Daniel

My name is Daniel Tortoledo. I hold a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music in Boston (2008) and completed Kodály Music Education Level 1 certification in the summer of 2018. Born in Texas, raised in Venezuela, and now based in Vienna, Austria, I bring a multicultural perspective to every lesson.

I have been teaching music since 2007, starting at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Boston. In New York City, I taught private students from 2009 to 2022, both in person and online starting in 2020, worked as a music instructor at the YMCA from 2014 to 2017, and was a full time music teacher at City and Country School from 2018 to 2022. Since 2022 I have taught students online from Vienna.

As a performer and recording artist, I led the band The Highway in Boston and New York from 2003 to 2015, releasing four full length albums along with EPs and live albums. From 2011 to 2022 I produced four albums for New York songwriter Canet, and from 2015 to 2022 I worked as a solo artist and touring musician in New York, releasing two full length albums and two EPs. Today I lead the Vienna based band Daniel Tortoledo & The Sound Machine, with one full length live album.

I teach guitar, piano, voice, and bass to students of all ages and levels, from absolute beginners to advanced players looking to deepen their technique, theory, and musicianship.

My philosophy is simple: music is a language. I believe students should experience music by feeling it, playing it, and enjoying it, while gradually understanding why it works the way it does. That understanding is what separates a player from a musician.

My lessons are tailored to your goals, rooted in solid fundamentals, and designed to be engaging and encouraging at every step. I am patient, creative, and genuinely passionate about what I do.

I teach in English and Spanish.

Whether you want to play your first chord, perform on stage, write your own songs, or simply understand music more deeply, I am here to guide you.

Let's find your sound together.

I adapt to each student's learning style, pace, and musical goals, so no two lessons look exactly the same.

From the very first session, I focus on building a strong foundation: rhythm, ear training, posture, and technique. These are not barriers to playing. They are what make playing feel natural and effortless over time.

I use a mix of:

* Listening and imitation: learning by ear before learning by notation
* Games and creativity: especially with younger students, keeping energy high and attention engaged
* Real songs: students learn music they actually love, not just exercises
* Theory in context: understanding chords, scales, and structure through the music we are already playing

Four years as a full time music teacher at City and Country School in New York have taught me how to keep students of every age focused, motivated, and having fun.

I am known for being patient, encouraging, and clear. I never make a student feel rushed or behind. Progress looks different for everyone, and I celebrate every step forward.

My Kodály Level 1 training (2018) shapes my approach to early music education. Through singing, movement, rhythm syllables, and solfège with hand signs, children learn to truly hear and feel music before they read it, building a lifelong relationship with sound.

Above all, I want every student to leave each lesson feeling more capable, more curious, and more connected to music than when they arrived.