September’s Teachers of the Month!
Maria Torres
Welcome to our new Teacher Spotlight! Each month, we’ll be featuring different teachers from across the country who are making a big impact. This month, we’re excited to introduce you to Maria Torres and Donovan Duval.
Maria Torres joined our school in April 2023, and she has been a rock-star ever since. With a roster of 40 students, Maria teaches seven days a week! Her students and their families can’t say enough great things about her—she truly is an awesome teacher.
Maria’s journey began in Colombia, where she started getting involved in music at just three years old, taking piano lessons from her mother. She comes from a long line of musicians, and her passion for music was evident early on. In 1990, Maria enrolled in dual music courses at Xavier Pontifical University in Bogotá while still in high school. She earned her degree in music as a pianist and teacher from the same university in 1998, studying under Professor Radostina Petkova. Later, in 2000, Maria pursued a Pre-Doctorate in Music at the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain.
Throughout high school and college, Maria taught music to support herself. After some time in the corporate world, she realized that her true calling was teaching. She returned to her passion and joined Lessons In Your Home, where she’s found her joy again. Maria loves watching her students’ excitement as they improve and grow as musicians. For her, teaching is fun, exciting, and challenging—each student is unique, with different learning styles and approaches to problem-solving. Challenges can present themselves in a variety of ways throughout lessons. One thing Maria has noted is that students nowadays can become distracted more easily. This can lead to the student struggling to feel like they’re progressing fast enough. She has to make lessons very fluid to keep them fun and interesting for the students. If you’re encountering similar issues, we have a blog post on students struggling with piano lessons. Click here to check it out! Whether it be the students’ attention, feeling uninspired, or general trouble with learning, Maria is a highly adaptable teacher who brings confidence to all of her students. Maria’s 25 years of experience make her comfortable with a busy schedule, and she is truly one of our best teachers. Maria is more than deserving of this month’s Teacher Spotlight!
Donovan Duval
Next up, we have Donovan Duval, whose extensive musical experience spans a wide range of styles and instruments. Donovan began his musical journey at the age of eight, when he got his first snare drum. Although he initially joined the school orchestra, it wasn’t until he played the drum set that he fell in love with music. In his early teens, Donovan discovered electronic-house music, sparking a lifelong interest in music production. After playing in jazz bands, cover bands, and creating beats, he decided to combine his skills and start writing his own music.
Donovan has played in a variety of bands and touring groups, once reaching the impressive feat of playing in 10 bands at the same time as a full-time session drummer. He’s toured extensively and has even performed at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame! In 2019, Donovan shifted his focus to teaching full-time and now teaches over 40 students each week! Yes, he’s busy.
Donovan recently released his debut album, Prom, under the name Dono Dono, available on streaming platforms. The album is a culmination of his years of experience, blending different styles and life experiences into a unique and impactful sound. Click here to check out the album! If you’re in the Washington D.C. area, keep an eye out for his live shows—he’s planning one in November, with a tour to follow next year. You can find him on social media @dono__dono__.
We’re thrilled to have such talented and passionate teachers like Maria and Donovan on our team!