Meet Dana Bisignano | Composer, Musician and Music Educator

“Follow your dreams.”

I would tell someone to do what you love but always examine your motives. Consider the short-term and long-term effects of your choices on yourself and others. Continually reevaluate what you want and why.

For example, many people get into entertainment to make up for something missing inside them. However, it doesn’t work in the long run.

Working on yourself constantly to get clarity on your dreams is essential.

I am a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator.

I’ve learned the importance of being in a community with other artists, both for mutual support and networking. You never know where the work is going to come from.  And it’s very important to be around others who relate to your experiences as a working creative.

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to trust my own voice. It’s informed by my life experiences, and no one else can bring that to an audience or a student. There will always be someone better and more successful, but seeing the value in that helps me keep things in perspective.

Being a working musician is challenging, especially while balancing a teaching schedule. I teach piano, guitar, electric bass, and composition and work with students from various backgrounds. So I get to share my different musical influences with my students:

I love to see the light go on for my students. It’s extremely gratifying. It’s that moment when they understand and create something that was out of reach before, and live inside the music. Those moments make the hard work worth the effort and get me through the long days.

I played at Hotel Cafe recently. A lot of hard work went into preparing for the show. But all the stress and strain disappeared when the band and I began playing. I relish those moments, and there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.

Artists are fortunate to have those experiences, and I love teaching music because I want my students to have them as well.