All humans are musical.

Music educators have the power to help all people discover - and live - this essential fact.

David Davis, a smiling music educator in a navy blue blazer, white shirt, with a gold pocket square, standing against a plain background.

Hi, I’m David.

I’m a classroom-tested, GRAMMY-nominated, science-of-reading-trained, research-nerd music educator who believes it’s well past time for change in our field.

The fact is, our music education system today doesn’t serve all learners. Nor does it always serve you as the creative music educator - and artist - you are.

If you agree, let’s connect.

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About me

Take a look inside my classroom. It’s evolving.

My teaching centers student voice and choice, grounded in research-backed methods.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Early on, I discovered that many “tried and true” methods didn’t work - and through diverse classroom experiences, I developed strategies that spark connection and engagement. I bridge the gap between research and practice, combining musical creativity with proven approaches to get real results.

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Let’s change the status quo - together.

If you’re passionate about reimagining music education to co-create a thriving, inclusive, and relevant system, let’s connect.

To bring this vision to life, we need to work together.

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My experience

  • Classroom-tested, 15+ years and counting

  • Grounded in the science of reading; LETRS trained

  • Learners of all ages - kindergarten to 70+

  • Band, orchestra, guitar, gahu … you name it

  • Small town districts to our nation’s capital

  • M.A. Music Ed / B.M. Music Performance

My mission

My mission is to help music educators move beyond familiar – but limiting – models to reimagine and co-create a thriving, inclusive, and relevant music education system.

Together we can build student-centered practices that grow engagement, enrollment, and impact. 

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Explore my ideas

A person pressing a yellow button labeled 'L' on an elevator control panel.
Logo of Amro Music featuring a red musical staff and notes with the words 'AMRO MUSIC' in black
ASCD logo with a stylized leaf above a red and pink pixelated lowercase 'a', and the text 'ascd' in black.
Logo of Amro Music with a stylized musical note and the text 'AMRO MUSIC'.

Amro Music Podcast: The Importance of Diversity

Colorful circular logo with musical note and the text 'Minnesota Music Educators Association' beside it.

MN Music Educators Association: Raise Your Voice, Music Advocacy 101

A screenshot from a student digital musical, showing students creating music in front of traditional Chinese buildings and shops along a narrow street in the background.
Illustration of a man in a suit riding a large green beast with a red mane, holding a coffee cup and a trombone, labeled 'Masters of the Musiverse', set against a starry cosmic background with a mountain and skull in the distance, and a purple-clad character playing a keyboard.

Masters of the Musiverse: David Davis’ Origin Story

Cover of Teaching Music magazine, January 2023 edition, featuring abstract colorful geometric shapes resembling a musical theme, with the title in bold red letters.

NAfME Teaching Music Journal: Balancing Expectations

A yellow classroom music tool for 4th grade orchestra class, titled '4th Grade Orchestra Student Choice Music!' placed over sheet music papers.
Colorful circular logo with overlapping shapes and a white musical note inside, next to black text reading 'Minnesota Music Educators Association'.

MN Music Educators Association: Student Designed Honor Songs

Recognition

Close-up of a vintage gramophone with a black background, the logo of the GRAMMY Awards.
NBC4 Washington, D.C. logo with colored peacock icon.
Yamaha logo with purple text and slogan 'Make Waves'
Logo of National Association for Music Education with colorful squares, the acronym 'NAfME', and the full name below.
Logo of the National Art Education Association with purple and black text
Emblem of Education Minnesota with an open book and laurel wreath design.
Logo with green and black text reading 'Your Classical' with a stylized green and black musical note.
Logo of the Minnesota Department of Education with a stylized 'm' in blue and green.

Speaking Engagements

  • International Music Education Summit, “Student Designed Honor Songs”, 2025

  • Minnesota State Senate, Committee on Legacy Funding, Advocacy for ClassNotes Program, 2025 (Video)

  • Minnesota Music Educators Association, “Elders Wisdom Childrens Song and Systemic Change”, 2025 State Convention

  • Minnesota Music Educators Association, “More than Button Pushers”, 2021 State Convention

  • St. Cloud State University, Educational Psychology Course, “Assessment”, 2021

    Looking for an engaging, boundary-pushing talk for your next conference?

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