Mikaela - Teacher #4217

Instruments:
- Viola
- Violin

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

I believe in empowering my students in their musical journeys with a balance of challenge and encouragement; always keeping in mind their goals and aspirations. This requires me to listen attentively and meet the student where they are at to come alongside them and be an active support; teaching them according to the style that they learn best so that they can understand and grow. Furthermore, I believe it is important to integrate musical aural skills as well as Western music theory and history into the day to day lesson so my student will have all the skills they may require to become an independent learner and be able to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead.

Musical Education

I have a BA in Violin performance from the University of Alberta, studying under Edmonton Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Robert Uchida.
Furthermore, I have minored in studies of viola with principal violist of the ESO Keith Hamm.

My personal journey with violin began at age six, and I initially played a lot of Canadian and Irish fiddle music before making my transition into classical training. I studied the RCM curriculum with several teachers over the years and received my level 10 before pursuing music professionally and auditioning for university. In my four years of undergraduate training, I have played with the National Academy Orchestra in Hamilton Ontario for their summer 2023 season, played in masterclasses with exceptional violinists such as Pinchas Zukerman, Kerson Leong, Mark Fewer, and many others, as well as recieved a formal invitation to a festival in Cremona Italy.

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).