Testimonials
Testimonials from Current and Past Students
“I’m very fortunate to have studied with Ignacio Diaz. Ignacio’s love of music and passionate gift for teaching provided me with the skills to do well on my entry piano exams for The Juilliard School (B.M 2015) and later carry me through my graduate studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London (M.M. 2018). His proficiency in repertoire allowed me to find pieces and exercises that I enjoyed which made it easier and exciting to learn. Whenever I found myself unsure of the fingering of a passage, he taught me how to work out what would be the most appropriate fingering so that I could later apply the same reasoning skill to other passages instead of just telling me what would work best without offering an explanation. He essentially taught me how to teach myself, which is, I believe, a more valuable and compassionate method of teaching. My time with Ignacio has enabled me to play and sing through my music which gives me a better understanding of the harmony, colour, structure, phrasing, and orchestration; knowledge that is critical for a musician. Ignacio always has an encouraging smile on his face, exuding patience and understanding. I’m eternally grateful to have been a student of his and cherish the lifelong skills that he helped me develop.”
“My son [Eric] has been a student of Ignacio’s for three years, and continues to develop his musical talent under Ignacio’s tutelage. Ignacio has a depth and breadth of musical knowledge that allows him to consistently challenge my son to expand his musical horizons.
The transition to on-line classes was easy and lessons remain creative, challenging, and productive. Ignacio has the technical knowledge and the appropriate computer hardware and software to create an engaging and effective on-line learning environment. In some ways, I think Eric prefers on-line classes to in-person ones! Lessons with Ignacio are a highlight of Eric’s week. I am so grateful for the consistency and enthusiastic support Ignacio provides, especially during this time when so many routines have been disrupted.”
“I started working with Ignacio in 2016. Within two years, I went from being an amateur to a professional music producer. Initially, he taught me piano, but we quickly transitioned to lessons in creativity and composition. Many times I came into our sessions with a creative block, and left with several solutions to my problems. Ignacio is well read in many fields, and would often cite research on creativity, psychology and neuroscience, in addition to lessons about musicians and composers. His teachings were highly influential in forming my creative identity today.”
“My daughter started learning piano and theory with Mr. Diaz in September 2017. She has already made great progress in both performance skills and music appreciation. Best of all, she is now enjoying the pleasure that practice and making music bring to her.
I like his way of teaching. When my daughter has a question, he does not simply tell her the answer, but guides her to find the answer though musical exploration, self evaluation and practical application of methods and techniques in learning. That greatly enhances my daughter’s ability to practice independently and effectively. Mr. Diaz chooses music that suits my daughter well. His selections let her feel challenged and excited about the music, but rarely makes her feel frustrated when practicing. He never refuses to help his students learn new things, and always has the students’ best interest in mind. Recently, I asked him to help my daughter prepare for the Royal Academy Exams, he happily studied the requirements of the exam and gave professional suggestions immediately. He is kind, patient, easy to communicate with and enthusiastic about music education. I am very glad that my daughter is learning from him.”
“Ignacio brings a wealth of knowledge to his teaching, along with being a fine musician and excellent teacher. He tailors his teaching to the needs of his student, and motivates them with a genuine interest in their approach to music and what they want to get out of it.”
“My son [Jacob] has been studying piano with Mr. Díaz for about three years. Under his guidance, he has grown as a musician both in technique and confidence. Mr Diaz not only brings a strong background in music education, but he also takes the approach of a mentor; he’s open to input from the student and offers suggestions and alternatives that foster a positive environment with healthy progress and development. Because of the confidence and motivation instilled by Mr. Diaz, our son practices enthusiastically every day without reminders and looks forward to his weekly lesson. Mr. Diaz is a great communicator with an approachable demeanor, which as a parent, allows us to help support our son’s goals. In addition, Mr. Diaz’s studio provides a welcoming and professional setting for the students and waiting parents. ”
“I took lessons with Mr. Diaz from the age of 6 until I was 20. These lessons started as basic piano lessons, but as I grew older the focus turned more onto music composition and theory. Now, at the age of 28, I’m a full time DJ and music producer. A few of my projects have been played by big name DJs including Tieso, The Chainsmokers, Diplo, and Major Lazer. I have a mix show on Seattle’s #1 Pop radio station, Movin 92.5. I also work for Direct Music Service, a company that supplies music to DJs all over the world. I credit Mr. Diaz with helping spike my interest in music production and composition. Mr. Diaz helped shape and tailor my musical passion into something truly special and unique. He cared about more than just teaching me piano, he cared about my personal musical journey. While in early high school, Mr. Diaz helped me write and sell my own original compositions. My book could be found in the local music shop, and some of Mr. Diaz’s other students learned to play the songs I had written. This kind of mentorship and these type of opportunities can’t be found with just any piano teacher. Mr. Diaz cares for his students and truly pushed my learning to the next level.”