Dave began lessons at the age of 8 and has been playing professionally for 28 years, part time and full time. He has been teaching for 20 of those years. Dave studied at Grant MacEwan University, the Jazz performance degree. He is currently a session player and has performed Jazz, blues, R&B, reggae, rock, and country music in over 200 freelance and band projects. Some of these include Chris Cummings, Emmerson Drive, Dwain Steel, Eli Barsi, Craig Moritz, Kidd Country, George Canyon, Sweet Tequila.

Dave has written and produced original compositions - including self titled Matthew's Grin CD produced by Nick Blagona of Police and Deep Purple fame. He has performed on the same bill with acts such as Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn, Marty Stewart, April Wine, Trooper, Nazareth, Harlequin, John Micheal Montgomery, Dixie Chicks. His teaching philosophy focuses primarily on the fostering of a love and appreciation of music. As music has provided a feeling of great accomplishment and gratification for him, he wishes to pass that along to his students.