Sing Play Write 2.18

My name is Danny. I am a professional musician, teacher and songwriter.
Welcome to my official page!

Ever wanted to play the guitar or bass, write a song, sing outside the confines of your car? It doesn't matter if you are 5 or 55, the enjoyment of music starts with listening and grows with learning. If you want to increase your enjoyment of music or have the desire to play in a band, be a songwriter or sing on a stage then you have come to the right place! I am based out of Airdrie, AB Canada but also offer the convenience of online lessons for students who are at a distance.

GUITAR & BASS LESSONS

VOICE LESSONS / COACHING

SONGWRITING LESSONS / COACHING

TYPE OF INSTRUCTION/WORKSHOPS I OFFER:
Guitar & Bass Lessons
Voice Coaching (For singers and professional speakers)
Songwriting Coaching
Music Theory (Guitar/Piano/Voice based methods)
Interactive Music Workshops (Voice/Songwriting/Guitar/Perform

ABOUT DANIEL FORTIER:

DANIEL FORTIER,
B.Mus Performance (voice)

Daniel’s introduction into music wasn’t typical. At the age of 5 doctors told him that he would be deaf by the time he was 7. Upon receiving that news, his mother marched him directly into a music store, handed him a guitar and stated, ‘You will have as much music as you can get before that’. Thankfully, going deaf was not in the cards and instead, Danny developed a ravenous appetite for the creation and performance of music.

Inspired by his dad, a self-taught blues musician, Danny grew up feasting on Chicago blues and guitar players like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Robert Cray. At the age of 13 he would help his dad by designing posters and running lights for shows. In high-school he played for various rock cover-bands and started teaching guitar after school to make money.

Being largely self-taught through high-school, Danny decided to pursue music more formally after he graduated and enrolled in the music performance program at the University of Regina. Unable to formally study guitar at the University he instead chose voice performance. Here he learned the language and history of music while immersing himself in the many forms of vocal music including Classic Opera, German Lieder, French Art Song, Broadway and choral styles. While in university he was part of a number of musicals and student operas including The Marriage of Figaro and Pirates of Penzance. During his time there he also performed with the UofR Chamber Singers and had the opportunity to sing Mozart’s Cmin Mass at Carnegie Hall, New York. The choir also won the title of ‘Chamber Choir of the World’ in Llangloghlin, Wales.

During his time at university he met up with what would become his first ‘Band’, Off Kilter. This Celtic/Folk group was Danny’s first experience working with a collective of artists on new music and nurtured his love for songwriting.

In 2003 Daniel moved to Saskatoon from Regina after getting married and quickly got involved in the songwriting community there. Daniel started up a regular song-writers open mic where he eventually met up with Scott Patrick. The two quickly recognized a strong connection in their songwriting and performance styles and decided to ‘see where it would go’. Over the next year the duo put together a Christmas Album ‘Snowed In’ and started writing their first album ‘Hard Road’. That project, funded by the Rawlco Radio 10k20 program, would eventually lead them to recruit drummer Bray Hudson and bassist Cam Ewart and form the band ‘WYATT’. With WYATT, Daniel has travelled all over North America writing, recording and touring. The band has won 7 consecutive Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, been crowed ‘Astral Media’s Next Big Thing’, released 2 Top 40 singles to date, been featured in billboard magazine Canada and won the opportunity to open for Rascal Flatts at the Capital Hoedown in Ottawa.

WYATT signed a distribution deal with MDM Recordings/Universal Music Canada for the release of their newest album this past October titled, ‘Shoulda Been Here Last Night’. Says Fortier about the new album, “When I write, I try and find a moment and immerse someone in that moment so that it becomes tangible. Writing for this album was very personal for me, but also the very rewarding.”

Along with the band, Daniel continues to teach private music lessons and has branched out to develop and present collaborative voice & songwriting workshops and processes for schools. Says Fortier, “I love working with people and tapping into their creative ideas to craft them into a song or story. The excitement it generates in them is inspiring. It is like a door opens and they realize a potential for greater things within themselves. Once you walk through that door, it is a game changer.”

HIGHLIGHTS

* Bachelor of Music Performance (Voice) from University of Regina

* Professional Musician and teacher with over 15 years of experience

* Singer/Songwriter / Guitar Player / founding member with international recording artists WYATT (wyattmusic.com)

* Featured in Billboard magazine with the band WYATT

* Performed all over North America and UK including Carnegie Hall in New York

* Won numerous SCMA Awards, Astral Media's 'Next Big Thing' and opened for Rascall Flatts in Ottawa after winning national talent contest with the band WYATT.

* Written numerous successful radio singles for the band WYATT including 'Always Tonight' featured in Billboard Magazine (Canada) and Questions (Top 40 BDS in Canada).

DISCOGRAPHY:

OFF KILTER:
Road Kilt

WYATT:
SHOULDA BEEN HERE LAST NIGHT
Released October 22nd, 2013
Distributed by MDM Recordings/Universal Music Canada
Produced by Mitch Merrett
Recorded at The Armoury, Vancouver, BC Canada

IF I HAD A DOLLAR
Released April 1, 2010
Distributed by MDM Recordings/Universal Music Canada
Produced by Noah Gordon
Recorded at BIG Studio, Nashville, TN USA

HARD ROAD
Released April 15, 2007
Distributed by Indiepool
Produced by Jason Plumb

SNOWED IN
Release November 2006
Self Released
Self Produced