“Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart.” -S. Suzuki

When I was seven years old,

my mom finally let me take piano lessons after years of begging and watching my older siblings take lessons. Years passed and my siblings gave up the piano. I didn't. Not yet anyways.
By 2014, I had all but given up on music in favor of acting. I devoted all of my time to theater, and could not see how the two could compete with each other. My musical life and theatrical life were separate. That is until my soon-to-be great friend and collaborator Rex Daugherty cast me in a show playing the violin. 
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​That experience, and the shows that came after that, showed me how I could incorporate music into the pieces I was working on. It changed my perspective on how I could use music with theater performance. It reconnected me with my music, and since then music has become once again one of my greatest sources of joy. ​
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Shinichi Suzuki said,

“Art Exists for the human species. I think that all of the people who love art, those who teach art, and all of you should burn with the obligation to save the world.”

Perhaps it's naive, but when I play music with others and for others, when I work with a student and hear them play, when I see the joy music creates and the love it produces, I do truly think that music has the power to save the world.

Learn with me

I am a music teacher with various companies around the DMV area and I also teach my own students privately. I have lessons available for violin, piano, guitar, and more! Contact me if you are interested in taking lessons. 

The Magi

Rex Daugherty and I make up the musical group, The Magi. We'd love to play some music for you, write some music for you, or create some music with you. Email us at themagidc@gmail.com for booking info, and check out our youtube channel for some tunes!

My music in performance

Much of my performance in theater incorporates music, through playing instruments, singing, and/or composing. To see what I'm up to next in theater and music, check out my upcoming page. To request a music resume or a resume of my music work in theater, please email me at daven.ralston@gmail.com.
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