Dave Halls is a contemporary jazz pianist, bandleader and composer with more than 30 years of professional playing across Sydney.
Trained for many years under the late Serge Ermoll — a legendary and unconventional force in the Australian jazz scene — Dave brings a deep, practical understanding of contemporary piano playing, improvisation, harmony and groove.
Dave has recorded widely, including two original albums, Burning Time and Walking Home, and has led and performed in ensembles spanning jazz, blues, pop, funk and modern contemporary styles.
As a teacher, Dave specialises in helping motivated students grow their creative and contemporary piano skills. He typically works with:
– Classically trained pianists wanting to move beyond written notation and learn to interpret music through contemporary harmony and chord-based thinking
– Adult learners returning to piano and wanting a modern, musical approach
– Older teens and young adults excited about jazz, blues or pop piano
– People wanting to understand chords, progressions, voicings, rhythm, feel and improvisational concepts and how to pply these to their piano playing
– Church musicians looking to develop confidence playing in a contemporary band setting
Lessons are relaxed, musical and highly practical — focused on the real skills used by working contemporary musicians. Dave helps students understand how modern music works at the keyboard so they can play with more freedom, creativity and confidence.
If you’re keen to grow as a contemporary pianist in a supportive and engaging environment, Dave would love to work with you.