Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Swayze.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I studied from my teens to be a classical pianist. Early on I was connected with a world-class pianist named Mark Westcott, who, as it turns out, was in a line of teaching line of Beethoven, so you could say Beethoven is my Great, Great (add a few more) “Grandteacher.” I thought my work would be all about playing the piano but I found along the way that I also enjoyed teaching and organizing concerts; in college I started working with other artists to put together performances of various sorts and picked up some administrative skills along the way. By the time I graduated from UT in Piano Performance with my Doctorate in 2019, I also had a Portfolio in Arts Management. I applied everything I learned right away in the organization I founded called Beerthoven; a classical chamber music series that serves free beer and snacks alongside classical music played by local artists in intimate settings. I also organize other concerts and events on occasion outside of Beerthoven. A good portion of my work, however, is in teaching private piano lessons. I’ve taught all ages and skill levels and have a couple students now in college studying music on scholarship.
My wife, Anna Westbrook, is a musician as well and she brings some other skill sets to the table including composition, writing, and musical theater production.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely the biggest obstacle we faced was the pandemic in 2020; we had to completely re-invent how our business operates and move fully to lessons via video calls. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for parents so we used their preferred video platform, which meant we had to get very familiar with how to operate half a dozen different platforms. We were very thankful in the moment that we were able to at least find some way to keep our businesses going but we’re definitely glad to have those days behind us.
We’ve been impressed with Marigold Music LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My wife Anna Westbrook and I are co-owners of Marigold Music, LLC. We’ve each been teaching music privately for the past 10-15 years; she has taught piano, guitar, and voice and I’ve taught exclusively piano. She’s more jazz/pop, I’m more classical, so we compliment each other well and bring a lot of other musical skills to the table; besides teaching, I perform often as a pianist and accompanist for everything from special events like weddings and funerals to accompanying students at competitions to classical concerts and recitals. Anna has a degree in composition and has written two full-length musical theater pieces, one of which is entitled Isabel and the Runaway Train and has been produced twice here in Austin. Besides being teachers and performers we’re also arts administrators and organizers; I organize a variety of concerts and events, especially for the Beerthoven Concert Series. So Marigold Music encompasses everything from our teaching studios to our work as arts administrators. We had been doing these kinds of work individually before we met but after getting married in 2020 we decided to combine our businesses and bring it all together.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
When you’re self-employed or own your own business, especially as an artist, it’s important to be flexible and willing to learn new skills. The world is changing so fast now and everything from how one advertises and connects with customers to how you actually interact with them is shifting as quickly as the tools we’re using, so being adaptable is what allows you to stay afloat.
Pricing:
- For private music lessons, the first lesson is free! Contact us for details on pricing beyond that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://swayzepiano.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swayzepiano
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-swayze-68922335/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@swayzepiano
