Matthew Alexandru - Teacher #3672

Instruments:
- Piano

Services:
- Harmony
- Music History
- Music Theory (Advanced)
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- RCM - Counterpoint
- RCM - History
- RCM - Intermediate Harmony
- RCM - Intermediate Rudiments

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

To me, music is something that is meant to be enjoyed and it is the teacher's job to aid the student in enjoying the process of learning music as well as helping them develop their own unique style. In the initial classes, my main focus is on helping the student develop a strong foundation of musical skills such as finger dexterity, sight reading and ear training. An apt analogy would be that learning music is like growing a tree and once the roots are established the student can decide how they wish to grow that tree with the teacher serving as a gardener to help them be able to grow that tree in the way in which they see fit.

Musical Education

I have completed all of the Royal Conservatory of Music practical and theory exams up to and including ARCT all with first honors. I studied piano privately for eleven years with my principal teacher being Dr. Michael Berkovsky from the Royal Conservatory of Music. I have also been in several masterclasses with pianists such as Dr. Younggun Kim, Benjamin Smith from the Royal Conservatory of Music and James Parker from the University of Toronto. Under all of these wonderful teachers I have received a thorough and rigorous piano education and am educated in many classical styles.

In addition to all of my experience as a performer, I have experience as a teacher for I have previously taught as a volunteer piano teacher for the organization From Art 2 Heart for two years. I am currently a first year music student for piano at Western University in London, Ontario where I am studying a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance.

Awards and Distinctions

4th place, Canadian Music Competition Nationals 2019
Excellence in Piano Award, Unionville Music Academy Competition 2019
2nd place, Ontario Music Festival Association Piano Provincials 2019
3rd place, Ontario Music Festival Association Piano Provincials 2017
Piano Bach Class – Gr. 10, 1st place, C.C.C Music Festival Toronto May, 2018
Piano Sonata Class – Gr. 10, 1st place, C.C.C. Music Festival Toronto May, 2018
Peel Music Festival Scholarship in piano May, 2018
Peel Music Festival Scholarship in piano May, 2018
Peel Music Festival Scholarship in piano May, 2017
Best Intermediate Pianist, North York Music Festival May, 2017
Piano – Grade 6 List A Outstanding Pianist, Davenport Music Festival May, 2016
Peel Music Festival Scholarship in piano May, 2015

Special Skills and Training

I have played in many piano competitions on a regional, provincial and even an international level where I managed to score fourth place at the Canadian Music Competition. I have also played in many ensembles both as a classical pianist and as a jazz pianist in high school. These experiences have given me a very well rounded musical skillset which I can pass onto students and provide them with different possible directions to develop their musicality. In addition, I also know many different exercises both using an instrument and without which I can teach students.

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).