
About
Danman's Music School
Inspiring musicians of all ages since 1987.
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Founded by Daniel H. Lefler in 1987, Danman’s Music School has been a cornerstone of the Dana Point music community for over three decades. What began as a small teaching operation has grown into a thriving local hub for music education, performance, and creativity.

About Our Lessons
At Danman’s, we believe music lessons should be fun, flexible, and personal. That’s why we offer private, one-on-one instruction in a warm and welcoming environment, for all ages 3 and up and every skill level — from brand new beginners to advanced performers.

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Expert instructors with professional and performance backgrounds
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In-store or Zoom-based remote lessons
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Weekly scheduling that fits your routine — open 7 days a week
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Opportunities to perform at recitals, student showcases, and live events
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A supportive community that encourages creative growth
Our lesson experience includes:
Special Classes:
Sound engineering training (live mixing and setup)
Art classes, summer camps, chess mentoring, and more
Music production lessons (Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, etc.)
Get to Know Us
We’re proud to host 6 kids concerts per year, giving young performers a chance to shine on a real stage. Each show features 20–30 students performing solos, duets, or joining a full backing band made up of fellow students and instructors. These performances are a highlight of our calendar and a true celebration of community, growth, and musical joy.

Our Home in Dana Point
Located in the heart of Dana Point, California, Danman’s features:
8 private teaching studios
A cozy retail space with instruments, rentals, and gear
A one-of-a-kind location next door to StillWater, a full-service restaurant and live music venue
StillWater isn’t just our neighbor — it’s a performance space where Dan Lefler has played every Wednesday night since 1987 with his house band, The Danimals.
The Fine Print
Danman’s Music School is a fully licensed corporation operating in California, and has been at its current Dana Point location for the past 26 years. We are proud members of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and longtime supporters of local families, schools, and businesses.
Our History
A journey of music, passion, and persistence — since 1987.
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Danman’s Music School was founded in 1987 by Daniel H. Lefler, a local musician with a dream to make music accessible, fun, and community-centered. What followed was a decades-long adventure of gigs, lessons, cartoons, retail shops, dreams, failures, comebacks — and above all, thousands of students empowered through music.
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Here’s how we got here:
Timeline of Milestones
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1987 – Danman’s Music Co. is born in Dana Point, CA
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1987–1991 – Dan teaches from home and performs live nightly
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1988 – Creates the cartoon characters Danman & Clef for animated music lesson content
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1991 – Opens first retail location
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1992 – Retail attempt fails — returns to home-based studio
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1992–1998 – Records 8 original & classical music CDs
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1992–2000 – Performs 300+ live gigs per year
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1999 – Incorporates Danman’s Music; opens 2nd retail shop with partners
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2001 – Dissolves partnership and returns to home-based model — has a dream to try again
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2002 – Opens Danman’s Music School in its current location
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2003 – Adds Danman’s Retail Store
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2005 – Expands into the upstairs building to serve more students
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2006 – Launches Danman’s ProTools Recording Studio
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2007 – Opens Danman’s Dance & Children’s Theater
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2007 – Founds the Dana Point Children’s Theater & Music Co., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
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2008 – Produces & performs 6 children’s musicals including Annie, Charlie Brown, and Grease




Contact Us
Address
24699 Del Prado,
Dana Point, CA 92629
Contact
949-496-6556
Opening Hours
Mon - Thur
10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
​Sunday
11:00 am – 5:00 pm