MY STORY
My music education started at the age of 3 in a Music for Young Children class, and I have been on that journey for nearly 3 decades since then! I started taking private lessons in piano and in my teens worked to complete my Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 piano exam. During that time I also studied flute, clarinet, and voice and was fortunate enough to have access to jazz and concert band, vocal jazz and choir in my high school.
In 2010 I started my degree at the University of Victoria in the Bachelor of Music Education program. This was a combined degree of private lessons, ensembles, performances, as well as music education courses focusing on pedagogy, musicianship, and preparing lessons. During this degree I was fortunate to study with many esteemed professors and developed a well-rounded concept of musicianship.
When I graduated with my B. Mus I ended up working as a Classroom Assistant overseas for a year, which I continued doing for 5 years afterwards in Victoria. I have worked in a classroom with students of varying ages, diverse learning needs and personalities, providing support with everything from academics to social-emotional learning. Many of these students I teach piano to today!
Throughout my own music journey, I have continued to teach piano lessons. It has been a constant source of joy and wonder for me, discovering the best ways to teach and how to provide enjoyable lessons that engage my students no matter their age, level or learning style. Teaching music has been what I look forward to each day for the last 15 years!
What does this experience mean for me as a teacher?
I have experience in many different musical settings, playing in different groups and styles, which means I have a broad perspective of the music community and what musicianship means. It also means that I am able to offer my students education in classical piano, jazz, pop, theory and composition and have greater flexibility to follow what my students enjoy learning about music.
How does a Music Education degree influence my teaching?
With my education degree from UVic, I have learned how to structure lessons, how to scaffold concepts for different learning styles, how to plan individual learning journeys for each of my students, and the importance of using hands-on materials, games, and variety to improve retention and enjoyment. I use lesson books as a base and go above-and-beyond that.
