Chris - Teacher #2141

Instruments:
- Drumset

Services:
- Jazz Improvation
- Music Appreciation

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that learning an instrument is an extremely personal experience, and therefore each student needs to learn in their own way. I enjoy discovering the different methods that will unlock the spark in each individual student and tailoring their lessons to suit just their needs. I also feel that music can be such a powerful mirror for life itself and I like to use the journey of learning about music to help students look within themselves and learn about their journey in life as well. As a profession there are a great many skills involved in being a musician that don't involve playing an instrument. I like to let my students know how to behave as a performing musician, how to communicate and appear professional, how to be reliable, properly perpared and on time, how to practice efficiently and effectively and how to build up their unique brand as a musician.

Musical Education

I am a professional performing drummer with more than 25 years of international experience. I am a self-taught drummer but I have studied privately with the world's most respected drumset clinician and teacher, Dom Famularo. I have performed all over the world with a long list of international jazz stars like Ulf Wakenius, Barbara Morrison, Anderz Bergkranz , Canadian legends Lorne Lofsky, Bernie Senensky, Ted Quinlan, vocalists Billy Newton Davis and Gavin Hope (The Nylons) and many many others. I consider this to be as valid an eduacation as any other!

Awards and Distinctions

In 2010 I was one of only 5 musicians selected in Scotland to take part in the "Air Time" initiative. This was a week long intensive career development program produced by Serious Music Ltd. a London arts promotion company responsible for many large scale concert events including London Jazz Festival. Participants were nominated by peers and industry professionals and then chosen by a panel. The program focused on mentorship from high level musicians and provided a comprehensive program of information from all aspects of the music industry, advice directly shared from members of the press, record companies, management and agencies, festival directors etc.
In 2012 I was again selected to take part in "Air TIme" 3rd edition which focused on composition of original music for jazz musicians with classical musicians. The participants were given a week to compose an original piece which would then be performed by a sextet of musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. We were personally mentored by BBC orchestra conductor Howard Moody and UK jazz musician and living legend John Surman.
In 2012 my original jazz trio "NeWt" was awarded the Scottish Jazz Ensemble of the year award.

Special Skills and Training

I have performed at the following international festivals: TD Toronto Jazz Festival TD Ottawa Jazz Festival TD Montreal Jazz Festival TD Sudbury Jazz Festival Oakville Jazz Festival TD Markham Jazz Festival TD Vancouver Jazz Festival Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Glasgow Jazz Festival Aberdeen Jazz Festival Dundee Jazz Festival Edinburgh International Jazz Festival Manchester Jazz Festival London Jazz Festival Adelaide Cabaret Festival Melbourne Comedy Festival I also composed and performed the live drumset score for the play "The Hard Man" which toured Scotland for 6 weeks in 2011 to rave reviews. I spent 15 years living in Scotland where every summer I performed with world class cabaret artists during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I have backed comedy, burlesque and cabaret acts of all styles. As a teacher I have taught privately for many years and I have also taught for private music schools in the Toronto area, taking on students of all ages and levels. In Edinburgh, Scotland I was the head drum teacher at Stevenson College (Now Edinburgh College) for 3 years until my leaving in 2013.

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).

Register with Chris

Information for Student #1


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