Often I arrange music based on a theme or choice of each student, making it a unique, personal experience! Games and activities are incorporated to engage and help review previously learned concepts.

I taught elementary music for grades K-5 and music electives for grades 6-8. I incorporated a variety of resources to form a fun, inspiring, and active music program. Early elementary students danced to rhythms before learning to perform on hand-held percussion instruments. Older elementary students explored cultures from around the globe and learned to compose original music. For middle school students, I designed a variety of electives including digital composition, percussion performance, and 2D art.

Following my time as a part-time recruiter, I was asked to join the teaching staff full-time. In addition to recruiting, I traveled and taught between 8-10 schools a week, with a range of 130 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. I instructed group music lessons, ensembles, and piano classes, providing students with appropriate music and multiple public performance opportunities. Through collaboration with the Chicago teaching staff, I assisted in planning company-wide events including solo contests, sporting performances, and honor bands.

I instructed percussion students, in technique and musicianship, to perform for marching band competitions. In collaboration with other staff, I helped arrange music, design small group visual effects, and manage the sound system for our electronic instruments and soloists.

As a recruiter, I demonstrated the basics of playing band instruments and assisted students in making their first sounds to select the best instrument fit. Additionally, I taught group music lessons and assisted the lead teacher in ensemble rehearsals once a week.

Following my student teaching placement, I was requested to stand in for my mentor, the 7th & 8th Grade Instrumental Band Director. During this position, I instructed the 7th & 8th-grade concert bands, two jazz bands, and taught weekly group lessons for each band instrument. I planned and directed several performances for the concert bands and jazz bands, conducted student leadership auditions, and co-led the combined 6-8th grade marching band for Naperville's Memorial Day parade.