Dana - Teacher #3293

Instruments:
- Viola
- Violin

Services:
- Dictation
- Ear Training
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- Solfege
- Suzuki

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

At the age of 12, I made the difficult decision to quit piano, despite the constant reminder from adults that they regretted quitting when they were young. The reason behind my decision was rooted in a deep sense of inadequacy and frustration that resulted from feeling like I let my piano teacher down after each lesson. Over time, music slowly found its way back into my life, and I started playing informally by ear. Rediscovering the joy of playing for my own pleasure reignited my passion for music, and I soon realized how essential it was to my identity and well-being. Determined to take music seriously once again, I found my way back to playing piano, viola, guitar, and flute.
My goal as a teacher is to ensure that my students never quit based on feeling inadequate. Above all, I believe lessons should be encouraging and FUN! I make sure that along the way, students can expect to work on both songs that will technically develop their skills as well as songs that bring them a sense of personal achievement and joy.

Musical Education

I hold an Honours BA in Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University, where I specialized in various classes including drumming, guitar, music theory, and improvisation. My piano training began at the age of 7 and continued through to age 12 and then age 18-20 under the Trinity (British) curriculum. My piano teacher, who had studied in a classical Russian conservatory, passed on her meticulous methods to me. Additionally, I studied viola from ages 16-21 and worked diligently to become both a viola and piano major in my program. For the past 14 years, I have been regularly playing piano and viola by ear during my church's services.

Special Skills and Training

Having grown up in Cairo, Egypt during a time with limited opportunities to pursue musical education beyond individual classical lessons, I developed an organic, aural, and instinctive approach to music, shaped by informal and church contexts, after quitting piano at a young age. While combining classical and improvisational techniques required hard work, my upbringing ignited a passion for teaching others to become adaptable musicians. Through teaching recorder and guitar to refugees in Egypt and Jordan, and performing with various musicians in over 6 countries through my church, I gained invaluable experience that has informed my teaching philosophy, emphasizing flexibility to meet the unique needs of each student.

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).

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