“Simplicity in explanation is a sign of true understanding. Teaching is about finding balance.”
- Coleton
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH COLETON NOW
Simplicity is at the core of my teaching philosophy. I believe in presenting new information to students in an easy-to-understand manner, rather than overwhelming them with unnecessary complexity. As Einstein wisely said, if you can't explain something simply, you may not truly understand it yourself. In teaching, I aim for balance. My lessons are both enjoyable and informative, and the pieces I select challenge the students without overwhelming them. The piano can be intimidating for newcomers, and I often encounter questions about wrist action, finger placement, and posture. My response is simple: do what feels most comfortable for you. Focusing too much on specific techniques can lead to tension and mistakes. The key to piano playing is finding comfort and not stressing over every detail. Improvement comes naturally with consistent practice. I emphasize the importance of regular practice to enhance one's skills on the instrument. Marathon practice sessions lasting for hours may only lead to frustration and a desire to quit. It's far more effective to practice regularly in reasonable increments. The journey to mastery is gradual and rewarding.
Name: Coleton (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 26
Gender: male
I've been studying piano since I was fourteen. My teacher was skilled in various genres, and my lessons were enjoyable yet challenging. Currently, I'm working towards my ARCT Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, the highest level of piano performance diploma they offer. I'm really loving this journey!
I had the amazing opportunity to compose a piano concerto and perform as the soloist during its premiere. It was an unforgettable experience that I'll always cherish.
Music is my true passion, and it goes beyond teaching. I'm an experienced composer with a wide range of compositions under my belt, including piano concertos, symphonies, serenades, string quartets, and more. I've also created solo piano pieces like sonatas, rondos, and themes with variations. One of my most cherished memories from high school was writing a piano concerto for my concert band. I had the privilege of premiering it as the soloist, and it remains the most rewarding experience of my life. If any student shows an interest in music composition, I believe I would be an extraordinary asset. I possess extensive knowledge in various aspects of writing, such as melody, harmony, structure, style, and genre. In addition to composing, I have an extensive repertoire of classical pieces. Mozart holds a special place in my heart, and I take great pride in being able to play all of his sonatas for piano.
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
Coleton is available to teach in your home if you are located in the following areas
Online lessons
Coleton 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.