I was three years old when I first started trying to play the piano. I remember the first time I sat at the piano and successfully pecked out a tune by ear on the black keys. From that point forward, I noodled on the piano constantly, playing  by ear and making things up. When I was five, my parents put me in piano lessons.

Eventually, I went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance and pedagogy, but I never stopped noodling, improvising, and playing by ear.

I started teaching piano when I was a college student, then continued teaching through my graduate school years at the University of Louisville. After receiving the Baldwin Fellowship for excellence in piano teaching in the early 1990s, I launched my own private piano studio here in Louisville, Kentucky, and I’ve enjoyed teaching full-time ever since.

For most of my adult life, I’ve worked part-time as a church musician, too–sometimes as organist, pianist, or both. Currently, I serve part-time on the music staff at Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville.

When I’m not doing music-related things, I enjoy gardening, taking photographs, and being a computer geek.

In the past few years, I’ve channeled my penchant for creating and improvising into composing music for my students and for my church job. I also enjoy sharing that music online, and using it to connect with other musicians, teachers, and students.You can find me online at daniel-light.com, as well as on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Stop by and say hi!