Nicolas - Teacher #4033

Instruments:
- Piano
- Recorder
- Singer-Songwriter
- Viola
- Violin
- Voice

Services:
- Ear Training
- Harmony
- Jazz Improvation
- Music Appreciation
- Music History
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that music is an embodied experience of true freedom. My job as a teacher is not to burden my students with technique for the sake of technique, but rather, to pave the way to excellence, following the structure and rules necessary for their musical liberation. I like to compare my philosophy to sports: who is more free to play football? The trained football player who worked hard learning the rules and techniques of the game, or the random guy who wants to do his own thing, and never took the time to learn the game because he didn’t want to be “imposed upon” by rules? I believe that true freedom demands boundaries, so that we can be free within the security of those boundaries. For music, technique and rigorous practice set those boundaries. Mastery over these grants musicians true freedom to express their deepest selves!

Musical Education

I started studying music theory at the age of 2, through Music Language Studio, a program which teaches young students to read and “speak” music, as a language. I began piano lessons shortly after, and continued for about 10 years. I also began playing the violin, under Calvin Dyck in Abbotsford! I fell in love with it, and devoted myself to it. I finished the Royal Conservatory of Music for violin, and played for 4 years in the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra. Those years were some of the most amazing years of my life, as I formed friendships, and gained many professional experiences. I got the opportunity to play with many professional musicians, from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Island Symphony, and even John McDermott, from the Irish Tenors! In 2019 I started as a volunteer violin teacher at Bakerview Music Academy, which provides free music lessons for young kids from underprivileged homes. A year later, I was invited to join the faculty as a paid teacher. I worked there for 2 years, and I also took on a couple private students independently! I am currently studying at Trinity Western University, where I have been able to continue some of my musical studies, branching out into vocal jazz, jazz ensemble, chamber choir, etc.

Special Skills and Training

I specialize in classical violin/piano, and jazz piano/vocal. If you want to learn to sing in the style of singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Buble, I’m your guy! For violin, my specialty is in teaching beginners, who have never learned to read music. I like to teach music like it’s a language, because that’s exactly what it is!

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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