Meet Daniel - Piano Teacher

Hello, my name is Daniel Khastou, and I am an experienced musician from Seattle Washington who loves to teach and play piano. I teach at the beginner and intermediate levels.

I started playing the piano around the age of 9, and have stuck with it since then. Having played on and off for 10 years now, I consider myself very seasoned and knowledgeable about theory and the instrument. While I may not have the academic experience many other teachers have, I don’t consider it necessary to bringing a professional attitude and love of learning to my students. Everything I have learned from teaching has been handed down to me from the 5 different music teachers I have had (2 Private and 3 band leaders), and my own trial and error approach which is very refined now. I remember each of my teachers distinctly and appreciate them all for everything they have taught me, not just about music but about what it means to learn. I carry myself lightly but hold myself to a high standard.

I try to strike a balance in my lessons. While instructing students on fundamentals such as scales, chords, and theory, I like to have an approach that guides the student through their own interests. I make it clear that we should finish what we start and learn from the process of doing things outside of our comfort zone. I want my students to understand that music is an open book, and with a little practice every day and some discipline, you can achieve anything with it.

Note: I have online teaching as an option for those who need it. I strongly encourage in person lessons if you can though. I can attest firsthand that both learning and teaching through a screen are difficult and it is much harder to form a connection between the teacher and student. I strongly recommend in person learning as it’s easier for both me and the student to form a solid relationship with each other which makes lessons easier, more fun, less confusing, and overall a better experience.