Step into a dynamic and welcoming piano studio where students of all ages and backgrounds are thriving and having a blast! Whether you're:
…you’ll find a place here.
- A retiree exploring piano for the first time
- A talented teen preparing for university auditions
- A working musician sharpening your craft
- A piano teacher refining your technique
- An adult pursuing Classical piano exams
- An aspiring jazz pianist chasing improvisational mastery
…you’ll find a place here.
Here is what we can do together...
Jazz Piano
Discover the rhythm, romance, and improvisational magic of jazz through exploring the Great American Songbook—Rogers & Hart, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Gershwin, Berlin—and build your skills through developing jazz piano technique, acquiring repertoire, polishing improvisational skills, and decoding theory. Jazz students’ goals have included jazz piano bar skills, preparing for numerous jazz camps, auditioning for universities, and learning to play in a band.
Classical Piano
Explore timeless music of the classical music by building the strong musical foundations needed to play with joy and expression. Classical students range from the "I've never played before, but I'm game to try" crowd to the serious studious folks preparing for piano examinations and of course to the piano restarters who are the cornerstone of my studio.
Blues & Boogie Woogie
I played blues and boogie-woogie professionally as a teenager. It was high-energy, soulful, and irresistibly fun! I've never forgotten where I started. So, it gives me great joy to share in my knowledge and experience getting you started in the blues.
Adult & Recreational Piano
Music for everyone—no pressure, just fun. Guilt free piano lessons for those who are intrigued by the idea of playing the piano or keyboard. Some folks practice like crazy between lessons, others due to professional pressures, practice only at lessons. I aim to make both groups feel comfortable and welcome.
Jazz Piano
Discover the rhythm, romance, and improvisational magic of jazz through exploring the Great American Songbook—Rogers & Hart, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Gershwin, Berlin—and build your skills through developing jazz piano technique, acquiring repertoire, polishing improvisational skills, and decoding theory. Jazz students’ goals have included jazz piano bar skills, preparing for numerous jazz camps, auditioning for universities, and learning to play in a band.
Classical Piano
Explore timeless music of the classical music by building the strong musical foundations needed to play with joy and expression. Classical students range from the "I've never played before, but I'm game to try" crowd to the serious studious folks preparing for piano examinations and of course to the piano restarters who are the cornerstone of my studio.
Blues & Boogie Woogie
I played blues and boogie-woogie professionally as a teenager. It was high-energy, soulful, and irresistibly fun! I've never forgotten where I started. So, it gives me great joy to share in my knowledge and experience getting you started in the blues.
Adult & Recreational Piano
Music for everyone—no pressure, just fun. Guilt free piano lessons for those who are intrigued by the idea of playing the piano or keyboard. Some folks practice like crazy between lessons, others due to professional pressures, practice only at lessons. I aim to make both groups feel comfortable and welcome.
We get letters...
"David is an amazing contemporary idioms piano teacher! I learned how to play piano licks, lead sheets, jazz chord progressions and more" Sherry McKinnon, piano teacher, and workshop participant
"Your ability to break down complex concepts into simple, digestible pieces has made learning piano pure joy. I've always looked forward to our lessons, eager to discover something new. Your encouragement and belief in my abilities have given me the confidence to tackle even the most challenging pieces." Merab, adult beginner
"I found him to be an excellent and responsive teacher"
"My students and families were completely thrilled with you and your feedback!" Tammy Lehman, music director and festival director
"He has excellent communication skills with students of all ages and approaches his teaching with enthusiasm and creativity." Lawrence Lougheed, retired high school music teacher
"He has inspired me with his teaching methods and helped shape the way I play, learn, practice, hear and experience the piano." Erin Lomax, ARCT student
"Just finished my third lesson with David from Toronto. It's been going well, and he's been very helpful! Recommended!" Tom Lane, Bassist, Jazz Student, Los Angles.
"I feel more confident. I grew musically with his help and encouragement. His tutelage will allow me to enjoy my choir singing more. Thank you David!" NL MacDonald
"What a treat to have David Story present to our teachers, his practical approach, expertise and practical tips were so well received, very inspirational. Most impressive was the way he personalizes his lessons/curriculum to every student. We are all so diverse and have different goals and natural abilities so this makes perfect sense. His long term student retention rate is a testament to his ability to engage and meet his students right where they are." Karen Thornton, Print Manager, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Burlington ON
Hi David, I hope you are having a good year - no more COVID! I just wanted to thank you again for your help last year. Your ear training helped me with three choirs in the fall. In one we combined thirteen choirs for a massive concert in Koerner Hall. I feel my ability to harmonize is getting better. And, after being around instrumentalists at music camp, I was inspired to take up the flute. I just rented one and started online lessons in February, but I can play some short tunes and have almost two of the octaves in hand. I'm looking to join a community band in the fall. However, as I'm sightreading my way through pieces (so much easier when you are just reading one note at a time!) I am reminded of your instructions to look at the details before diving in. My 40-year-old bad habits are still there, but each time I make a false start because of not prepping properly I have you in my head.
All the best!
Nona
"Your ability to break down complex concepts into simple, digestible pieces has made learning piano pure joy. I've always looked forward to our lessons, eager to discover something new. Your encouragement and belief in my abilities have given me the confidence to tackle even the most challenging pieces." Merab, adult beginner
"I found him to be an excellent and responsive teacher"
"My students and families were completely thrilled with you and your feedback!" Tammy Lehman, music director and festival director
"He has excellent communication skills with students of all ages and approaches his teaching with enthusiasm and creativity." Lawrence Lougheed, retired high school music teacher
"He has inspired me with his teaching methods and helped shape the way I play, learn, practice, hear and experience the piano." Erin Lomax, ARCT student
"Just finished my third lesson with David from Toronto. It's been going well, and he's been very helpful! Recommended!" Tom Lane, Bassist, Jazz Student, Los Angles.
"I feel more confident. I grew musically with his help and encouragement. His tutelage will allow me to enjoy my choir singing more. Thank you David!" NL MacDonald
"What a treat to have David Story present to our teachers, his practical approach, expertise and practical tips were so well received, very inspirational. Most impressive was the way he personalizes his lessons/curriculum to every student. We are all so diverse and have different goals and natural abilities so this makes perfect sense. His long term student retention rate is a testament to his ability to engage and meet his students right where they are." Karen Thornton, Print Manager, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Burlington ON
Hi David, I hope you are having a good year - no more COVID! I just wanted to thank you again for your help last year. Your ear training helped me with three choirs in the fall. In one we combined thirteen choirs for a massive concert in Koerner Hall. I feel my ability to harmonize is getting better. And, after being around instrumentalists at music camp, I was inspired to take up the flute. I just rented one and started online lessons in February, but I can play some short tunes and have almost two of the octaves in hand. I'm looking to join a community band in the fall. However, as I'm sightreading my way through pieces (so much easier when you are just reading one note at a time!) I am reminded of your instructions to look at the details before diving in. My 40-year-old bad habits are still there, but each time I make a false start because of not prepping properly I have you in my head.
All the best!
Nona