Eli
PianoAudio Production
About Eli
Eli Hanley is a pianist and keyboardist with over a decade of professional and teaching experience. He has taken his lifelong passion for the piano and dedicated himself to helping others to develop their own skills and musical voices. Since graduating with a BM from Berklee College of Music he has maintained a private studio of students studying piano, music theory, music technology, and composition; In addition he has been invited to teach masterclasses at various schools and community organizations. He has seen students go on to pursue higher education and their own careers in music.
Eli also produces and performs with various artists throughout Los Angeles.
Q&A with Eli
Which musician would you like to play with?
Milton Nascimento
Which musician has influenced you the most?
George Duke
What can you teach me better on your instrument than any other teacher?
How to play and improvise with feeling
How did you learn to play your instrument?
I started when I was 4 and studied on and off throughout childhood. I studied music in college, but my most valuable lessons were learned playing with and listening to other great musicians.
What equipment do you play on today?
I play on a nord stage 2, a fender Rhodes, a yamaha cp80, Hammond a100, and a handful of synthesizers.
Which personal trait helped you the most while practicing?
Determination
What does your instrument have that others don't?
Most of my equipment is vintage and each instrument has its own unique voice. When playing any instrument I like to utilize its unique characteristics.
How do you handle children?
I spend a lot of time working with children as an educator. In addition to being a musician I work coaching chess to children of all ages in public schools. I aim to encourage their enthusiasm and creativity while also teaching discipline and technique so that they can excel.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
I had a student who was about 19 when I began teaching him. I watched his skills develop and now he performs his own original music. There were a couple shows I played in his band which was a very cool experience to see him leading his own band.
What was the biggest stage you played on?
I’ve played at a couple venues that hold 2000 people, as well as some large outdoor events. The show I was most excited about though was in a basement diy venue with an artist I am a big fan of.
Which record would you take with you to the desert island?
The Aura Will Prevail - George Duke
Besides music, what else is important in your life?
I love cooking, spending time in nature, spending time with family and friends, learning new things.
Music style(s)
Bluesjazzrnbrockpopavant-gardefunkcountry… pretty much anything! I’ve done it all at some point.
Level(s) Comfortable Teaching
Beginner to Advanced
What languages can you teach in?
English
Videos
Bands, Projects, Notable Performances, Collaborations
I have performed or recorded with a lot of bands and artists. Dominick Fike, Van Hunt, Michael Uzowuru, Dwele, Dan Wilson, Emily Keener, The Katy, Fear Gorta, Jake Silverman, and many more.
Other Music-related work / goals
I am developing more as a composer. I am working on my own original music and collaborating with some other musicians and independent filmmakers. I hope to spend more time recording and continuing to develop my own voice on my instrument.
Accolades
Graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music and was awarded multiple scholarships.\ Songs placed on various TV shows, movies, and advertisements.
Personal Interests
Cooking, hiking & camping, history, chess, gardening, traveling, and playing music!