Our Team

Dan graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance (Improvisation) from The Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne). Whilst living in the USA and Canada during the 1990s Dan continued his musical studies at various Masterclass programs including: The New School (New York), Sandpoint (Idaho) and Banff (British Columbia) under the tutelage of such luminaries as: Jim Hall, Kenny Werner, Billy Hart, Bernard Purdie, Joe Lovano, Hugh Fraser and Ed Schuller. During that time Dan also studied guitar privately with: John Abercrombie, Wayne Krantz and Bill Bickford as well as studying composition and arranging with Phil Markowitz at The Manhattan School of Music. 

Throughout his 40 years of professional music making Dan feels blessed to have worked with some of Australia’s most beloved music, music-theatre and musical-comedy artists including: Thndo, Kylie Auldist, Nina Ferro, Kutcha Edwards, Kellie Auty, Stephen Teakle, Ross Hannaford, Paul Williamson, Doug de Vries, Diana Clarke, Gianni Marinucci, Scott Tinkler, Eugene Ball, Ben Gillespie and Ed.  

As well as these supporting roles Dan has led several original blues-rock, funk and jazz-fusion bands including: Rufus Stone, Strayhorn and most recently Blue Stone Angels who are currently a mainstay on the Melbourne Blues & Roots scene. 

In his role as a music-educator Dan is totally committed to passing on his knowledge, experience and wisdom in ways that are both appropriate and relatable to individuals and groups. He believes that there should never be a “one size fits all” approach. Rather: Because each person hears sound in a completely unique way it is therefore incumbent upon the teacher to learn to hear the notes as the student hears them and from that place gently guide them towards a deeper and richer appreciation of the musically possible.

Within music Dan is passionate about being a “life-long-learner". He is currently improving his keyboard skills and through the years has also taught himself to play: The drums, hand-percussion, trumpet, harmonica, cello, double bass and mandolin. As a musician Dan is in love with the “Happy-Accident”; those sublime moments where the music guides us into the unknown and wherein, we find our true individual and collective expression! Therefore: Improvisation (or “jamming”) is one of the fundamental assets in Dan’s playing and teaching tool-kit. Outside of music Dan is a lover of: The culinary arts, vegetable gardening, tennis, European football, body-surfing, hiking, good conversation, reading, philosophy, psychology, stand-up comedy and quirky art-house cinema.