Suzanne - Teacher #4516

Instruments:
- Piano

Services:
- Ear Training
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- Solfege

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy is that learning can only take place when a student feels comfortable, accepted, and supported. I create a warm, encouraging and friendly rapport that allows students to experience the joy and rewards as well as take risks. I engage and guide the student from where they are on their journey, supporting them when challenged and when they need to be challenged. I work to develop the student's confidence and help them feel successful.

I believe that all people have music in them. From a Dalcroze perspective, the natural movements and rhythm of our bodies walking, running, speaking, etc., provide an internal physical framework of reference to help the student learn musical concepts and artistic expression. I have found this approach serves to deepen the experience of music.

Musical Education

I started my own musical life when I was 4 years old in group Yamaha music classes, graduating to piano lessons at 7 years. Growing up, I took piano lessons, learned viola and flute in school, and studied ballet. After studying dance more seriously, I decided to choose music as my path and went to McGill University where I got a Bachelor of Music and a Diploma in Education (Music). I recently earned the Professional Certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics to become a certified Dalcroze teacher, teaching music through natural movement.

Special Skills and Training

After I finished my Diploma in Music Education, I found I needed to learn more. So I have studied Early Childhood Music Education, working as a teaching assistant before starting my own classes that I still teach. I studied the Orff and Kodaly approaches, and most recently the Dalcroze approach. I find it a wonderful and joyful approach to teaching that harnesses people's natural affinity for movement and play. So much so that I went through the process to become a certified Dalcroze teacher, earning the Professional Certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

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).