Mark - Teacher #2318

Instruments:
- Cello
- Trumpet

Services:
- Music Appreciation
- Music History
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

All success comes from an underlying passion for music and a well-rounded approach. The balance between the physical and mental sides of music is important to explore.
I start every lesson with a warm-up, both physical and mental. Understanding that music is powered by small and precise muscle movements, and being in a mental zone that allows the passion for music to flow are both essential to a good warm-up.
I like set a good foundation in the warm-up, and then use the rest of my lesson to dive into the music itself. It's the philosophy of building a automobile - you get under the hood and work at it until it hopefully functions properly, and then you get in the driver's seat and just have to trust the work you've done and focus on the road ahead.

Musical Education

I have a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Calgary, where I studied the trumpet under Howard Engstrom and Gareth Jones.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a very musical family, and started playing the cello at the age of 5. I took private lessons on the cello until university, and throughout my childhood I played in the Mount Royal Conservatory Orchestras as well as the Calgary Youth Orchestra.
When I got to grade 7, I decided to pick up the trumpet and immediately fell in love. I took private lessons throughout high school, and was accepted into university on both the cello and trumpet. I spent my degree studying both instruments, and now perform frequently in ensembles in the Calgary area.

I have grown to love music education and will always look up to those who gave me the opportunity to learn music throughout my childhood.

Awards and Distinctions

-John K Nikel Memorial Scholarship Award
-Don Wright Prize
-School of Creative and Performing Arts Music Prize
-Millennium Prize for Russian Performing Arts

Special Skills and Training

Throughout my musical education I struggled with various physical setbacks, so I spent a lot of time overcoming and learning about the physical and mental stress that came with those setbacks. I have had masterclasses and lessons from cellists such as Tom Mirhady, Arnold Choi, Yuri Hooker, and have worked with Yo-Yo Ma in a music education setting. On the trumpet side, I have attended masterclasses and studied with Gareth Jones, Howard Engstrom, Karen Donnelly, Adam Zinatelli, Paul Jeffrey and Isaac Pulford. I have also worked with a music education outreach program that runs in the city of Calgary for the past 8 years, and have been able to learn a lot of tips and tricks from the organization.

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).