BY MICHAELA O'DONNELL
ISSUE NO. 42 | AUGUST 2022
As some of you may already know, MDM welcomed our new Manager, David McDaniel, to the team in late March, and he has been working tirelessly over the past few months to take in everything there is to know about MDM.
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF MODERN DAY MUSIC SCHOOL
David is joining the MDM team with extensive experience in both management and the music industry, and we couldn’t have asked for a better leader to carry MDM to even greater heights. With so many big changes on the horizon, David is excited to keep the momentum rolling! With David’s roll as Manager now in full swing, Michaela will be stepping down as the Manager and fully handing the reigns over to David. They will be returning to school full-time in the fall to pursue a degree in Music Education, so the time has come to focus on the upcoming semester and step away from a full-time management position at MDM. Michaela will still be part of the MDM office administrative team on a part-time basis though, so you will still see them around.
Meet David McDaniel, MDM’s New Manager!
Although change can sometimes be a little unnerving for some, Michaela is confident that they are leaving MDM in the best hands possible with David running the show! David was first drawn to the position here at MDM by the sense of community that we cultivate, including everyone from the staff to the students and their families too! He is thrilled to meet so many like-minded individuals in one place who are all excited and eager to learn about music. As David explained, “I couldn’t ask for a better environment to work in. I feel honored to be able to help and add to this amazing school!” Among the growing list of awesome things that David brings to MDM, is a very new way of looking at things due to his background in music and his management style. In the short time that he has been with us, David has already introduced some impactful changes and we are excited to see what is next. To dive a little deeper in to David’s background in music, we sat down with him to talk about the experiences that brought him to where he is today. As an active musician in the local music scene, David continues to build on these experiences every day and gather more fuel for the future of MDM.
MEET DAVID MCDANIEL!
CONT...
M: Give us a brief history of your beginnings in music. When did you first start playing? How did you initially get introduced to music? What instruments do you play? Is there one you gravitate towards the most and why? D: It really all started for me when I was shown The Sex Pistols “Nevermind the Bollocks.” Then the Ramones, The Misfits and The Clash, etc. and that was it! I got my first guitar when I was about 12 and it came with a Fender Blues Deluxe amp in tweed that I still use to this day. Originally, I started as a guitarist but that quickly moved into being a vocalist as well; so for the longest time I played guitar and sang, but in the latest bands I’ve been primarily a vocalist. Growing up with Punk being my favorite genre, in the early days of writing, I could never find like-minded people to play with. I ended up buying a drum machine and forming one-man-bands doing Lo-Fi 4 chord punk songs. It wasn’t until many years later that I ever worked with a drummer for the first time. M: What are a couple favorite music experiences you’ve had over the years? What is one takeaway from your experience being in a band? What is your current involvement in the local music scene? D: I’ve been involved in touring and music for the greater portion of my life so I’ve got loads of stories, from the absolute best times to absolute nightmares you could only experience on the road. Haha. I think my favorite experiences from all of it have been the recording processes for my own music. Be it in a basement bathroom in Brooklyn, to Red Bull Studios in Manhattan. Being able to see your hard work come out from a label and being able to hold your work in your hand is an excellent feeling! Like having a kid. Only less work.
And waaaay cheaper. So not like a kid at all, haha, but you cherish it, you know? And nothing will ever beat playing live! Depending on what you do, it can be an out of body experience. Being able to go nuts and lose yourself in your music is always an amazing feeling. Right now my focus has been 100% on my job here at MDM but in the scene I’m sticking to the random DJ gigs I do for now. M: When did you first start DJing? What drew you to that and why vinyl? Am I correct in saying you are one of the last vinyl-only DJs? D: DJing came with part of the music scene in NYC. If you were playing in Punk bands, you were also collecting Punk records and DJing Punk before or after your friends sets etc. “Last of the vinyl DJs” I'd definitely say that’s pretty true Upstate but not in NYC. In the the city, most bars have a set of turntables! Loads of vinyl-only DJs in the city but Upstate its totally different. There are only a handful of us. I thankfully have my own turntables so I can create nights wherever I like. M: What is one main difference between DJing and performing live with a band? What is your favorite thing about each? D: I think that DJing has always been the scarier of the two. With the band and being on stage I have a persona. I am up there and jumping around and doing my thing and I know that I’ll always have the noise and support of a band to helping through a half hour or so set. When DJing I am either with a partner or alone but DJing with vinyl only
jumping around and doing my thing and I know that I’ll always have the noise and support of a band helping me through a half hour or so set. When DJing I am either with a partner or alone but DJing with vinyl only, I can rarely take requests so my music choice has always got to be on point! And it has to be on point sometimes for up to 6 hrs! M: What are some key things you are listening for when choosing songs during your DJ sets? D: When choosing songs to DJ, I look for familiar but unique. Like cool song covers by other artists. Like a cool James Brown tune covered by a Reggae artist or Latin artist in the 60’s that always gets people excited. Just fun old songs, mixing them with stuff that people know and with stuff they don’t. M: Do you have any tips for students looking to explore DJing? D: Never stop listening to music! Be a sponge and open yourself to all genres and styles! If you do decide you want to fall down the rabbit hole of collecting records, beware! It can get expensive and addictive! But in my opinion, worth it! M: Which upcoming gig(s) are you most looking forward to and why? D: I have a monthly gig called “Psykick Dancehall” the first Saturday of every month at a little bar called Pint Sized in Saratoga from 8pm-12am. It’s a lot of fun DJing a mix of Soul, Reggae and even a little early Punk and Rock 'n Roll.
I think we can all assume that David is very involved in music outside of MDM, but that is not the only thing! He is also a loving husband and father and tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife and son when he is not at MDM. David’s shared that “I can say without a doubt I would not be where I am today without their love and support!” They have supported David in innumerable ways over the recent months as he took on this new role at MDM, and they were even a part of the MDM family long before that! David’s son was a member of our Little Rockers program for a number of sessions before testing out private lessons where he caught on to everything very quickly. Even back then, David and his family were thrilled to be a part of MDM, and the experience also gave David a look at what things are like from the student perspective. Now that his son is a little bit more mature at age 7, he plans to start private piano lessons in the fall! David’s son loves playing piano in his room and we can’t wait to see where he goes in his private lessons. He also takes after his dad and started his own record collection, which he spends much of his time listening to. David is so proud, and we can tell that music definitely does run in the family! We are all so excited to have David on board, and are looking forward to many great years to come. There are so many possible directions for the future of MDM, but we know that no matter what, that direction will be up!
M: Which upcoming gig(s) are you most looking forward to and why? D: I have a monthly gig called “Psykick Dancehall” the first Saturday of every month at a little bar called Pint Sized in Saratoga from 8pm-12am. It’s a lot of fun DJing a mix of Soul, Reggae and even a little early Punk and Rock n roll. I think we can all assume that David is very involved in music outside of MDM, but that is not the only thing! He is also a loving husband and father and tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife and son when he is not at MDM. David’s shared that “I can say without a doubt I would not be where I am today without their love and support!” They have supported David in innumerable ways over the recent months as he took on this new role at MDM, and they were even a part of the MDM family long before that! David’s son was a member of our Little Rockers program for a number of sessions before testing out private lessons where he caught on to everything very quickly. Even back then, David and his family were thrilled to be a part of MDM, and the experience also gave David a look at what things are like from the student perspective. Now that his son is a little bit more mature at age 7, he plans to start private piano lessons in the fall! David’s son loves playing piano in his room and we can’t wait to see where he goes in his private lessons. He also takes after his dad and started his own record collection, which he spends much of his time listening to. David is so proud, and we can tell that music definitely does run in the family! We are all so excited to have David on board, are are looking forward to many great years to come. There are so many possible directions for the future of MDM, but we know that no matter what, that direction will be up!
David's Corner
AUGUST CALENDAR
1 - Open Mic Night, Caffe Lena in Saratoga, 6:30-10pm 5 - Under the Den (Ben), Jay St. Pub in Schenectady, 9pm-1am 5 - Ampevene (Gabe and Joe), Bonefest, 9pm 6 - Psykick Dancehall (David), Vinyl Only DJ set of 60’s Reggae, Garage & Soul, Pint Sized in Saratoga, 8pm-12am, 21+ 7 - Ben Solo Gig, Peddlers in Clifton Park, 5-8pm 8 - Open Mic Night, Caffe Lena in Saratoga, 6:30-10pm 10 - Ben Solo Gig, JT Maxie’s in Colonie, 7-10pm 11 - Under the Den (Ben), Adirondack Harley Davidson, 7-10pm 15 - Open Mic Night, Caffe Lena in Saratoga, 6:30-10pm 20 - Upstate Youth Choreographer’s Showcase (Chelsea and Spencer Z., original composition), GE Theater at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, 7pm 22 - Open Mic Night, Caffe Lena in Saratoga, 6:30-10pm 25 - Ben Solo Gig, 151 in Schenectady, 7-10pm 26 - Under the Den (Ben), Saratoga City Tavern in Saratoga, 8pm-12am 27 - Ampevene (Gabe and Joe), Rare Form Brewing Company in Troy, 8pm 27 - David J (with Ben), Nashville of Saratoga in Saratoga, 9pm-12am 29 - Open Mic Night, Caffe Lena in Saratoga, 6:30-10pm
I’d like to give a big shout out to Mick for doing such a great job as MDM’s manager for the past year! I am thrilled to be stepping in and excited to help grow and develop an already excellent music school! The next "Little Rockers" sign up is happening now! Please reach out before all the spots are gone! Thanks! -David
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEW STUDENTS in JULY!
Norah S Hayden Y Lucas C Thatcher S Alice L Mikayla O Christa O Jennifer C Henry S Marisa K Madeline E Adam N Molly B Dalton H Maja B Gianna L Emily D Casey V Connie U Cooper B Cadence F Wesley H Tim M Jamie S Arthur V Myrna C Juliana M Lyla C Livia M
1673 RT9, Clifton Park, NY 12065 ~ 518-261-1920 ~ www.moderndaymusicschool.com
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