For Daniel del Pino, the relationship with piano performance is one that goes far deeper than notes on a page. His art is a way of life, and one he shares with his students at the Texas Tech School of Music.
An associate professor of piano, he began his music journey as a child of two Spanish parents in Lebanon. His father, an amateur pianist, fostered a close relationship with music in del Pino’s life.
The cascading notes of Chopin’s études, a collection of classical piano study works, echoed throughout his home, and in time he began pursuing piano performance himself.
“I started piano sort of late, by comparison. I was 10 years old, but after that, there was no way to stop me,” del Pino said. “Piano was the only thing I wanted to do. It was always my passion.”
After discovering his newfound passion for piano, del Pino continued to strive to refine his talent, going from Lebanon, Morocco and Spain before eventually landing in Lubbock.
It was here where he continued learning more about his art form and deepening his connection to the instrument.
His constant pursuit for knowledge brought him to several mentors, all leaving him with their own lessons and influences, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.
“You don’t realize how deep of an imprint they’re going to leave on you, but the first ones were really important,” he said. “The first instructor that I had in Morocco was a woman named Ghizlane Hamadi. Looking back, I realize now how many things I still do because she taught me to.”
Del Pino also had three other instructors who he learned under in Spain: Julian Lopez Jimeno, Marisa Villalba and Joaquín Achúcarro. In particular, del Pino said Achúcarro taught him many of the lessons he now carries with him today.
Daniel del Pino’s hands dance across the keys of the piano as he nears the end of his performance at the Eva Browning Artist Series at Hemmle Recital Hall in the School of Music Sept. 28, 2025.
Jadon Chesnutt
“He showed me to look for the important things, instead of getting carried away looking for little things that are not so important,” he said. “He taught me to look for the larger picture, which, in the end, is the most important one.”
Throughout his life, del Pino’s connection to piano has never faded. Over time, he said it has become a part of him that he could now never be without.
“It’s hard to explain what piano means to me because I feel it’s part of me. It’s difficult to talk about it as something independent,” del Pino said. “It’s one individual. I really feel I cannot live without it.”
Just like his instructors before him, del Pino said he strives to continue sharing his passion for music and piano with his students, emphasizing the importance of audience connection over perfection.
“I’ve been to concerts where everything was perfect, but when I left the concert, I forgot it immediately. I’ve also been to performances where there were mistakes, but after 30 years, I still remember that performance as something really special,” he said. “So, I always tell my students mistakes in performance are not important. What’s important is the connection you establish with the listener.”
Sharing del Pino’s passion for the instrument, Diego Lizaola, a second-year piano performance major from Mexico City, said he believes the piano is an art form that deepens his own connection to life.
“Piano is like a way to channel my emotions. It’s like an intensifier of emotions for me,” Lizaola said. “It’s my work, but it’s also a way to live with more intense joy.”
Lizaola has been working with del Pino since his freshman year at Tech. He said del Pino has helped him to not stress over the little things and instead focus on the personal learning process.
Daniel del Pino’s students clap as he performs at the Eva Browning Artist Series at Hemmle Recital Hall in the School of Music Sept. 28, 2025.
Jadon Chesnutt
“He has helped me to be more authentic. He’s taught me to not worry as much about doing everything perfectly, but instead discover myself through music,” Lizaola said. “If I’m trying too hard to follow everything on the paper correctly, he’ll help me to let go of that. It helps you grow not just as a pianist but as a person. I think that’s his best attribute.”
Miri Park, a third-year doctoral student pursuing piano pedagogy from Seoul, South Korea, said del Pino has supported and grown her connection to piano just as much as the instrument’s music has.
“He has a way of reminding me why I love making music. He has helped me see music as music itself, not just as something to be controlled or perfected,” Park said. “He teaches me how to approach music with curiosity and joy, showing me new perspectives and new ways of listening. It completely changed how I make music.”
For Park, del Pino’s guidance continues to foster her growth as a musician, always helping in finding new ways to approach her craft.
“Working with him has been transformative. He challenges me in the best way, musically, intellectually and personally. He never imposes his interpretation but guides me to find my own,” Park said. “He leads by example. Whether he’s teaching or performing, you can see how deeply he believes in music’s ability to move people. That always makes me want to do better.”
As he continues to teach, del Pino said he strives to remind his students that it is the music’s impact on the audience that matters most, not what small mistakes they might’ve made during performances.
“The main thing I concern myself with is whether or not an audience is moved, no matter which direction. If I was able to awaken some emotions or expressions, I consider that a win,” he said. “If they leave the concert feeling that they experienced something special, that’s the best that I can expect.”
Del Pino is currently performing in the Eva Browning Artist Series at Tech as he plays alongside other artists including bassist Alberto Bocini and Annie Chalex Boyle. His next performance will be on Dec. 5 in the Hemmle Recital Hall in the Student Union Building.