David Elan Kelley
David (he/him) is a singer, songwriter, composer and holds a Masters Degree in Music Performance from Portland State University. David has been performing and teaching music for more than 30 years. He writes and performs music in a wide variety of styles including rock, pop, jazz, classical, folk, hip-hop, and blues. As a teacher David is patient and empathetic, and his greatest joy is when a student really “gets” the lesson they are working on.
What age were you when you first started taking music lessons?
2 years old
Tell us about an early music lessons experience that helped shape you as a musician or teacher:
My father was an actively performing folk musician and my first music teacher. He inspired in me the love of guitar, and as a performer he was great at engaging with the audience and telling stories. This inspired me and has influenced my own style as a performer.
What are your favorite bands or musicians?
I have too many to fully list, but some notables include Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Moody Blues, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Fleetwood Mac, Alice in Chains, Imogen Heap, Foster the People, Dirty Loops, Michael Jackson, Johann Sebastian Bach, Maurice Ravel, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Gift of Gab, Pat Metheny, Steve Vai, Dreamtheater, and many more. Anything with heart and soul and a good melody basically.
Do you have a highlight of your music career so far that you would like to share?
I have had many musical highlights in my career, but one of the most memorable was my graduate recital in which I performed a number of original works for solo guitar and guitar ensemble.
Describe your ideal student.
My ideal student is anyone with the desire to learn music and have fun regardless of age or skill level. As long as the desire is there then I can fan the flames and inspire the passion for learning.
Describe what your students should expect in their first few music lessons.
The first lesson I always start students off learning basic rhythms. Rhythm is the most important thing in music and the glue that holds it all together. From there we quickly progress to exercises on their chosen instrument. I start teaching improvisation and playing by ear from the very start, as well as reading basic music notation. I explore what songs or styles the student would like to play, and then I will choose what exercises and studies will help the student best reach their musical goals.
Why did you want to become a music teacher?
I believe that music is a universal language and that teaching and learning music makes the world a better place in a very tangible way. My greatest joy is inspiring my students and seeing them progress.