"I think the most important thing in the music business is having an entrepreneurial spirit. This business is for people who are willing to get up every morning and say, 'What are three things I've never tried today? How can I learn how to do those things?'
"Because the more you can fill your basket with different skills, different types of understanding, the further you'll get in this business."
"What I love about the music business is how many things there are to do. The industry and my career evolve every couple of years. There's always something for me to continue to learn and have more fun in this business, making music in all sorts of ways."
Dave lives that entrepreneurial mindset. He started a professional recording career during his first semester attending college at Finger Lakes Community College in 2002. Dave operates under the philosophy that the most effective learning is hands-on and do-it-yourself.
Since he got his start at a young age, Dave has built/owned/operated multiple recording studios and managed the business affairs of concert venues, festivals, artists, and tours. Dave owns and operates 1809 Studios (a private boutique studio in rural Macedon, New York) and is the music director and talent buyer for the Rochester Lilac Festival (a 10-day music and arts festival).
"What I love about Naz and the reason that I took my position here, is that the classes are not overwhelmingly large. It's not a program that pits students against each other and creates a hyper-competitive environment.
"I love all my classes. I'm really lucky in that I teach stuff that's near and dear to my heart. But my favorite class is most definitely our commercial composition class, which is a pop songwriting class, because that's my favorite thing to do. And everything that I do in the music business all comes because I love songs and I love artists. And everything I do is in service of song. So it's fun to teach a class that is just all about songs.
"It really is a blast to teach about what you love to do."
School of Music Responsibilities
Education