Teresa
Yamaha Group Teacher
Teresa has been passionately and successfully teaching the Yamaha Music Education Programs to children and adults for over 35 years. She helped develop the curriculum for Tunes for Twos, an enriching music class for two year olds. After extensive training in Japan, Teresa also helped pilot and train teachers across Canada for Music Wonderland for three year olds.
She has been a consultant for teacher training and development with Yamaha Music and, at present is an examiner for the Yamaha Grade Exams, an unparalleled and internationally recognized music exam system.
Teresa’s extensive knowledge on the physical and emotional development of young children has been invaluable in her teaching and goes hand-in-hand with Yamaha’s unique and age specific courses – developing a child’s full potential, not only in music but in other aspects of life!
Dan
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin
Dan has taught private guitar and group lessons for decades. He has participated and performed at international guitar festivals and is willing to share his skills that he has mastered with his students. He was formally taught by studio guitarists Gene Bertoncini, Martin Taylor and Frank Vignola, to name a few of his international teachers.
Over his career Dan has performed with various 18-piece big bands, quartets, trios, duos and as a soloist. In 2004, he released his solo recording, “I Remember You.” In the summer of 2013, Dan released his second solo CD, “GAFIA.”
Chelsea
Private Piano and Voice
Since the age of three, Chelsea has been gifted with the ability to learn songs by ear on the piano. At age six, she took piano lessons to further develop her musical skills. At age ten, she started writing her own songs and learning how to sing. Throughout her adolescence, Chelsea produced a couple of recordings – a self-titled EP and a full album titled “Yesterday’s Innocence” – and performed at local venues. In 2011, she graduated from the Jazz Music program at Mohawk College. She also achieved Grade 8 in RCM Piano.
For over ten years, Chelsea has been successfully teaching vocal and piano lessons to students ages five and up. She teaches many styles of music including pop, jazz, and classical. She also enjoys helping students to create their own songs through improvisation. She is an active member at her local church as well as one of its participating cantors and pianists.
Chelsea is passionate about sharing the joy of music with others and composing her own music.
Melissa
Yamaha Group Teacher
Melissa eagerly took on the position of piano teacher and Yamaha group teacher in September 2019. Prior to this position, Melissa taught piano (and vocals) for eight years to both kids and adults.
At a very young age she developed her love for music, started private lessons and annually completed grade exams through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Classically trained, Melissa has participated in many festivals and competitions. She continued her passion of music by attending Brock University and graduated with a bachelors degree majoring in music.
Melissa finds joy in teaching and plans on passing her love and passion for music to her students.
Pat
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass and Ukulele
Pat is a seasoned professional musician with over 35 years experience performing on stage.
As well as being a professional musician, he is also passionate about teaching! He loves to give his students the skills needed to play a variety of songs in different genres from folk, country and rock n roll to name a few.
Pat teaches acoustic or electric guitar, bass guitar, ukulele.
Sunny
Yamaha Group Teacher
Sunny is a piano major graduate from the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. She has taught students from beginners to advanced, having students participate in piano competitions as well as teaching students accompaniment for churches and choirs. Sunny loves teaching and seeing her students enjoying and progressing in their music studies. Sunny is also a group teacher for the world famous Yamaha Music Education System.
Paul S
Private Piano Teacher
Choosing teaching as a career over playing bass professionally in a rock band years ago, Paul has had many years of experience teaching children and adults in the G.T.A.
Moving to the Niagara Region about 20 years ago, he taught piano and keyboard as well as playing piano gospel and popular music in churches and family restaurants.
Paul has his B.A., M.-Div., and A.R.C.T (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto).
Scotty
Private Drum Teacher
Scotty Blake is a drummer and percussionist with over 20 years playing experience. He first hit the stage in high school and since, has toured across Canada, Japan, has played the Budweiser Stage in Toronto and has recorded on many different tracks in different bands and studios, accumulating hundreds of hours of recording experience.
Scott’s always had a soft spot for teaching drums as well. Starting in high school and continuing independently throughout the years, he’s found ways to relate to the students and teach the foundation of drumming through theory and notation.
“Once we know how to read the drum music, we can apply that and start playing basic beats that evolve into more complex beats and patterns, turning into full songs where we learn about song structure, drum fills & more.”
Drumming is a fun, thrilling musical journey that I would recommend to anyone. Scotty looks forward to rockin’ with you!
Carter
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin
Carter teaches guitar, bass, and ukulele. He was educated privately on guitar, but found a true love for the bass, and has also studied violin. Carter has played in many bands and performed many shows of varying genres.
Carter’s musical palate is very diverse, ranging from traditional music of varying cultures to the contemporary music of today. He is a well-mannered individual who is always willing to help and develop new skills in the world of guitar.
Sawyer
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin, Piano and Voice
From a young age Sawyer has devoted his life to music. Since the age of thirteen Sawyer has been regularly performing both solo and alongside a variety of bands in Canada and the USA. He studied jazz composition and guitar performance at Berklee College of Music and has since been teaching both group and private lessons to all ages. Though guitar is his primary instrument, he also offers lessons for piano, bass, drums, voice, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, and recording/production. He is a devoted teacher ready to help you get to the next level in your musical journey!
Nigel
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin
Nigel began teaching professionally during his second year of music studies at Lakehead University where he received his degree in music. Encouraging each student to be the best they can be, he bases his teaching style on such texts as ‘Teaching with the Child in Mind’ and ‘Teaching towards Musical Understanding.’
As a performer, he has played in various venues including the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.
His desire, as a teacher, is to teach all the ‘good music fundamentals’ within the context of his students’ musical interests.
Nigel says, “I absolutely love my teaching! It gives me a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction when I can aid students to be enthusiastic and gain a deeper understanding of music and guitar playing.”
Joy
Private Piano and Voice
Joy’s love of piano began at 12-years-old and led her to teach piano for over 15 years. She holds a combined Bachelor of Music and Visual Arts from Brock University, a Grade 10 Piano Certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music and a Visual Creative Arts diploma from Sheridan College. She has worked in the capacity of a music therapist for patients with brain injuries, as well as with seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s. She believes music heals and enriches lives.
Joy is also an artist and works as an illustrator and has worked on the Micromusicals with Christopher Norton, as well as with his company 80 Days Inc.
Esther
Private Violin
Esther was gifted with perfect pitch and started to learn piano at the age of 4 in South Korea. She deeply enjoyed playing piano and learning music theories and in 2014 she moved to Canada. Moving to a whole different environment could not stop her passion for music and led to her interest in violin lessons. Her knowledge about music from piano lessons helped a lot to fast track her violin lessons, and she was able to receive one-on-one masterclass-like lessons.
She loves to share her love and experience of music, which originated from abroad, and led her to continue to love and play instruments and sing in her free time.
Godwin
Private Piano and Violin
Godwin is a professional music teacher and musician with over 15 years of experience in music instruction, performance, theory and music history teaching. He teaches piano, voice, violin, bass guitar and flute, and has planned and taught curriculums for elementary and high school students, and organized a variety of school choir performances. He is an inspirational teacher of music with an excellent music knowledge and appreciation, a good sense of humour and a strong desire to provide his students with a world class music education. He is guaranteed to be able to stretch all of his students to their fullest potential.
Nanor
Yamaha Group Teacher
Nanor is a classically trained pianist and a graduate of P. Ganachian conservatory of music in Armenia. Music sharing has always been the central focus in her life. She has 15 years of experience teaching as a private piano instructor. Throughout the years she has performed in a band as the pianist and worked with many different talented musicians who have helped her to develop her music knowledge. She is excited to teach the world famous Yamaha Music Courses as it falls in line with her philosophy of sharing the passion and love she has for music to her students! Nanor strongly believes music empowers children to go out into the world with creativity and confidence.
Lewis
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin and Drums
Lewis has been playing guitar and drums for 17 years and has been teaching for 10 years. He has a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar and can play acoustic, electric and bass guitar, as well as ukulele, mandolin and drums.
Originally from St. Catharines, Lewis has played all over Canada with such bands as Blue Rodeo, Helix and Ronnie Hawkins. He also played guitar in the Port Colborne Operatic Society’s production of “Mamma Mia.”
Boet
Private Cello
Boet is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelors in Cello performance. He has also studied with David Evenchick in Suzuki Training and is certified to teach Suzuki Cello books 1-8.
Boet currently plays with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra. He is a passionate teacher and musician. He says, “Teaching brings me so much excitement and joy, and I love passing that joy of music to others.”
Fernando
Private Piano, Voice and Guitar
Fernando is a musician who studied at the Conservatory of the National University of Colombia in Bogotá. He has more than 18 years of experience as a music teacher, teaching curricula for elementary and secondary school students, as well as forming vocal and instrumental groups in different formats, focusing mainly on Latin music. He has taught singing, piano, guitar, drums, and Latin percussion. He has the ability to discover his students’ innate talent and develop it to levels that generate self-confidence and satisfaction.
Jean
Private Piano, Voice, Glee Club and Clarinet
Jean has a BA in Honours Music from McMaster University, and offers lessons including clarinet, piano, voice, and more. With a rich background in vocal and instrumental performance, her lessons encompass warm-ups, theory, and performance elements, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience. Fluent in English and Spanish, Jean provides a welcoming environment for students of all ages and abilities.
As a Clarinetist she has performed with the Mississauga Youth Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and McMaster Concert Band. Her vocal performance includes singing with the
McMaster University Choir, Women’s Choir, Boris Brott Festival Choir, Chorus Niagara, Musicata Ensemble, Port Nelson United Church, and St. Jude’s Anglican Church.
Matty
Private Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele and Bass
Matty is a seasoned guitarist and dedicated music instructor with over 30 years of playing experience. Born and raised in Australia, he moved to Canada nearly a decade ago. Comfortable across a range of styles including rock, blues, country, and pop, Matty has performed at venues from small clubs to large festivals and collaborated with musicians locally and internationally. As a teacher, he’s known for his patient, supportive approach and his ability to connect with students of all ages, inspiring them to grow in skill, confidence, and creativity.
Stephen
Private Piano and Voice
Stephen has loved music from a young age and holds an ARCT in Piano. He has a strong foundation in classical performance, having won multiple provincial competitions in Ontario, and studied at Western University, where he performed in the jazz band and explored ensemble and improvisational skills.
He has earned Gold Standard awards at MusicFest Canada with his jazz ensemble and enjoys teaching students of all ages in both piano and voice. Stephen has also helped produce music for other artists, and he guides students in performance, improvisation, and composition while fostering technical skill, musicality, and a genuine love for music, making lessons engaging and inspiring.