Cat - Teacher #3289

Instruments:
- Violin

Services:
- RCM

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

The first time I saw a symphony play, I was five years old and my mother took me to see the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. From that moment, I knew I wanted to play the violin. The most important part to me with teaching is connecting my students with the instrument and ensuring that they are truly enjoying it, so they are motivated to devote their time and effort to mindfully practice and develop proper technique. Whether you want to learn Bach or Lindsey Stirling, the same technique applies. My lessons involve unique, engaging and fun exercises that do not feel so tedious yet result in quick and efficient technical development. I believe that if we are passionate about our instrument, anything is possible!

Musical Education

Cat DeMello is a violinist from Vancouver, BC. She began violin lessons at the age of five, over the years having studied with Margitta Krebs and Nancy DiNovo. From the age of eight up until the pandemic, she played the violin in the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra and continues to play in the University of British Columbia Symphony Orchestra today. She has also played with the McMaster Symphony Orchestra and the Interharmony International Music Festival Orchestra. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at University of British Columbia, studying under Professor Jae-won Bang and Professor David Gillham. An alumni of Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of music, Cat studied with Yuri Zaidenberg. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at University of British Columbia, studying under Professor Jae-won Bang and Professor David Gillham. In addition to her classical performance, she enjoys blending different genres and forms of art such as DJing. She studied turntablism at Tabletutors DJ Academy, passionate about blending her classical foundation in violin with diverse genres, bands, and other art forms.

Awards and Distinctions

Cat was awarded with the Mildred Johnson Scholarship in Music Associated with The University of British Columbia, Made on recommendation by the School of Music and endowed by the estate of Marion Blanche Anderson, these scholarships are offered to students in the School of Music, with preference given to those studying piano or cello.

Special Skills and Training

Growing up, Cat’s mother taught her piano and she taught three younger siblings the violin and other instruments. She has participated in music festivals such as the Northshore Music Festival, and has played for various events. I have completed practical and written Violin, Harmony, History and Rudiments RCM exams. She has commissioned works including specific requests for tracks, film, and weddings. When she is not teaching, she enjoys recording and performing with other musicians in ensembles such as her piano/violin chamber group “Eclipse Duo” and other bands such as bluegrass bands, jazz bands, metal bands, and musical theater pit bands. Having been featured on the Flo Rida tour and shared the stage with many other artists, she is passionate about bringing her classical sound to non-conventional spaces. She loves exploring non-classical genres with her students and delving into electric violin, but will always teach classical. Cat enjoys creating musical content online including violin tips and covers.

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).