David Palan Music

Hello and welcome to my site! My name is David Palan and I perform and teach music for a living. My home base is in Glenside, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. I play a wide range of styles in several bands including: Space Junk Is Forever, Alo Brasil, PhillyBloco and The Blurry Nights.  For the past 20 years, I have been teaching private lessons for Guitar, Bass and Piano to hundreds of students of varying ages and experience. Balancing all of these projects is demanding work, but also its own reward. 

I began studying and playing music at a very early age, learning rock songs with my guitar teacher and studying music fundamentals in school bands. As a teenager, I formed bands, wrote music, and organized my own concerts and festivals---forming a DIY ethos that carried into my adult life. When I approached college-age, I decided I would further my pursuits by attending Berklee College of Music. There I studied with some World-class music professors including Jim Stinette (who also taught Phish's Mike Gordon) and 4-time Grammy Award winning bassist Oscar Stagnaro. Rubbing elbows with my brilliant and talented classmates influenced me just as much as my formal education. 

Upon graduating, I worked briefly for WEA (Warner Bros./Elektra/Atlantic) before deciding that I'd rather be performing than working behind the scenes in an office. I played any and every gig I could---from dive bars and small music clubs and eventually small theaters and even a few arenas. Over my career, I've had the pleasure of recording and performing with numerous bands and artists including: Fathead, Blivit, Deb Talan, Nazz, Alo Brasil, PhillyBloco, Sonic Spank, The Blurry Nights, Archawah and Space Junk Is Forever. 

Teaching music began as a part-time job at the local music shop and after 20 years, has grown into a passion equal to music performance. From starting children on their first musical journeys to helping advanced players hone their chops, I take great pride in education. It's a fulfilling experience to help people express themselves and unlock the mystery of that sometimes intangible beauty that we all find in music. Whether it's teaching an 8-year-old girl Taylor Swift songs, transcribing multi-layered progressive rock for teenagers, or helping an adult hobbyist fulfill a life-long dream, it's a pleasure. I'm incredibly fortunate to make a living doing what I love. 

Currently, I'm in the midst of composing music for a new original project with some inspired and like-minded musicians in addition to performing with my current roster of bands. Check out a few songs on my music pages or get some information on music lessons on my lessons page. It would be an honor to assist you on your musical journey.