Daniel Piper, PhD
Public Scholar & Educator
Creating learning experiences that ignite curiosity, deepen appreciation for human diversity, and foster growth and meaningful reflection.
Educational Programs
Music in Motion
Understanding People Through Music and Culture
Through live talks, short courses, fieldwork stories, recordings, and visual materials, Music in Motion explores the musical traditions, instruments, histories, and cultural lives of communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Together, these programs examine how music reflects and shapes human experience, cultural identity, spirituality, migration, and social change.
About Daniel
Daniel Piper is a curator, ethnomusicologist, public educator, and lifelong musician whose work explores the connections between music, culture, and human experience. Since 2011, he has served as a curator at the global Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, where he oversees collections and exhibitions from Latin America, the Caribbean, North Africa, and the Middle East.From an early age, Piper developed a passion for music and a deep appreciation for human diversity and creativity—interests that continue to shape his work today. He holds degrees from Wesleyan University, The Hartt School, and Brown University, where he earned master's and doctoral degrees in ethnomusicology.As a curator and ethnomusicologist, Piper has conducted fieldwork in more than twenty countries across Latin America and the Middle East. Through long-standing relationships with musicians, instrument makers, and cultural leaders, he has documented performances, festivals, ceremonies, and oral histories while helping build one of the world's most significant collections of musical instruments. His work has contributed to exhibitions, publications, public programs, media projects, and educational initiatives that connect audiences with diverse musical traditions and cultural perspectives.Alongside his professional work, Piper remains an active musician and creative artist. His musical experiences as a pianist, violinist, composer, and student of voice and percussion continue to inform his approach to teaching, research, and cultural engagement.
Upcoming Programs
From Cuban Dance Bands to the International Salsa Movement (1940-1980)
Thursday, July 16th, 2026
7:00-8:15 PM Arizona TimeA live online program featuring presentation, discussion, and Q&A.$25
Salsa is often described as a New York sound, a Caribbean music, or a global dance phenomenon. In reality, it is all of these things—and its story stretches across multiple countries, communities, and decades of musical exchange.This talk explores how Cuban dance music traditions of the 1940s and 1950s helped give rise to a new musical movement that would eventually become known as salsa. Following the music through Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States, we will examine how musicians, migrants, dancers, and recording industries transformed local musical traditions into an international cultural force.Through recordings, photographs, and video examples, we will consider broader themes of migration, identity, race, urban life, and cultural exchange while tracing the emergence of one of the most influential popular music movements of the twentieth century.
From Trash to Tradition: The Unexpected Life of Recycled Musical Instruments
Late Summer - Details Forthcoming
Reggae Roots and Afro-Jamaican Traditions
Fall - Details Forthcoming
The Lives and Journeys of Musical Instruments
Fall/Winter - Details Forthcoming