About James
James, a dedicated music educator, offers online lessons in a variety of instruments and subjects including bass clarinet, saxophone, trombone, voice, composition, and music theory. With a Bachelor of Music and Education from the University of Ottawa, where he trained under Kymball Sykes of the NAC orchestra, James brings rich experience to his teaching. His musical journey began in a household steeped in music, studying piano, clarinet, and saxophone while singing in choirs and participating in various ensembles. He founded an a cappella choir and led it as a singer, composer, and arranger. James' extensive involvement in concert bands, choirs, and small ensembles, coupled with his 15 years of high school music teaching, ensures a comprehensive and enriching learning experience for his students. Book an interview now.
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH JAMES NOW
I am deeply passionate about music education and strongly feel that it should be an integral part of everyone's life. I see the value it has on people's lives and believe in its healing powers. Music has the potential to connect communities and bring change to so many. Having worked with a wide range of students and age groups, I see the positive effects first hand. The mental, physical and social wellbeing of the student is enhanced exponentially when performing and creating, and I am honoured to help provide a space where this can take place.
Name: James (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 40's
Gender: male
I have a degree in Music Education (BMus and BEd) from the University of Ottawa. It was at this school where I was trained by Kymball Sykes of the NAC orchestra in Ottawa. Before my time here, I attended York University for two years with Patricia Waite. Music has been a big part of my life as I grew up in a musical household. Growing up I sang in choir, and studied piano, clarinet and saxophone. While in University, I was a member of various concert bands, choirs and small ensembles covering all sorts of musical genres. During this time I also founded an a cappella choir for which I was also the leader, singer and composer/arranger. Currently I have been teaching high school music for 15 years. My jazz band and senior concert band have received numerous awards at the regional, national and international level. Most recently our senior band was awarded a gold at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational which took place at Carnegie Hall in New York. In the past, as a private teacher, I have instructed piano, clarinet, trombone, trumpet and theory lessons. Many of my students have advanced to University to study music, including to the University of Toronto, Western and Laurier.
I grew up watching my mother teach Music For Young Children in our house. I really enjoyed listening to the development of the students week to week. From an early age I knew I wanted to teach music. While in high school I led the school choir, taught private lessons and led the local cadet marching band. When in University I involved myself in everything that I could. I joined a renaissance ensemble, formed an a cappella choir and spent a few years assisting with the recording of various singers and ensembles. Most recently, in addition to teaching high school music I spent several years conducting the local community band, taught private lessons and have spent time working on my own personal recordings and compositions.
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
James 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.