Student Bios

Dan Galliher

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Daniel Galliher, a student of Art Bernstein’s from 2002 through 2006, is currently the fourth through twelfth grade band director, jazz band director, drama club advisor, and drama club pit orchestra conductor for the Germantown Central School District. He holds a bachelor of music degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he majored in music education, minored in jazz studies, and studied percussion with James Petercsak. Additionally, he holds a master of science degree in music education from the College of Saint Rose. Beyond his work in Germantown, Dan can be found in the greater capital region teaching private percussion and piano lessons, working as a music director and/or pit musician on piano and drums for a variety of theatre companies, and playing out both solo and with a handful of groups at local microbreweries, bars, and restaurants.

Dan credits a lot of his development and prowess as a musician to his studies with Art Bernstein. Art helped to prepare him for college auditions, and taught him nearly everything he knows about both snare drumming and drum set. Most recently, Art’s instruction in Afro-Cuban music as adapted for drum set was an enormous asset to Dan when he played the drum set part in a production of In the Heights at the Schenectady Light Opera Company. Beyond his seemingly limitless knowledge and skill on drums, Art has the rare ability to push students to do their personal best while maintaining an unmatched vibe of patience, kindness, and encouragement.