Natalia - Teacher #2517

Instruments:
- Piano

Services:
- Ear Training
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM

Languages:
- English
- Spanish

Teaching Philosophy

Music can be fulfilling and transformative when we express ourselves through sound with fluency and physical freedom. Mastering the art of playing this way opens the door to a lifetime of musical enjoyment.

I encourage exploration, initiative and creativity during the lessons and provide listening and practice strategies for students to develop self-direction in learning at an early stage.

An important goal in my teaching is that students engage at a physical, mental and emotional level with their pieces so they learn to play expressively. There’s a focus on understanding the interaction of music elements and moods, the use of stories and images linked to the music and the awareness and control of physical movements.

In providing feedback I aim for constructive language that encourages students to listen to themselves actively and motivates them to make improvements in their playing. I strongly believe a friendly, stress-free environment allows students to feel uninhibited and free to make mistakes
and ask questions - both indispensable steps for learning.
​

Musical Education

I have a Master of Music from Western University, where I studied with John Hess. My major was in Literature and Performance with emphasis on Collaborative Piano.

I received my undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from A.M. Valencia Conservatory in Cali, Colombia with Maria Isabel Benitez, who had studied in the United States and in the UK.

I began my musical studies with Sandra Marin at the Jaime M. Mola Conservatory in Quito, Ecuador, and afterwards studied for four years with the Cuban pianist Antonio Carbonell who was trained in Russia.


Awards and Distinctions

I won the Research-Performance Competition “Revive Our Music” led by the National University of Colombia and was selected to record unpublished music by early 20th century Colombian composers.

Special Skills and Training

In the course of my musical career, I have enjoyed being an active collaborator, playing with different instrumentalists, singers, choirs, baroque ensembles and opera. From early on, I pursued a parallel interest in teaching and have continued to update my pedagogical practices through various music and pedagogy courses, developing efficient teaching skills and broadening my insights into how students learn best, and how to make the learning experience enjoyable for different individuals.

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 Natalia

Information for Student #1


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