About Chris
Chris is a versatile music teacher offering online lessons in composition, drumset, and percussions for students aged 8 to adults. With a Bachelor's in Percussion and Composition, his teaching philosophy emphasizes the fundamental human connection to music, ensuring that technique and music-making go hand in hand. Chris excels in tailoring lessons to individual learning styles, whether through sheet music, customized lead sheets, or ear training, making him an ideal choice for students seeking a well-rounded musical education.
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS NOW
I believe music is a fundamental part of being human which means everyone can contribute. In over a decade of teaching I have always prided myself on an ability to teach fundamentals and technique while clearly applying them to the context of making music. I am always excited to teach drummers to play via sheet music, customized lead sheets or by ear alone. One of the greatest things about teaching music is that as long as there is a little bit of dedication and enthusiasm anyone can learn it. All of the fundamental building blocks of speaking, listening, and story telling are all the same skills we need to make music and I am excited to show you how!
Name: Chris (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: male
Hello there! I have over 20 years experience playing Drums and Percussion. After 4 years of High School Concert and Jazz band I attended the University of Ottawa for 4 years where I studied Percussion and Composition. My training there also included performing in Wind Ensemble, Choral ensemble, and contemporary music ensembles. I also formed and directed ensembles for my personal compositions both in class and out. During this time I began my career playing as a Drummer and Percussionist in Ska, Alternative Rock, and Jazz bands. I continued doing this for several years in the GTA and Halifax Region. I have also produced several of my own solo albums featuring me on percussion as well as synthesizers and guitars. I currently play in Funk band "Smelloship" and Ska-Jazz project "The Oscillators" and work on my own material in my home studio.
I have always been fascinated by percussion. I got my first drum set at 13 and took a few lessons as well as high school music. I was largely self taught until I went to The University of Ottawa in 2008 where I studied percussion as well as composition. I have taken this knowledge and recorded and played with dozens of bands on drums and percussion ever since.
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
Chris 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.