What sets The Donoho School apart is our faculty. These individuals provide the living curriculum for Donoho students in and out of the classroom. Each week we will feature a member of the faculty and his or her story. We hope you will enjoy getting to know our faculty members throughout the school year and will stop by each week to read the latest Donoho Story!
Donoho Stories: Mr. Dave Swinney
What do you teach at The Donoho School?
I am the Director of Bands here at Donoho.
What do you love about The Donoho School?
I love the drive to be excellent. It is actually considered “cool” to care here at Donoho. I love that!
Why do you like teaching at The Donoho School? What motivated you to become a teacher at The Donoho School?
I love teaching here because the students love to learn. Not only do they have a great work ethic but almost all of them have been involved in music since elementary school age. That is unique in comparison to other places.
What is a unique experience, talent or interest that you bring to your classroom to help shape the learning experience of your students?
As a director I have had many performing opportunities, having performed in many high school ensembles and honor bands, drum corps international, college marching band, concert band, and jazz band. Having so many different ensembles and performance experiences under my belt is certainly a help to our students. I understand what the students are going through at each step in their musical development. I have had to audition many times. I have experienced the extreme highs and lows that accompany being a musician. I have worked endless hours for an audition only to “bomb” it in the end. I have also had the experience of great performances that I will never forget with some of the best people you could ever meet. Experiences like these are the type of experiences that I want my kids to have.
What sets Donoho students apart from students in other schools?
We have very little time to prepare for any given performance. Our “saving grace” is that the Donoho students absorb information quickly. If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t be able to produce the ensembles that we do.
The Donoho School tagline is “Discover the Difference.” How do you accomplish this in your role at Donoho?
We don’t have a “cookie-cutter” approach to music education at Donoho. Our program is very different from those around us. Our program isn’t so much program-centered as it is student-centered. At Donoho we offer (and encourage) various disciplines in music. Many (if not most) of our students are involved in instrumental music, vocal music, and even private instruction. We encourage this varied approach to their music education.
What do you want your students to gain from having known you?
I want them to find that balance in having a good time but also being a really hard worker. I am a very laid-back person. I also like to have a good time, but when it comes time to pick up an instrument, I am the most serious person you will ever meet. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I don’t expect perfection from my students, but I do expect excellence. Whatever it is they are doing in life, I want them to enjoy it, and I want them to give it their all.
