Don Turney - Biography
Don’s love for music started at the age of 5 when he found he could copy musical passages his older siblings were playing on the piano. Formal piano training began at the age of 7 along with many years of Recitals and CMEA performances. At the age of 13, Don began to study jazz and play in the school Jazz Band. At the age of 17, Don graduated in 1984 from Castro Valley High School with 2 awards: "Most Outstanding Musician" and “Most Outstanding Jazz Musician”. He continued to study Piano, Voice, Jazz and 20th Century Harmony at Chabot college, Hayward, then 4 years later under the Don Costa Scholarship, Don graduated from the “Keyboard Instruction Program” at The Grove School Of Music in Los Angeles and was placed on the Dean's List.
The private and class instruction Don has received over a period of 15 years has given him the education and tools to become a very sought after instructor. Utilizing the knowledge he gained from many instructors such as Betty Livesay, Dan Pasternak, Bob Athayde, Frank Sumares, Mark Levine, Don Haas, Dick Heindman, Lou Levy, Joe Harnell and Dick Grove, Don now offers private instruction in two locations, Danville Music in Danville, CA, and DKS Productions in Hayward, CA. While studying with some of these master instructors, Don decided to put all the great information he acquired into authoring his own book on Jazz Piano entitled "The System".
As a Pianist / Keyboardist, Don has performed with a large number of Pop Bands, Jazz Groups, Church Praise Bands and Orchestras. Being able to sight-read sheet music, read chord charts as well as improvise, transcribe recorded music, play by ear, program complex MIDI keyboard setups for specific events, kick left hand bass, arrange and manage backing tracks on a laptop computer, or simply perform Solo piano, Don is a consummate professional in each venue.
Here is a partial list of the local venues Don has performed.
Bridges Restauraunt
Yoshi’s Jazz House and Restaurant
Cityscape Restaurant - Hilton SF
The Rrazz Room - Hotel Nikko SF
Scott’s Seafood Restaurant
Jacks Bistro
Kelly’s of Alameda
Princeton by-the-Sea
Black Diamond Brewing Company
Livermore Wente Vinyards
Chouinard Vineyards
Rios Lovell Winery
Mitchell Katz Winery - Palm Event Center
Santa Clara Convention Center
SF Convention Center
Hornblower Yacht
San Francisco Spirit Yacht
St. Francis Yacht Club
SF Olympic Club
Asian Art Museum
De Young Museum
Legion of Honor
Palace of Fine Arts
Rotunda Building
Willow Park Country Club
Crow Canyon Country Club
Round Hill Country Club
Contra Costa Country Club
Castlewood Country Club
Sunol Country Club
Silverado Country Club
Centennial Hall
The Claremont Hotel
Lafayette Park Hotel
San Ramon Marriot
San Francisco Marriot
Westin St. Francis Hotel
Sir Francis Drake
The Fairmont SF and SJ
Highlands Inn Park Hyatt Carmel
Chaminade Hotel Santa Cruz