Songwriter Daniel Neihoff visits South Middle School before performance in Salina
As the door opened, melodic notes poured out of Matt Gerry’s classroom and for a moment the hallway at Salina South Middle School became a concert hall.
Those walking past in the early afternoon got a midday pick-me-up from Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” played by the school’s advanced guitar class. But this week, a unique voice accompanied them.
Daniel Neihoff, an emerging singer/songwriter from Kentucky, made a stop in Salina to share his experience and knowledge of songwriting with the class.
Sharing a love for music
After performing one of his own songs titled “Appalachian Cry,” he talked to students about a variety of guitar techniques and methods. Several students watched intently as he used a method called fingerpicking to play his original music.
Students asked questions about what being a musician is like, and how he got to where he is now in his career.
“I may not be rich in the traditional sense, but I’m rich in that I get to do what I love, and I get to do it every day,” Neihoff said. “People come and listen to the stories I have to tell, so that’s really a blessing.”
Neihoff, a natural storyteller, began writing songs at 8-years-old. He explained to students at South Middle School that learning guitar became a way to enhance his storytelling and writing to another level.
He shared stories of learning music at an early age, like how he would ask his sister to teach him what she learned after her guitar lessons, and how he was amazed to see a guitar class like Matt Gerry’s helping guide young musicians toward success.
Students showed Neihoff their progress on keeping tempo, strumming, picking, and other techniques from the advanced class.
They also had a jam session with Neihoff, who sang vocals on “Stand by Me” while the class played its famous melody. Later, the group and Neihoff played the iconic Rolling Stones song “Wild Horses.”
“You guys sound great,” Neihoff said after they played together. “That was awesome.”
Playing guitar challenges, inspires students
Neihoff’s talent and humble approach to storytelling through music inspired a new generation of musicians, who said they learned a lot from his stories and pointers on technique.
Eighth grader Kira Davis said guitar class has been a rewarding experience, and learning from Neihoff was fun.
“It’s one of those classes that feels like you’re in a family,” Davis said. “…the best part about working with Daniel today was experiencing him in person.”
Savannah Kochanowski, another 8th grader at South Middle School, said she got into the guitar class in hopes of following in her brother’s footsteps.
“My favorite thing I learned from Daniel Neihoff today was how to fingerpick because I didn’t really know how to do that before,” Kochanowski said. “Guitar (class) is very fun and informational especially if you want to learn an instrument that you can play with other people.”
Neihoff began touring nationally to perform his original music in 2019. He has won awards for songwriting, having been a finalist three years at Songwriter Serenade and the 2019 winner of the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for emerging songwriters.
Bringing Neihoff to Salina was done in partnership with Harmony Hideaway, a home in Salina that hosts lodging, house concerts and event hosting.
Neihoff, who has a genre range of traditional country to modern pop and soulful folk, performed a concert at Harmony Hideaway Feb. 8.
“I just love getting the opportunity to get to see people who are starting just like I was,” Neihoff said. “I was really just amazed. The thing I appreciated the most was how great of an opportunity they have with (Matt) Gerry to have someone there to help them along.”
In an email, USD 305 Public Information Director Jennifer Camien said partnerships like this create good learning environments for students.
“We at Salina Public Schools appreciate how our community helps us create great opportunities for our students,” Camien said. “Collaborating with community partners, such as Harmony Hideaway, makes for a rich learning environment and experience for our students.”
Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily focusing on county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Musician shares passion for songwriting with South Middle School class
