About Challena
Challena is a highly skilled and versatile music teacher offering lessons in a wide range of instruments, including clarinet, electric bass, flute, guitar, piano, piccolo, recorder, saxophone, and ukulele. With a teaching philosophy centered around nurturing students' inner music and building confidence, Challena creates engaging and personalized lessons tailored to each student's strengths and preferences. With extensive experience as a multi-instrumental teacher, she has coached students for auditions, exams, and performances, helping them succeed in various musical endeavors. Challena also brings a wealth of experience working with students with diverse learning needs, believing in possibilities rather than limitations. Whether teaching online, in her studio, or in students' homes, Challena is dedicated to making music education enjoyable, exciting, and accessible for all.
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH CHALLENA NOW
Music resides within every individual, and my role as a teacher is to help them connect with, nurture, and express their inner music. I believe in focusing on each student's strengths to build confidence and cultivate a lifelong passion for music. My approach is tailored to each student, incorporating measurable weekly goals that align with their needs and preferences. I blend standard repertoire with student-selected pieces to keep lessons engaging. In my teaching philosophy, teacher and student collaborate as a team, and my success as a teacher is reflected in students who continue to enjoy music throughout their lives, regardless of their chosen career paths. Lessons should be enjoyable and exciting, even when tackling challenging material. Music is a journey, and I consider it a privilege to accompany my students on this musical adventure, wherever it may lead.
Name: Challena (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: female
I am an experienced multi-instrumental teacher currently working at Level 10 RCM with the goal of obtaining an ARCT. I have also completed all my theory up to and including Harmony and History Level 1. I have had several music teachers whose primary background was performance, currently I am studying with two teachers - one who has a performance degree, and the other is a well known local Voice teacher who is involved in several community music ventures and competitions. I have several years of church worship band experience doing mainly piano, but also filling in on other instruments as needed, and I have prior classical ensemble experience with a smaller community orchestra back in my hometown.
Top Teacher 2016 - Steinway Piano Gallery
I have spent 12 years as a music teacher and educator and have a legacy of former students studying and working in various fields who still return to their instrument regularly. I have coached auditions for University students, successfully submitted dozens of candidates to exam programs at advanced levels, and accompanied for exams, festivals, and events. I am a skilled arranger and transcriber of music with several of my works published and for sale, along with original compositions for various instruments. I have also been a DJ and occasional karaoke host for several years which has helped me make strides in dealing with performance anxiety and given me working knowledge of sound gear and apparatus which enables me to have some very epic recitals. Stage presence and learning how to perform, not just play music, are skills I have also gained through the entertainment industry. I also have extensive experience with children who have Autism (verbal and non-verbal), Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory/procession disorders, Dyslexia/dysgraphia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and other non neuro-typical classifications. I believe in possibilities not disabilities, and that the music knows no limitations.
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).
Lessons in your home
Challena is available to teach in your home if you are located in the following areas
Online lessons
Challena 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.
Challena's Studio Location
Challena offers lessons from her studio. Please note that map locations are based on the postal code of the teachers studio. address will be released to you if needed.