Daniel Pooley is a Boston-based percussionist and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for contemporary classical music and world rhythms. He earned his B.M. in percussion at Boston Conservatory at Berklee under the tutelage of world-renowned artists Nancy Zeltsman and Sam Solomon. Pooley plays a wide range of percussion instruments from marimba to timpani, and has performed on various stages from Vienna’s Musikverein to Seattle’s Jazz Alley, to Denver’s Mile High Stadium. He has shared the stage with pianist Anna Fedorova, trumpeter Terrell Stafford, and tabla master Sandeep Das, among many others. Constantly seeking to diversify his musical scope, Pooley has studied a multitude of musical traditions and instruments from across the globe, including djembe, congas and frame drum. Pooley regularly collaborates with living composers, workshopping and premiering new pieces for percussion, and continuously striving to broaden the skillset of the modern performer. Influenced by his teachers’ love for helping students navigate their passion for music, Pooley has a love for teaching and collaborating with students, as well as his peers. He has been teaching music since 2015, and offers lessons in percussion, piano, and music theory.

Teaching philosophy:

The fundamental goal of musical training is to develop a love of music, an awareness and understanding of musical language, and a sense of personal expression through performance. These core principles apply to all musicians, regardless of skill or ambition. In terms of technique, I believe in build a strong foundation of relaxed playing, to avoid any potential muscle strain or injury further down the line. In addition to cultivating instrumental technique and playing ability, I put a large emphasis on musical appreciation, and understanding stylistic nuance. Coursework and repertoire is assigned based on the student’s instrument, genre, level, and personal goals.