Matthew - Teacher #2287

Instruments:
- Piano
- Voice

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

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

Music is a language that communicates the joy our human existence. Music is extremely important in my life, as it helps me to connect with myself and others in a very unique way! I love to teach music because, I want to help others discover their musical voice and identity. As a singer, I focus on deep and supported breath. Breath is what sustains the voice, and allows it to be heard, projected and communicated to whoever is listening. As such, my teaching focuses on bodywork and breathing, which are the foundations of vocal technique.
Having fun is essential to creating music and singing! My lessons focus on each student's particular needs, to ensure that learning something new is always an enriching and fun process.

Musical Education

This coming year I will graduate with a BMus from McGill University, specializing in early music vocal performance! At school, I love to sing Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.

I grew up in Ottawa and sang as a boy soprano in Christ Church Ottawa Men and Boys’ choir. During my years with the boys’ choir I had a blast touring and singing around Canada and the UK. I also sang my solo debut at the National Arts Centre as the shepherd boy in Puccini’s Tosca. I studied RCM piano for many years and began my vocal training in High school. In Montreal, I have had the pleasure of working with the best teachers and coaches in Canada. More recently, I have had the pleasure of singing as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, J.S Bach’s Mass in B minor. At McGill, I also sang a lead role in Opera McGill’s production of Handel’s Partenope. Last March, I sang at the Internationale Bachakademie in Stuttgart, Germany, where I got a chance to tour and perform works by J.S Bach. In Montreal, I occasionally work as a professional chorister with the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, and L'Harmonie des saisons.

Special Skills and Training

Growing up, my mother introduced me to music. She studied music at university, and always made sure to introduce me to new musical experiences. While growing up, she always encouraged me to share my musical talents with others. Likewise, she always helps me to remember to be generous with music, and this is something that I take into my teaching. I spent many years as a Red Cross Instructor where I worked closely with families and children. As such I have lots of experience helping kids to learn brand-new skills.

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).