Daniel Augusto Machado (Brazil)-my Musical Futures story

Daniel is a teacher at Artistic Education Foundation (Fundação de Educação Artística) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and has been there since 2007. He teaches music, piano, music ensemble and choir. He also works as a pianist, drummer and arranger in musical ensembles, with an emphasis on popular music.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, the same university where I completed my Master’s degree in Music Education, and where I am now working towards his PhD, also in Music Education.  

My research is about Creative Learning, Collaborative Learning and Musical Leadership. Although I graduated from classical piano, my “inner musician” was born in popular music, playing by ear! Besides the piano, I also play drums, guitar and bass – instruments that I grew up with. Now I am trying to play a typical Brazilian instrument: the viola caipira. But one of the practices that I value most in music is choral singing. I am always connected to choirs and vocal groups. I fully believe that the best music school a person can have is a choir.

I was introduced to Musical Futures in 2009 by professors Heloisa Feichas (Brazil) and Robert Wells (UK). Since then my interest in MF has grown. After attending some Musical Futures training last year, I began to incorporate the MF philosophy and ideas into my practice as a music educator.

Musical Futures is Collaborative. Creative. Effective. Empowering. Essential.

I would still say another five words:
Inclusive. Inspiring. Freedom. Motivating. Realistic.

I always listen to a very varied repertoire, but in the last few days I have been listening to Bach, Milton Nascimento, Keith Jarret and Brahms.
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You can see more of Daniel’s work on YouTube here.