Matthew - Teacher #4786

Instruments:
- Cello

Services:
- RCM

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

I believe every student has different needs as well as different strengths and weaknesses. I try to tailor my teaching to best serve each student. I believe in establishing a strong technical foundation so that students can play the pieces that they are interested in without feeling inhibited. I believe cello playing is a lot more fun when one is not dealing with pain or feeling discomfort so I try to prioritize healthy playing at the beginning. When the student feels good with the physical motions of the cello it is also much easier to teach the musical aspects of cello playing. I often teach the Royal Conservatory curriculum but I am open to any repertoire ideas that the student may have.

Musical Education

I have a Master of Music degree from the University of Calgary where I studied with John Kadz and Johanne Perron. John Kadz became a member of the Houston Symphony at age 17 and later became Principal Cellist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2017 he was made a Fellow at the Royal Conservatory of Music for his contributions to the Canadian music scene. Johanne Perron is an active chamber musician and solo performer. She was a student of Aldo Parisot at Yale and and also studied with Leonard Rose at the Julliard School. She previously taught at the University of Montreal before coming to Calgary. I also studied with Professor Eric Wilson at the University of British Columbia during my Bachelor of Music Degree. Eric Wilson was a founding member of the Emerson String Quartet which won Walter W. Naumberg competition Prize for Chamber Ensemble . He was a student of Leonard Rose with whom he studied at the Julliard School in New York.

Awards and Distinctions

During my studies I received the following scholarships and awards: Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship, University of Calgary Master’s Scholarship, Queen Elizabeth II (Master’s) Scholarship, Pachkowski Family Bursary, Stephanson Cooke Award, Harry and Marjorie Anne Slim Memorial Scholarship in Music, Leslie J. Field Memorial Scholarship, Mildred Johnson Scholarship in Music.

Special Skills and Training

While in Calgary I also spent four years in the Advanced Performance Program at Mount Royal University Conservatory. I have attended summer sessions at Domaine Forget and the Orford Arts Centre in Québec where I had the privilege to learn from artists such as Lynn Harrell and Raphael Wallfisch. I have played in lessons and masterclasses with artists such as Clive Greensmith, Colin Carr, Melissa Kraut, Eric Kim, Rachel Mercer and Desmond Hoebig.

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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