Dan Doiron
Creative Music Workshops
Inspiring students through the power of music, creativity, and connection.
Award-winning Canadian musician and educator Dan Doiron brings over four decades of professional experience to schools through a dynamic series of interactive workshops and performances that connect directly to Music, Language Arts, Social Studies, Healthy Living, and Personal Development outcomes.
Each session combines performance, storytelling, and hands-on participation to help students discover how music shapes culture, expresses identity, and builds empathy — all while having fun and making noise in the best possible way.
Program Options
1) Stand Tall! – The Story of the Blues
Elementary School Version:
A fast-paced, interactive introduction to the blues and its influence on modern music. Students sing, move, and create as they explore rhythm, body percussion, and lyric writing — discovering what it feels like to be a real blues musician.
Junior & Senior High Version:
An engaging look at the blues from its African roots to its role in shaping social movements and popular music. Students explore improvisation, “call and response,” and expressive techniques while connecting history to contemporary sounds. The session also examines the evolution of electronic instruments and how technology continues to shape the music we hear today.
2) Stand Up! – The Power of Music to Impact Racism and Bullying
Using the blues song “We’re Killing Each Other Trying to Get Into Heaven” as a starting point, this session sparks open, age-appropriate discussions about racism, empathy, and inclusion. Students reflect on their experiences and use journaling and lyric writing to express and organize their thoughts — discovering how music can inspire positive change and mutual understanding.
3) Stand Back! I Don’t Know How Loud This Thing Gets! – Songwriting, Creativity & Self-Expression
This expanded half- or full-day workshop builds on Stand Tall! and Stand Up! to guide students through the songwriting process. Using the blues form as a creative framework, participants write and perform their own original songs, learning how music communicates emotion and challenges attitudes. Recording and live performance components can be included for a full-scale creative experience.
About the Clinician
Dan Doiron has been passionate about the power of music since forming his first band at age 13 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A graduate of Dalhousie University (B.Mus.Ed., Classical Guitar), Dan has over 40 years of experience as a performer, songwriter, and educator.
As a national clinician and former Roland Canada Guitar/Product Specialist, he has presented workshops for schools, universities, and community groups across the country.
As an artist, Dan has released four acclaimed albums — Even My Guitar Is In Love With You (2011), From Deep Inside (2013), Stand Back I Don’t Know How Loud This Thing Gets (2015), and Livin’ Centre Stage (2018) — earning multiple ECMA and Music Nova Scotia Award nominations. Livin’ Centre Stage won Music Nova Scotia’s Blues Album of the Year, and Dan was nominated for a 2019 Maple Blues Award for Best New Canadian Artist.
He has twice represented Atlantic Canada at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee (2014 & 2018).
Teaching Experience:
10 years teaching Junior High School Music
25 years as Roland Canada clinician and product specialist
Extensive experience working with all age groups and abilities
💬 What Educators Are Saying
“Dan – Thanks for delivering on your promise to create exceptional learning and listening experiences in our schools! We had some of the biggest rave reviews for you that we’ve ever received for the Blues in the Schools program — and that’s after 15 years with some of the original creators involved! Well done and many thanks.”
— Brent Staeben, Fredericton Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival Chairman
“You are a pro and a natural-born teacher. You had complete engagement from students and staff — no small feat for the first assembly of the year! Your energy, passion, and ability to adapt to each group made all the difference.”
— Barb Corbett, Principal, Connaught Street School, Fredericton NB
“It’s not often visitors can engage middle school children for an entire hour — well, you nailed it!”
— Kendra Frizzell, Principal, Nashwaaksis Middle School
Booking & Contact
For workshop details, scheduling, and special rates for neighbouring schools, contact:
Dan@DanDoiron.com
902-222-2182
www.DanDoiron.com