Jennifer - Teacher #4845

Instruments:
- Piano

Services:
- RCM - Advanced Rudiments
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- RCM - History
- RCM - Intermediate Harmony
- RCM - Intermediate Rudiments

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

My goal is to create a learning environment that’s both structured and supportive, where students feel encouraged, capable, and excited to grow.

I tailor my teaching to each student’s goals and learning style. For some, that means preparing for RCM exams with a clear plan and strong technical foundation. For others, it means exploring music more freely—playing for fun, learning to improvise, or trying out favorite songs. I’ve worked with young beginners just starting their musical journey, as well as adult learners returning to the piano after many years.

In lessons, I emphasize fundamentals like posture, tone, and musicality, while also incorporating theory, ear training, and creative activities like composition. For younger students, I keep things playful and engaging, while building discipline and focus. For older students, I encourage self-expression, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the music.

Above all, I want students to walk away from each lesson feeling proud of their progress. I care deeply about helping each person build not just piano skills, but resilience, focus, and a lifelong love for music.

Musical Education

I began piano lessons at the age of five and received my ARCT Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music by fifteen. My primary teachers were classically trained RCM-certified instructors, which included:

- Dr. Paul Jessen, whose pedagogical lineage traces back directly to Bach and Beethoven.

- Peter Ware, a composer and pianist whose own training stems from the Beethoven–Czerny–Liszt line of piano tradition.

- Dr. David Swan, an award-winning concert pianist and teacher, known for his concerto performances with major Canadian symphonies and first-prize wins at national competitions.

In addition to private study, I was accepted into the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School, where I completed four years of intensive musical training. I received mentorship from composers and musicians such as Ben Keast, vocal teacher Kelsey Taylor, and violinist Deborah Pady.

Awards and Distinctions

Claude Watson Junior Pianist Award
Presented by the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School, this award recognized a student who demonstrated strong musicianship, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the music department. I was honoured to be the only piano major selected in my year, in recognition of my dedication to the program, collaborative spirit, and musical growth.

North York Music Festival – 1st & 2nd Place (ARCT Division)
Awarded 1st place for List A repertoire (J.S. Bach) and 2nd place for List B repertoire (W.A. Mozart) in the ARCT-level piano division. This regional festival features advanced young musicians from across the GTA and is adjudicated by experienced professionals in the field.

Davenport Festival of Music – 1st & 2nd Place
Recognized for excellence in Level 9 repertoire performance, receiving 1st and 2nd place for List A works, including pieces by Domenico Scarlatti. This festival was an early highlight in my performance journey and helped refine my stage presence and musicianship under adjudication.

Special Skills and Training

- Strong background in music theory and composition, including experience composing for professional ensembles and collaborative projects with the Canadian Opera Company. - Masterclass participation led by faculty from Juilliard, UofT, and other internationally renowned institutions, experiences that have shaped my performance and teaching approach. - Collaborative music experience as both a soloist and ensemble musician, building versatility, communication, and musical awareness. Notable experiences: One of the highlights of my music journey was performing in a full-scale production of the Russian opera, Eugene Onegin. It was a massive, year-long project involving weekly rehearsals, collaboration with our symphonic orchestra, and masterclasses with Johannes Debus, music director of the Canadian Opera Company. I performed as part of our SATB choir, made up of music majors across all grades (9–12), while the orchestra included our string and brass majors. Altogether, there were about 100 performers involved—it was truly a huge ensemble effort. It was also my first time singing in Russian, which made the experience even more exciting (and challenging!). This project deepened my adaptability, ensemble awareness, and musical expression—skills I now bring into my teaching to help students grow with confidence, both solo and in group settings.

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).