Danny
Certified Tutor
Strategy is something that is very important to me. In my free time, I enjoy activities and games which demand focus and forethought. While I was a student completing the IB diploma, a bachelor's in music and Russian literature, and a master's degree in historical musicology, I learned that each project and assignment requires planning and strategic forethought to achieve the best result. In my time teaching music theory and history in the classroom at the University of Pittsburgh, it translated to developing personalized lesson plans to find the most effective means of teaching for students. Individual attention and effective communication are vital for learning, and it is my position as a teacher and tutor to ensure that this happens. In addition to IB and AP music classes, I am available to tutor a wide variety of writing subjects including college essays and the IB extended essay as well as literature and reading comprehension at all grade levels. Additionally, I can help students prepare for the verbal component for the GRE. As such, I will develop a strategy that will best help each individual student with whom I will work. I look forward to being able to support and assist students for Varsity Tutors!
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Undergraduate Degree: Universiry of Virginia - Bachelors, Music, Russian
Graduate Degree:University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus- Masters, Historical Musicology, Cultural Studies
Reading, camping, video games, chess, and chilling with animals
- AP Music Theory
- Art
- College English
- College Essays
- Comparative Literature
- English
- Essay Editing
- Graduate Test Prep
- GRE Verbal
- High School English
- Homework Support
- IB Extended Essay
- IB Language A: Language and Literature
- IB Language A: Language and Literature HL
- IB Language A: Language and Literature SL
- IB Music
- IB Music HL
- IB Music SL
- Languages
- Literature
- Other
- Reading
- Russian
- Summer
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
It is my hope as an instructor to encourage students to become interested enough in a subject that they choose to continue the development of their skills beyond our time together. While every student may not have the desire to continue their formal education, I aim for them to have developed an arsenal of skills that they can apply to work in other disciplines. Developing good study habits in a tutoring context is an accessible way to teach individual work habits in any field. Rather than aiming to assess the student's pure achievement, I attempt to critique their own habits individually. I believe that this will create better students in all disciplines, and more efficient and effective people.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The first session is a great time to establish communication with a student. I will discuss both the student's and my goals for our meetings in hopes of making sure that our time together is always purposeful and efficiently used.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Independence in education originates from a combination of having skills to complete tasks, and the confidence to trust those skills. It is my job as a tutor to assist a student in developing both the skills and confidence simultaneously.