About Brendon
Brendon's teaching philosophy emphasizes the profound impact of music education on students' lives and the wider community. With over two decades of experience, Brendon offers comprehensive instruction in various instruments including classical guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, and xylophone, along with advanced music theory topics. He believes in supporting students along their unique musical paths, whether they aim to pursue music as a lifelong passion or professionally in the industry. Brendon's adaptable and compassionate teaching approach ensures that each student feels empowered and supported in their musical journey.
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Teaching music is a profound experience that sets off a ripple effect, leaving a positive impact not only on the students' lives but also within the community. As a music teacher, I play a vital role in guiding my students, helping them discover their true musical path. Some students may choose to be "musicians for life," embracing music as a lifelong passion and creative outlet. Others may pursue being "musicians for profit," exploring opportunities in the music industry professionally. Understanding the differences and possibilities in these paths, I support each student in their individual aspirations. For those who wish to learn a few popular songs, I cater to their preferences, making their musical journey enjoyable and fulfilling. On the other hand, for students dedicated to composing and producing their own album or embarking on a tour, I provide the necessary tools and guidance to achieve their dreams. Throughout my teaching career, I've had the privilege of assisting tens of thousands of students, and each one holds a unique story and musical vision. Witnessing their growth and progress brings immense joy and fulfillment to my heart. As a music teacher, I am committed to empowering my students, helping them realize their full potential and nurturing their love for music, regardless of their chosen path. Together, we celebrate the beauty and diversity of music, creating a harmonious impact that extends far beyond the classroom and enriches the community as a whole.
Name: Brendon (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: male
For over two decades, I have immersed myself in the world of music, honing my skills as a guitarist, drummer, and bassist. My teaching journey began 18 years ago when a wonderful opportunity arose - I was entrusted with the chance to teach my former teacher's students from a local music school after he had to step away for personal reasons. From that moment, my passion for teaching music ignited, and I've been dedicated to sharing my knowledge and love for music ever since. Throughout my teaching career, I've had the privilege of working with diverse students, including those with disabilities, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience. My commitment to teaching led me to collaborate with several music schools, design curriculums for the Vancouver School Board, and receive a Grant from the Province of Alberta to coordinate a musical event for the community. Additionally, I've been actively involved in the musical community, holding a board position with the Parkland Music Teachers Association, where I've contributed to fostering a vibrant music-learning environment. To date, I have taught over 15,000 lessons, and each interaction with my students has been filled with warmth, encouragement, and a genuine desire to help them discover their musical potential. As a teacher, my greatest joy comes from witnessing my students grow and flourish in their musical journeys, knowing that I have played a small part in nurturing their passion for music.
Alberta Culture Days - $5000 grant awarded by the Province of Alberta for a musical event entitled "Behind the Music" in 2014.
As a music teacher, I offer comprehensive instruction in a wide array of instruments, including Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Mandolin, Xylophone, and beginner to advanced theory. In my theoretical teaching, I cover an extensive range of topics to enrich my students' musical knowledge. These include various scales such as Major, minor, pentatonic, blues, chromatic, and harmonic minor, totaling a database of 180 scales. I delve into chord studies, exploring open chords, power chords, barre chords, inversions, suspended, dominant, diminished, ADD chords, augmented chords, and more. Additionally, I introduce students to Modes like Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixo-Lydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. My teachings extend to key signature theory, sharp and flat alphabets, and time signature theory. Covering fundamental topics is essential for building a strong musical foundation. I guide students on proper posture, sharpening their ear through ear training, and honing their rhythmic skills with clapping exercises. Additionally, I familiarize them with reading and writing music notes and guitar TAB, equipping them with the tools to learn other songs and explore the art of composition. Techniques such as fingerpicking and the beauty of classical music and sight reading are also part of my curriculum. As a teacher, I possess effective communication skills and ample patience, enabling me to convey the philosophy of music to diverse students, including those under 18 years and children with disabilities like ADHD and Autism. My teaching approach is adaptable and compassionate, ensuring that each student feels supported and empowered to embrace the world of music with enthusiasm and joy.
English
Rates and Studio Policies
Registration Fee: $25.00 (One-time lifetime registration fee may be used by all family members)
Rates for instruction:
30 minute private lesson: $39.00
45 minute private lesson: $49.00
60 minute private lesson: $59.00
Travel charge: additional $15.00 per visit (for lessons in a client's home as opposed to my studio)
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).
Online lessons
Brendon can provide online instruction. While other platforms are possible BAH strongly recommends the use of the Zoom video conferencing platform as it is optimized for music lessons and audio quality.