Teaching Philosophy

“My teaching philosophy is based on the belief that the most important thing I can give my students is a desire for life-long learning and discovery. With almost 150 Mannes Orchestra members, along with conducting students, I am the only faculty member at Mannes whose teaching reaches so many students on a weekly basis. I firmly believe that in order to prepare them, the students will benefit from broad experiences and an openness to collaborate across many different genres of music: choral, opera, dance, film, and the latest in contemporary music” – David Hayes

Mannes Orchestra rehearsal

“I try to give them as much professional experience as possible. This means bringing high expectations to the rehearsal process and constantly focusing their attention on those elements of orchestral style, ensemble discipline, exposure to new and extended playing techniques, working with electronic elements in performance, collaborating with other media and performing arts disciplines, and providing the overall musical preparation that they will need in order to be successful as professional ensemble musicians in the 21st. century” – David Hayes

Mannes Orchestra performance