Teresa
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!
Carlina
Carlina has enjoyed teaching music in private and group settings for almost 10 years. She earned the associate diploma in piano Pedagogy with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She believes that playing music enhances cognitive function and boosts emotional health and well-being. When she is not teaching, Carlina enjoys spending time in nature, reading a good book, or improving and composing at the piano.
Chelsea
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.
Dan
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.”
Karina
Karina is a voice/piano teacher with over 15 years of professional teaching experience. She discovered her love of music while watching Raffi videos as a young child and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. Just two years later, she started studying voice and found her love of singing as well. From that point on, she joined every ensemble and tried every instrument she could fit into her schedule. By the time she was 10 years old, she was already acting as a student leader for her church choir and music school, and her love of teaching was unlocked. She is a music graduate from Wilfred Laurier University.
Melissa
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.
Paul M
Paul has been playing guitar and bass for many years as well as playing in bands. He has taught students of all ages with success. He likes all styles of music especially Rock, Blues, R&B and Funk.
Teaching is very rewarding and he is looking forward to being a part of Niagara School of Music.
Paul is also a painter who specializes in abstract paintings.
Paul S
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).
Sunny
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 progessing in their music studies. Sunny is also a group teacher for the world famous Yamaha Music Education System.
Carter
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.
Scotty
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!
Amanda
Amanda is a third year university student currently studying teaching! She loves art, technology, music, and watching students grow! Her favourite thing to play is ukulele, and she’s been playing guitar for 13 years.
Join Amanda for private or group ukulele and guitar lessons where you will gain a better understanding of the music basics. No experience necessary!
Aaron
Aaron has been teaching choir related vocals for both young children and adults in the Niagara region since 2018. He enjoys teaching voice and piano and relates well to both children and adults! Aaron is well versed in many styles of music including the Royal Conservatory of Music program.
Nigel
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
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.
Emmanuvel
Emmanuvel is a skilled violinist with 13 years of experience and is known for his emotive performance, often seen at Indian functions. Not only a performer, Emmanuvel is also a dedicated teacher, having taught at a school for violin in India. His journey is one of passion, dedication, and a profound love for the violin, leaving a lasting impact on both his students and audiences alike.
Angela
Angela is a pianist and has been playing piano for nine years. She completed her studies in the Royal Conservatory of Music and Canada Conservatory. She is currently working towards her associate certificate in Canada Conservatory. Along with teaching, Angela regularly attends piano festivals and competitions in Ontario. Angela is a very passionate and dedicated teacher and hopes to bring the joy of music to everyone.
Esther
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.
Gordy
Gordy’s musical career began at the tender age of three when he started playing piano. At 14, he started his own singing group, “The Enchanted Ensemble,” which evolved into the current “N-Zanity MPC” (Musical Production Company). In 2015, he was summoned to start a new choir, “The Greater Good.” The two groups have sung together and even collaborated in a performance featuring Gordy’s own compositions.
Since 1995, Gordy has been composing his own music and producing musical performances at churches where he was employed. These two-hour finished productions featured choreography, costumes, piano and vocal solos, and duets, and other musical instruments including marimba, guitar, drums, flute, violin, and organ. Fundraising efforts from these shows raised around $2,000 per year for the hosting churches.
Gordy’s dedication, hard work and motivation inspires everyone around him.
Nanor
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.