Laura - Teacher #3103

Instruments:
- Composition
- Singer-Songwriter
- Voice

Services:
- Composition
- Ear Training
- Jazz Improvation
- Music Appreciation
- Music History
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- Solfege

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

Teaching Philosophy

I believe people learn better when they are relaxed and having fun. This is especially true when learning voice, so I like to do vocal warm up exercises first to promote vocal health. Learning music is a step by step process that takes patience, and I like to be patient and nurturing with students. Learning abdominal breathing and singing vowels with breath control helps to prevent vocal strain and increase power.

Next, assessing a person’s vocal range is a good idea. Running some scales on different vowels can be helpful. And then when the student is ready we can choose songs together in the appropriate range and vocal level for the student. Like layering a cake, students can start learning songs either by ear or I can teach them basic sight reading. Lip trilling, humming, or singing the melody on a vowel at first can help you learn the melody and rhythm in a more relaxed way. When you know the melody, I can show you how to add the words in a way that emphasizes the vowels to make it easier to hold notes.

I love to write songs, and I often feel inspired to do so. II want to share my passion for songwriting with you. In teaching songwriting I want to help you to unlock your imagination and free the music inside of you that is wanting to come out. First I would ask students to brainstorm and unlock their minds. Next, I can teach you technical music theory and lyric writing skills to match the syllables of words with the rhythm of your song.

Musical Education

Dear potential student or caregiver,

I would like to bring out the potential in you or your child. I love to teach kids because they have such a joyful enthusiasm for life. I want to bring out the best in my students

I have been thankful for the opportunity to have studied Worship Music Leadership in the Sacred Music Department at Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies for several years, and I have an excellent GPA of 3.85.

I also have completed 4 years of Royal Conservatory of Music training in voice, piano, and music theory as an adult. As a child I went to RCM for 2 years of piano, and I sang for 2 years in the RCM Children's Choir.

I studied Jazz History at George Brown College in Toronto. I have a College Diploma from George Brown College.

I studied Songwriting and Music Production at Canada Christian College.
I also completed a Songwriting Challenge from Songwriter's Association of Canada that was taught by some top Canadian songwriters.

Here are some of My Social media pages:

https://www.facebook.com/LauraJaneBurnsChristianMusic/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-burns-4a0b4379/

https://laurajburnsloveletterstogod.wordpress.com

Thank you,

Laura

Awards and Distinctions

I was given a Champion of Culture Award. The award was from a multicultural community music/arts organization that I helped to organize monthly concerts.

I have a 3.85 GPA from Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies Sacred Music program.

I graduated With Honours from George Brown College, and was constantly on the Dean's List.

Special Skills and Training

God has done some interesting things in my life! I helped lead worship at Canada's largest free gospel concert Open Heavens at The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. I sang with a gospel music group I was part of called Legacy Music House, which is run by the Dean of Sacred Music at Canada Christian College. I was a vocalist for Legacy Music House from 2016-2019. I was blessed to be accepted as a paid Choral Scholar at St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Toronto. The choir was directed by one of the Toronto Consort Directors, Katherine Hill. I sang at The White House Day of Prayer with Canada Christian College Choir in 2016. I have led worship in many diverse church settings throughout the GTA, other Ontario towns, and in Montreal Quebec, I have led worship in worship teams for 12 years.

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).