Amanda - Teacher #1723

Instruments:
- Piano
- Violin

Services:
- Ear Training
- Harmony
- Music Appreciation
- Music History
- Music Theory (Advanced)
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM - Advanced Harmony
- RCM - Advanced Rudiments
- RCM - Analysis
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- RCM - History
- RCM - Intermediate Harmony
- RCM - Intermediate Rudiments
- Solfege

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

Whether you have plans of becoming a professional musician or want to learn for fun, I am here to help you achieve your musical goals! I provide my students with a strong musical foundation that allows them to learn music that they are passionate about, and to help them develop a consistent, efficient practice routine that allows for constant musical progress and growth.

For complete beginners on the piano, my go-to method book is Faber’s Piano Adventures. This book covers important basic concepts including note recognition, keyboard topography, and aural skills that are paramount for student success. Beginner and young students are also given the opportunity to play many musical games and puzzles during their lessons to develop their creativity, knowledge, and passion for music. If my students leave their lesson feeling excited to go home and practice, then I have done my job!

Late beginner to advanced piano and violin students are given the option of going through the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), which has a mainly classical music-oriented curriculum and exam for each level of the program. In preparation for RCM exams, students develop their technique and finger dexterity, and develop a theoretical understanding of music, as well as the ability to express emotions and ideas through musical elements like dynamics, tempo, rubato, shaping, articulation, and phrasing. For those wishing to study popular music genres, lessons will focus on important skills such as chord formation, harmonization, lead sheets, choral music, and improvisation. Students can also learn practical applications to these skills, such as playing music at weddings or special events.

Whether your focus is classical or popular music, performing in public is highly encouraged. It is an integral component of student progress, as it can solidify their grasp of their current repertoire and help develop stage presence and confidence. It is also a great opportunity for meeting new friends!

Lastly, parental involvement in students’ musical journey is highly recommended; I teach my students in their piano lesson for only 30 to 60 minutes a week, but what matters more is the 6 days at home when the student is practicing, and how they utilize their time. Parents play an important role in encouraging their children, in helping them maintain a consistent and diligent practice schedule, and in celebrating their accomplishments and progress.

Musical Education

Master of Music in Piano from Indiana University
Bachelor of Music in Piano from University of British Columbia
ARCT Diploma in Piano from Royal Conservatory of Music
ACCM Diploma in Violin from Conservatory Canada

Awards and Distinctions

Scholarships
- NSAL Award (2022), Alberta Arts Graduate Scholarship (2021 and 2022) Alberta Foundation for the Arts Scholarship (2020 and 2021) Winspear Fund for Advanced Classical Musicians (2016 to 2020), Ranald & Vera Shean Scholarship (2014 to 2020)

Festivals
- Mozarteum Summer Academy in 2019 on full tuition scholarship from Johann Strauss Foundation
- Orford Musique Festival in Quebec - studied with renowned pianists Andre Laplante and Veda Kaplinsky (2018)
- Played piano with Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute of Whistler (2017)

Competitions
Semi-finalist in Naftzger Young Artists Audition (2022)
3rd place in Canadian Music Competition (2019)
3rd place in BC Bösendorfer Piano Competition (2017)
1st place in Alberta Provincial Music Festival (2015)

Special Skills and Training

I spent the past two years as an Associate Instructor of Piano at Indiana University, teaching beginner to advanced piano to undergraduate students in both private and group lessons. I have also taught piano to younger students (aged 4 and up) at Northgate Music School from 2010 to 2016, and I have also worked at other music schools including Dominelli School of Music and Elite School of Music. My performing experience includes performances at the Vancouver Fairmont Hotel, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, Winspear Centre, Roy Barnett Hall, and the Chan Center for Performing Arts.

Rates

30 Minutes: $39.00
45 Minutes: $49.00
60 Minutes: $59.00

There is a one-time registration fee of 25 $ charged with the first lessons. All Taxes are included in prices, if applicable

NOTE: Your Credit card will be charged ONLY when the first lesson is set up and confirmed with the teacher

Policies


1. Cancellation Policy

Lessons not cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice are billable to the client and payable to the teacher. This does not of course apply to travel fees unless the notice is effectively given at the door and the teacher has travelled to the location.

2. Cessation (quitting) Policy

A client must provide a 2 lesson notice period to stop lessons. So a weekly student needs to give 2 weeks of notice, a biweekly student works out to 3 weeks notice and a twice weekly student works out to a week of notice.

3. Illness Policy

Lessons cancelled due to illness or extraordinary circumstances with less than 24 hours notice remain billable to the client and payable to the teacher.

BAH teachers are encouraged to offer a make-up lesson at a future date in the interest of client relations and general goodwill. This only makes sense as teaching a student with the flu for example, will ruin the rest of your week's employment.

No more than 2 lessons may be made up due to illness within a 60 day period.

4. Rescheduling Policy

Any lesson can be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice.

Summer Vacation and Extended Absence Policy

Clients may schedule longer absences for trips etc. 24 hours notice is required.

It is normal and typical for students and about 20% of our teachers to schedule a break in the summer. We do not enforce a notice period (see cessation of lessons) at the end of a long summer break.

5. Evaluation Period

There are no free trial lessons with Beethoven at Home but we do offer a 2 lesson evaluation period where it is easy to try out a teacher. There are no free lessons during the evaluation period and clients may choose to discontinue the lessons at any time by providing the required 24 hours notice. After the student's 3rd lesson the required 2 lesson notice period will apply (see cessation of lessons above).