Place des Arts has an abundance of exceptional teachers on our music faculty who offer classes and private lessons for all ages during the day, after school, in the evening and on weekends, both online and in-person. Our welcoming facility boasts well-equipped studios and performance spaces that enhance learning and encourage music-making.

Offering Online Lessons on Tuesday and Wednesday and In-Person and Online lessons on Thursday

Jimmy is an extremely versatile modern guitarist who was born and raised in northern British Columbia. Although primarily self-taught, he moved to Vancouver in 2005 where he was offered a scholarship to study Contemporary Jazz Guitar at Vancouver Community College’s (VCC) School of Music. In June 2007, Jimmy was selected as valedictorian of his graduating diploma class.

In 2009, he earned a Bachelor of Applied Music Degree at VCC. While studying there, Jimmy received numerous scholarships and awards including the Dave Greenall Leadership Award, AJ Bay Memorial Scholarship and a National Millennium Excellence Award. He spent two years with the VCC Latin Jazz Ensemble and another two in the guitar chair of the VCC jazz fusion group Short Fuse.

As a member of Jarimba, Jimmy uses his wide range of influences to contribute to the exciting and eclectic sound of this Afro-funk/world fusion group that released their debut album in May 2008. Jimmy is also the Assistant Guitar Instructor at the Sarah MacLachlan Music Outreach and a private guitar/music theory teacher.

An experienced sideman, Jimmy has most recently been working with South African Munkie Ncapayi’s Nine and a Half Band, country singers Sandra Laratta and AJ Woodworth and Canadian jazz guitar great Stephen Fisk.

http://www.jimmybaldwin.ca/

Mr. I aspires to inspire children to learn music. Since 1981 he has been teaching his Musical Rainbow program at Place des Arts and various Montessori preschools. Along with teaching music, Mr. I performs captivating concerts for children and families. An award-winning songwriter, he has recorded 18 CDs of educational and entertaining music and has written music and songs for over 20 children’s musical theatre productions.

Mr. I knows how to engage children to be the best they can be.

Mr. I aspires to inspire children to learn music. Since 1981 he has been teaching his Musical Rainbow program at Place des Arts and various Montessori preschools. Along with teaching music, Mr. I performs captivating concerts for children and families. An award-winning songwriter, he has recorded 18 CDs of educational and entertaining music and has written music and songs for over 20 children’s musical theatre productions.

Mr. I knows how to engage children to be the best they can be.

Mr. I aspires to inspire children to learn music. Since 1981 he has been teaching his Musical Rainbow program at Place des Arts and various Montessori preschools. Along with teaching music, Mr. I performs captivating concerts for children and families. An award-winning songwriter, he has recorded 18 CDs of educational and entertaining music and has written music and songs for over 20 children’s musical theatre productions.

Mr. I knows how to engage children to be the best they can be.

Offering Online Lessons on Saturday

Marjory began piano lessons at the age of four with her mother Margaret Purdy. She later continued her studies with Robin Wood, Winifred Scott Wood and William Goldenberg.

Marjory’s education includes Performer’s and Teacher’s Diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Victoria Conservatory of Music; a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria; and a Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate from Northern Illinois University.

She also studied collaborative piano at the doctorate level with Martin Katz at the University of Michigan and participated in various summer programs and master classes in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Marjory has been teaching for over 20 years. She adjudicates music festivals throughout British Columbia and is an examiner for Conservatory Canada. As a clinician, Marjory presents master classes and workshops on various topics to teachers, students and the public.

Marjory loves teaching all levels from the very young beginner to the advanced piano student. She considers the benefits of music education immeasurable for a child’s emotional, social and intellectual development.

In her teaching, Marjory encourages and challenges students, in partnership with parents, to strive towards excellence within a kind and supportive environment. She believes all children have an artist within, and she aspires to guide students on their journey of learning and discovery.

Marjory’s students are recipients of numerous awards from local festivals, the Registered Music Teachers, and Conservatory Canada; but what Marjory values most is watching students master the things they thought were impossible, and the privilege of sharing time with children as they grow up.

Offering In-Person Lessons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

Aleksandra received her bachelor’s degree in cello performance from The Academy of Music in Poland. She has performed in various orchestras and chamber groups and has given numerous solo performances throughout Europe, South Africa and North America.

Now living in Vancouver, Aleksandra is an active freelance musician with many of the region’s orchestras and chamber groups. She was the principal cellist for the BC Chamber Orchestra, Burnaby Symphony Orchestra and New Westminster Symphony Orchestra. Currently she is a principal cellist for the Vancouver Camerata and Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra and is a founding member of the Classical String Quartet.

Aleksandra has had over 20 years of teaching experience. Many of her students have made great achievements in RCM exams (highest marks in the province) and have received gold and silver medals in various music competitions.

Offering In-Person and Online Lessons on Tuesday and Saturday

Born in Winnipeg, Canada, pianist Noel McRobbie first received national attention after receiving top prize at the Eckhardt-Grammatté Piano Competition. In addition, he has received prizes at the CBC Début Concert Artist Series, Grand Konzerteum International Piano Competition, Seiler International Piano Competition and the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.

Noel’s solo performances include the Steinway Series at the University of South Florida, the Vancouver Chopin Society, the Eastport Arts Centre in Maine, the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Seoul Arts Centre and the Asian Composers League at Sejong Chamber Hall.  As a concerto soloist, he has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Bulgarian Chamber Orchestra, the Jeonju Philharmonic Orchestra, the Westcoast Symphony, the University of Michigan Philharmonia, Dongduk Women’s University Symphony Orchestra and the New Westminster Symphony.  Recent performances include the Victoria Conservatory of Music Summer Piano Academy, the Turning Point Ensemble and the Canadian Music Centre Concert Series. In addition, Noel is currently performing and recording works by Juno Award-winning composer Michael Conway Baker. His performances have been broadcast on CBC radio, and he was featured in International Piano magazine and KBS television’s Classic Odyssey.

For many years, Noel was a student of Lee Kum-Sing at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia, where he received an Artist Diploma and Bachelor of Music respectively.  Other teachers include Arthur Greene, Patricia Zander, and Svetozar Ivanov.  He received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory.  Previously Noel was Assistant Professor of Piano at Dongduk Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea. Currently, he also teaches at the Vancouver Academy of Music, where he is on the college faculty.

Offering In-Person and Online Lessons on Monday and Friday

Krista Pederson is a pianist, singer and teacher in the Tri-Cities region. After being born and raised in Saskatchewan, Krista has enjoyed travelling to and living in many different places for study and adventure.  She studied piano performance with Jacques Després at the University of Alberta and completed a Master’s Degree in collaborative piano with John Hess at the University of Western Ontario.  She has also studied piano and voice in the U.S., Canada, Spain and Austria with dedicated musicians like Alexandra Munn, Christiane Riel, Margo Garrett, Patricia Caicedo and Norman Shetler.  She is pleased her career allows her to perform and share music with the people around her.  Her work includes collaborating with singers and instrumentalists, playing for ballet classes and choirs, teaching, performing and being a mother to her four children. She has performed, toured and recorded with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and more recently, she has joined the Vancouver Cantata Singers and is loving sharing extraordinary performances with those talented musicians.  In 2019, Krista joined the Coastal Sound Music Academy family as a pianist and this year she is thrilled to also be teaching and getting to know more artists at Place des Arts.

Offering In-Person and Online Lessons on Thursday

Rosie Carver is a member of the BC Registered Music Teachers Association (BCRMTA). She joined the association in 1997 after receiving her Associate for the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) diploma.

Rosie uses a positive approach to teaching and believes that with proper training and awareness, a student can venture into classical, fiddle, or whichever style they choose. Many of her students have achieved high marks for their examinations including silver medals in BC.

Rosie studied under the direction of Ona Cropper in Vancouver, BC. She began her affiliation with the Vancouver Corelli Strings (Ona’s string orchestra) at the age of 10. Rosie worked her way up the ranks to the position of concertmaster and has been featured as a soloist at many concerts throughout the years. Rosie was also a member of the Vancouver Junior Philharmonic String Orchestra under the direction of Douglas Stewart (Ona’s teacher).

Rosie has been a member of the Celtic group Blackthorn for 30 years. In that time, she recorded four albums with them which include a number of her own compositions. Rosie also performed and recorded with The Carpenter’s Son, Squid Jiggers, Sunshine and You, The Streels, The Halifax Wharf Rats and Triskellion.

Rosie has attended many fiddle workshops, some of her most memorable instructors were Kevin Burke, Liz Carroll, Gillian Boucher, Adam Sutherland, Martin Hayes, Alastair Fraser and Gordon Stobbe. Rosie plays in sessions regularly in Vancouver. She runs fiddle workshops, was a featured instructor at the Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop and The Moveable Music School and has recently launched a new music camp on Gambier Island called the Cat Nap Music Camp.

Offering In-Person and Online Lessons on Thursday

Rosie Carver is a member of the BC Registered Music Teachers Association (BCRMTA). She joined the association in 1997 after receiving her Associate for the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) diploma.

Rosie uses a positive approach to teaching and believes that with proper training and awareness, a student can venture into classical, fiddle, or whichever style they choose. Many of her students have achieved high marks for their examinations including silver medals in BC.

Rosie studied under the direction of Ona Cropper in Vancouver, BC. She began her affiliation with the Vancouver Corelli Strings (Ona’s string orchestra) at the age of 10. Rosie worked her way up the ranks to the position of concertmaster and has been featured as a soloist at many concerts throughout the years. Rosie was also a member of the Vancouver Junior Philharmonic String Orchestra under the direction of Douglas Stewart (Ona’s teacher).

Rosie has been a member of the Celtic group Blackthorn for 30 years. In that time, she recorded four albums with them which include a number of her own compositions. Rosie also performed and recorded with The Carpenter’s Son, Squid Jiggers, Sunshine and You, The Streels, The Halifax Wharf Rats and Triskellion.

Rosie has attended many fiddle workshops, some of her most memorable instructors were Kevin Burke, Liz Carroll, Gillian Boucher, Adam Sutherland, Martin Hayes, Alastair Fraser and Gordon Stobbe. Rosie plays in sessions regularly in Vancouver. She runs fiddle workshops, was a featured instructor at the Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop and The Moveable Music School and has recently launched a new music camp on Gambier Island called the Cat Nap Music Camp.

Jammy Smith began her music studies in Hong Kong. She is a very active member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and she is a registered Royal Conservatory of Music piano teacher with over twenty years of experience teaching private lessons and group music classes to students of all ages and levels.

Jammy received her Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance, and an Associate Diploma in Piano Teaching from the London College of Music and Media (UK) under the tutelage of Joseph Bayer and Sharon West. She continued her piano studies with Alice Enns, and Jazz lessons with Peter Friesen. She practiced Alexander Technique with Marta Hunter.

Jammy loves being creative, and applying games in her teachings, to develop children’s musicality, creativity, and most importantly instill a life-long love of music. Jammy’s students have consistently received the first place awards and high honours for outstanding performances in music festivals, and the first class honours with distinction in RCM examinations. Her students frequently appear in the Celebration of Excellence Recital, a recital for those who got over 90 in their piano examination. Understanding the significance of early music education, she studied different programs and methods for young children such as Kelly Kirby Method for Beginners from Eleanor Harkness, Music for Young Children from Wendy Guimont, and the Music Pups Program. She is particularly interested in teaching young children. For many years, she has taught these programs at her own studio in North Burnaby and applied those methods in the music classes at preschools and daycares where she has taught for over ten years.

Apart from teaching, Jammy appears as a principal pianist at St. Helen’s Church in North Burnaby, and was a piano accompanist for Suzuki violin class at Douglas College. She has performed as an accompanist and a soloist on numerous occasions in Vancouver, and has held master classes at local music schools and piano studios. She is an active committee member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association (BCRMTA) Vancouver Branch and was a member of BCRMTA Provincial Council. In the last fifteen years, she held different executive positions for the branch including a position of co-president, and membership chair. Actively involved in local music festivals, she was a co-chair and an honour recital coordinator of Student Performers Guild Festival, and an executive member of Burnaby Clef Society. She was a chair of the 2016 BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Conference in Vancouver. It was a well received conference consisted of BC Piano Competition, piano and violin masterclasses and various kind of workshops.

Jammy Smith began her music studies in Hong Kong. She is a very active member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and she is a registered Royal Conservatory of Music piano teacher with over twenty years of experience teaching private lessons and group music classes to students of all ages and levels.

Jammy received her Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance, and an Associate Diploma in Piano Teaching from the London College of Music and Media (UK) under the tutelage of Joseph Bayer and Sharon West. She continued her piano studies with Alice Enns, and Jazz lessons with Peter Friesen. She practiced Alexander Technique with Marta Hunter.

Jammy loves being creative, and applying games in her teachings, to develop children’s musicality, creativity, and most importantly instill a life-long love of music. Jammy’s students have consistently received the first place awards and high honours for outstanding performances in music festivals, and the first class honours with distinction in RCM examinations. Her students frequently appear in the Celebration of Excellence Recital, a recital for those who got over 90 in their piano examination. Understanding the significance of early music education, she studied different programs and methods for young children such as Kelly Kirby Method for Beginners from Eleanor Harkness, Music for Young Children from Wendy Guimont, and the Music Pups Program. She is particularly interested in teaching young children. For many years, she has taught these programs at her own studio in North Burnaby and applied those methods in the music classes at preschools and daycares where she has taught for over ten years.

Apart from teaching, Jammy appears as a principal pianist at St. Helen’s Church in North Burnaby, and was a piano accompanist for Suzuki violin class at Douglas College. She has performed as an accompanist and a soloist on numerous occasions in Vancouver, and has held master classes at local music schools and piano studios. She is an active committee member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association (BCRMTA) Vancouver Branch and was a member of BCRMTA Provincial Council. In the last fifteen years, she held different executive positions for the branch including a position of co-president, and membership chair. Actively involved in local music festivals, she was a co-chair and an honour recital coordinator of Student Performers Guild Festival, and an executive member of Burnaby Clef Society. She was a chair of the 2016 BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Conference in Vancouver. It was a well received conference consisted of BC Piano Competition, piano and violin masterclasses and various kind of workshops.

Offering In-Person Lessons on Sunday and Monday

Jason has a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Victoria where he grew up playing in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and a variety of Jazz, Blues, Rock, Punk and Ska bands.

Since finishing his degree and moving to Vancouver in 1996, he has played, recorded, and toured internationally with many groups of note. He is the musical director for Uzume Taiko, a drum set soloist with OLAM and percussion section leader for the Band of the Fifteenth Field Regiment RCA.

Jason has a great deal of experience playing for musical theatre productions. These include Cabaret, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oklahoma, The Wiz, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver Twist, Urinetown and several award winning independent productions.

Jason has also played drum set and percussion in a multitude of west coast funk, rock, blues, punk, and ska bands, notably DOA, the Hounds of Buskerville, The Colorifics, The Harpoons and the Juno award winning bluesman Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne.

Jason has studied with some of the world’s great masters, and has taught drum set, hand drums, percussion and taiko to people of all ages locally, nationally, and internationally.

Jason’s other love is martial arts, and he has his Sandan (third degree black belt) in Shotokan Karate-do and travels regularly to Japan with his Sensei to study Budo.

Miss Becky has an ARCT in Piano Performance, Certificate of Teaching (Music) from The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, U.K. in 2008. From 2007-2019 she was the head teacher of a music program at Tom Lee Music Academy in Hong Kong. She was also one of the program planners and song writers responsible for new teachers’ training for the related program. From August 2002- March 2007, she served as a private piano teacher and course instructor at Salina Cheng Music Academy. She also taught group lessons for early beginners, in a program named “Music for Little Mozarts”. Besides teaching at the academy, Miss Becky taught group courses at Simon Fraser University Day Care Units. During those years, she had instructed over 40 piano students.

Miss Becky has more than 20 years experience in early childhood music education. She has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She has good command in spoken and written English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

One of her piano students just awarded the Bronze medal in Grade 4 Piano at Steinway Piano Competition 2021.

Her teaching philosophy is to provide the flexibility of teaching. Every student is a unique individual so better listen to what they want and what they like. And hoping every student will bring a smile to her music class.

Miss Becky has an ARCT in Piano Performance, Certificate of Teaching (Music) from The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, U.K. in 2008. From 2007-2019 she was the head teacher of a music program at Tom Lee Music Academy in Hong Kong. She was also one of the program planners and song writers responsible for new teachers’ training for the related program. From August 2002- March 2007, she served as a private piano teacher and course instructor at Salina Cheng Music Academy. She also taught group lessons for early beginners, in a program named “Music for Little Mozarts”. Besides teaching at the academy, Miss Becky taught group courses at Simon Fraser University Day Care Units. During those years, she had instructed over 40 piano students.

Miss Becky has more than 20 years experience in early childhood music education. She has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She has good command in spoken and written English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

One of her piano students just awarded the Bronze medal in Grade 4 Piano at Steinway Piano Competition 2021.

Her teaching philosophy is to provide the flexibility of teaching. Every student is a unique individual so better listen to what they want and what they like. And hoping every student will bring a smile to her music class.

Miss Becky has an ARCT in Piano Performance, Certificate of Teaching (Music) from The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, U.K. in 2008. From 2007-2019 she was the head teacher of a music program at Tom Lee Music Academy in Hong Kong. She was also one of the program planners and song writers responsible for new teachers’ training for the related program. From August 2002- March 2007, she served as a private piano teacher and course instructor at Salina Cheng Music Academy. She also taught group lessons for early beginners, in a program named “Music for Little Mozarts”. Besides teaching at the academy, Miss Becky taught group courses at Simon Fraser University Day Care Units. During those years, she had instructed over 40 piano students.

Miss Becky has more than 20 years experience in early childhood music education. She has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She has good command in spoken and written English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

One of her piano students just awarded the Bronze medal in Grade 4 Piano at Steinway Piano Competition 2021.

Her teaching philosophy is to provide the flexibility of teaching. Every student is a unique individual so better listen to what they want and what they like. And hoping every student will bring a smile to her music class.

Mr. Sheldon is an accomplished musician with a rich baritone singing voice. He plays recorder, guitar and ukulele, but his specialty is the banjo. The children love to hear Mr. Sheldon strum and pick happy songs on the banjo. He has been teaching the Musical Rainbow program since 2010 at many preschools and elementary schools throughout the lower mainland and has a wonderful rapport with young children. He has a lighthearted approach with his students to ensure that they are having a fun time in class while learning their musical concepts.

Mr. Sheldon is an accomplished musician with a rich baritone singing voice. He plays recorder, guitar and ukulele, but his specialty is the banjo. The children love to hear Mr. Sheldon strum and pick happy songs on the banjo. He has been teaching the Musical Rainbow program since 2010 at many preschools and elementary schools throughout the lower mainland and has a wonderful rapport with young children. He has a lighthearted approach with his students to ensure that they are having a fun time in class while learning their musical concepts.

Mr. I aspires to inspire children to learn music. Since 1981 he has been teaching his Musical Rainbow program at Place des Arts and various Montessori preschools. Along with teaching music, Mr. I performs captivating concerts for children and families. An award-winning songwriter, he has recorded 18 CDs of educational and entertaining music and has written music and songs for over 20 children’s musical theatre productions.

Mr. I knows how to engage children to be the best they can be.

Mr. Sheldon is an accomplished musician with a rich baritone singing voice. He plays recorder, guitar and ukulele, but his specialty is the banjo. The children love to hear Mr. Sheldon strum and pick happy songs on the banjo. He has been teaching the Musical Rainbow program since 2010 at many preschools and elementary schools throughout the lower mainland and has a wonderful rapport with young children. He has a lighthearted approach with his students to ensure that they are having a fun time in class while learning their musical concepts.

Affectionately known as Miss. Beans, Sabina was once the student of Mr.I’s when she was a child. A multi-instrumentalist, Sabina plays guitar, ukulele, piano, and has a vibrant singing voice. She loves to bring surprises to class each week for her students and currently teaches at several daycares and preschools in the Pitt Meadows and Port Coquitlam areas.

Svitlana Moved to Canada in 1994 from Kiev, Ukraine. She has a Bachelor of Education in Music, majoring in Choral and Piano from Kiev Pedagogical University. She has extensive training in Piano and Choral based on the Orff and Kodaly methods and is also trained in the Music for Young Children program. In 1997, Svitlana obtained a Permanent Teacher Certificate and has been teaching music in elementary schools in Winnipeg and Northern Manitoba, teaching the Royal Conservatory of Music piano program and performing in recreation centres, nursing homes and in folk festivals.

Since 2010, Svitlana has lived in Coquitlam, BC and takes an active part in community culture events as a volunteer and professional musician. She is teaching music in Daycare centres and the City of Burnaby recreation centres, and gives private piano lessons. Svitlana believes that music education is vital in early childhood and all children should have chance to express their feelings through arts, music and movement. She teaches music in a way that each child feels special and encouraged.

Britney began her musical journey singing in various concert and vocal jazz choirs. She continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree in performing arts and an associates degree in musical theatre. Britney now introduces musical instruments to her students and teaches basic music theory through song and movement. Britney has been teaching The Musical Rainbow program for three years at several preschools and day cares. She is very excited to share her knowledge with her students at Place des Arts!

Gabrielle was raised within the unceded territories of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation). She thanks the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm who continue to live on these lands and care for them, along with the waters and all that is above and below.

Gabrielle graduated with her Bachelors of Music Therapy from Capilano University in September 2021. Prior to her graduation, Gabrielle did her pre-professional practicum within the Delta School District. Gabrielle found a love for working with both neurodiverse and neurotypical children and youth. Since the start of the pandemic, Gabrielle has gained experience in providing music therapy via online Telehealth sessions as well as in-person sessions.

Gabrielle’s main instrument of choice is the baritone ukulele. However, from a young age, Gabrielle has always had a keen interest in music. She started learning the piano when she was 6 years old.

Gabrielle’s music therapy practice combines humanistic, non-directive and client-led approaches. Sessions are dictated by the needs and desires of Gabrielle’s clients. Music therapy can include a variety of different instrument exploration, including percussive instruments, xylophones and many others. There is no right or wrong in Gabrielle’s music therapy sessions!

In her spare time, Gabrielle can be found spending time with her daughter and partner, playing board games and writing her own music!

Gabrielle was raised within the unceded territories of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation). She thanks the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm who continue to live on these lands and care for them, along with the waters and all that is above and below.

Gabrielle graduated with her Bachelors of Music Therapy from Capilano University in September 2021. Prior to her graduation, Gabrielle did her pre-professional practicum within the Delta School District. Gabrielle found a love for working with both neurodiverse and neurotypical children and youth. Since the start of the pandemic, Gabrielle has gained experience in providing music therapy via online Telehealth sessions as well as in-person sessions.

Gabrielle’s main instrument of choice is the baritone ukulele. However, from a young age, Gabrielle has always had a keen interest in music. She started learning the piano when she was 6 years old.

Gabrielle’s music therapy practice combines humanistic, non-directive and client-led approaches. Sessions are dictated by the needs and desires of Gabrielle’s clients. Music therapy can include a variety of different instrument exploration, including percussive instruments, xylophones and many others. There is no right or wrong in Gabrielle’s music therapy sessions!

In her spare time, Gabrielle can be found spending time with her daughter and partner, playing board games and writing her own music!

Jammy Smith began her music studies in Hong Kong. She is a very active member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and she is a registered Royal Conservatory of Music piano teacher with over twenty years of experience teaching private lessons and group music classes to students of all ages and levels.

Jammy received her Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance, and an Associate Diploma in Piano Teaching from the London College of Music and Media (UK) under the tutelage of Joseph Bayer and Sharon West. She continued her piano studies with Alice Enns, and Jazz lessons with Peter Friesen. She practiced Alexander Technique with Marta Hunter.

Jammy loves being creative, and applying games in her teachings, to develop children’s musicality, creativity, and most importantly instill a life-long love of music. Jammy’s students have consistently received the first place awards and high honours for outstanding performances in music festivals, and the first class honours with distinction in RCM examinations. Her students frequently appear in the Celebration of Excellence Recital, a recital for those who got over 90 in their piano examination. Understanding the significance of early music education, she studied different programs and methods for young children such as Kelly Kirby Method for Beginners from Eleanor Harkness, Music for Young Children from Wendy Guimont, and the Music Pups Program. She is particularly interested in teaching young children. For many years, she has taught these programs at her own studio in North Burnaby and applied those methods in the music classes at preschools and daycares where she has taught for over ten years.

Apart from teaching, Jammy appears as a principal pianist at St. Helen’s Church in North Burnaby, and was a piano accompanist for Suzuki violin class at Douglas College. She has performed as an accompanist and a soloist on numerous occasions in Vancouver, and has held master classes at local music schools and piano studios. She is an active committee member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association (BCRMTA) Vancouver Branch and was a member of BCRMTA Provincial Council. In the last fifteen years, she held different executive positions for the branch including a position of co-president, and membership chair. Actively involved in local music festivals, she was a co-chair and an honour recital coordinator of Student Performers Guild Festival, and an executive member of Burnaby Clef Society. She was a chair of the 2016 BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Conference in Vancouver. It was a well received conference consisted of BC Piano Competition, piano and violin masterclasses and various kind of workshops.

Micaela is a certified music therapist (MTA) and vocalist who is passionate about promoting music as a lifelong companion for well-being. She believes that every individual is capable of learning more about themselves and growing when in an accessible and supportive environment. Micaela grew up living in both Canada and Italy; she sees both of these places as her home. She was privileged to have grown up in a family that encouraged creativity and self-development through music and has been training as a vocalist since childhood. Growing up, she was heavily involved in music-based extracurriculars, playing trumpet in both concert and jazz band as well as singing in the choir and vocal jazz. Realizing the therapeutic value of music in her own life is what led Micaela to pursue and complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy at Capilano University, which included a 1000-hour practicum at BC Children’s Hospital. She also has a diploma in Classical Music, which informs her foundation for music education and performance. She is an active member of the Music Therapy Association of BC (MTABC) and looks forward to pursuing continued education throughout her life.

Micaela has worked for 11 years with children and youth in a variety of professional roles. Some of these roles include private music instruction, accessibility support work, group music exploration, private tutoring and childcare. In these diverse positions, her style of working with children has continually emphasized creativity and expression. Micaela believes that play is a foundational part of one’s health and incorporates this philosophy into the work she does. She currently operates a small private practice, InTandem Music Therapy, that specializes in supporting and empowering neurodiverse children, youth and adults through a non-pathological, strengths-based approach. In her free time, she enjoys working with local indie musicians on creative projects, advocating for disability rights, doing portrait photography and starting (and usually finishing) DIY projects. She is pleased to be a part of the Place des Arts community and strives to positively contribute to the community in the work she does.

Micaela lives, works, and breathes on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples and feels grateful to be on this territory.

Offering In-Person and Online Lessons on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

Meredith Bates is a multiple award-winning violinist based in Vancouver, BC where she has been performing professionally since 2004.

Meredith is a founding member of the celebrated ensembles Pugs and Crows (JUNO Award winner 2013, JUNO Award nominee 2016, Galaxie Rising Star Award winner 2010, Polaris Prize nominee 2016, Western Canadian Music Award winner 2016), Gentle Party (Polaris Prize nominee 2017), ElkHorn, Gran Casa, Tony Wilson’s Burn Down the Cornfield and Looking Back, Peggy Lee’s Echo Painting and Ford Pier’s Strength of Materials.

She has collaborated extensively with some of Canada’s most innovative musicians, including C.R. Avery, Laila Biali, Ayelet Gottlieb, Chris Gestrin, Joshua and Jesse Zubot, Annie Lou, Matt Mayes, David Ward, The Fugitives, Mark Berube, Rodney Decroo and Buck 65, and has performed alongside such varied musicians as Evan Parker and Rod Stewart.

Meredith has toured internationally with Pugs and Crows, Peggy Lee’s Film in Music, Crowman, Annie Lou and Dyad and has recorded on over 100 albums to date. Meredith was an artist in residence at the Western Front in Vancouver from September 2019 -March 2020, and attended residencies at The Banff Centre for the Arts in Banff, Alberta, and Flykingen in Stockholm, Sweden, in January and February 2020, respectively.

Currently, Meredith is finishing production of an immersive multimedia concert at The Western Front with guests Lief Hall, on vocals, synthesizer and running the octophonic sound system, and Josema Zamorano, on live improvised video and photographic installation. Over the next few months, she will be collaborating remotely with Seattle-based pianist, Wayne Horvitz, on an EP of solos and duos, one of which will be a premiere recording of her recent Western Front/SOCAN Foundation composition commission for processed violin and piano, If Not Now. Meredith is scheduled to perform at the 2021 JazzAhead conference in Bremen, representing Canada with Joshua Zubot’s String Quintet, and at the 2021 Katowice Jazz Festival in Poland. She will also be giving multiple performances, both collaborative and solo, as a guest artist at the Suoni per il Popolo festival in Montréal for three weeks in June of 2021.

She continues to be an in-demand session musician, performer and teacher, known for her elegant and virtuosic sound. A talented improvisor and collaborator at heart, she relishes any opportunity to join forces with other like-minded artists.

http://www.meredithbates.com/

Britney began her musical journey singing in various concert and vocal jazz choirs. She continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree in performing arts and an associates degree in musical theatre. Britney now introduces musical instruments to her students and teaches basic music theory through song and movement. Britney has been teaching The Musical Rainbow program for three years at several preschools and day cares. She is very excited to share her knowledge with her students at Place des Arts!

Britney began her musical journey singing in various concert and vocal jazz choirs. She continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree in performing arts and an associates degree in musical theatre. Britney now introduces musical instruments to her students and teaches basic music theory through song and movement. Britney has been teaching The Musical Rainbow program for three years at several preschools and day cares. She is very excited to share her knowledge with her students at Place des Arts!

Charlene is a long-time music educator with over 42 years of work experience and has a passion for teaching music to people of all ages.

Sharing her love of music with her students moved Charlene to teach MYC. For 21 years she has been devoted to teaching the MYC program because of its amazing holistic blend of fun and learning.

Her varied and extensive work experience and specialized training (particularly her degree in Music Therapy) have greatly enhanced her teaching techniques.

While growing up in a small rural community in the heart of Alberta, Charlene’s life was enriched with piano, voice, guitar, drum, recorder and ukulele lessons. At a young age, she passionately participated in numerous music festivals, talent shows, Christmas pageants, choral groups (female choirs, high school madrigals, mixed choruses) and musical productions.

As an adult, Charlene taught in schools and institutional settings throughout Alberta and British Columbia.  She has had experience with community musical theatre production groups, community choirs and jazz ensembles, and has been the accompanist for several local churches. While operating her full-time music studio, she was also the choir director for the Beacon Unitarian Church (2013-2017).

Education

In her teens, Charlene completed her Royal Conservatory of Music voice (Grade 10, 1977) and piano (Grade 9, 1987) and, during the past 30 years, she has enhanced her music education with various specialty courses and studies at several colleges and universities.

• Rural Small Business Management (Olds College, 1992)
• Early Childhood Development Certificate (Keyano College, 1995)
• Music Certificate (Keyano College, 1997)
• Music for Young Children Certification (MYCC, 1999)
• Bachelor of Music Therapy (Capilano College, 2004)
• Music Certificate in Conducting (Capilano University, 2015)

Charlene is a long-time music educator with over 42 years of work experience and has a passion for teaching music to people of all ages.

Sharing her love of music with her students moved Charlene to teach MYC. For 21 years she has been devoted to teaching the MYC program because of its amazing holistic blend of fun and learning.

Her varied and extensive work experience and specialized training (particularly her degree in Music Therapy) have greatly enhanced her teaching techniques.

While growing up in a small rural community in the heart of Alberta, Charlene’s life was enriched with piano, voice, guitar, drum, recorder and ukulele lessons. At a young age, she passionately participated in numerous music festivals, talent shows, Christmas pageants, choral groups (female choirs, high school madrigals, mixed choruses) and musical productions.

As an adult, Charlene taught in schools and institutional settings throughout Alberta and British Columbia.  She has had experience with community musical theatre production groups, community choirs and jazz ensembles, and has been the accompanist for several local churches. While operating her full-time music studio, she was also the choir director for the Beacon Unitarian Church (2013-2017).

Education

In her teens, Charlene completed her Royal Conservatory of Music voice (Grade 10, 1977) and piano (Grade 9, 1987) and, during the past 30 years, she has enhanced her music education with various specialty courses and studies at several colleges and universities.

• Rural Small Business Management (Olds College, 1992)
• Early Childhood Development Certificate (Keyano College, 1995)
• Music Certificate (Keyano College, 1997)
• Music for Young Children Certification (MYCC, 1999)
• Bachelor of Music Therapy (Capilano College, 2004)
• Music Certificate in Conducting (Capilano University, 2015)

Mr. I aspires to inspire children to learn music. Since 1981 he has been teaching his Musical Rainbow program at Place des Arts and various Montessori preschools. Along with teaching music, Mr. I performs captivating concerts for children and families. An award-winning songwriter, he has recorded 18 CDs of educational and entertaining music and has written music and songs for over 20 children’s musical theatre productions.

Mr. I knows how to engage children to be the best they can be.