About Karen
Karen is a versatile flute teacher with a Master’s degree in performance and pedagogy. Fluent in English and Spanish, she offers flute lessons and instruction in music theory, ear training, harmony, solfege, and Suzuki method. With experience in orchestral ensembles and a strong foundation in Latin American music, Karen provides both online and in-home lessons in Ottawa. She is skilled in cross-disciplinary approaches, ensuring that each student reaches their full musical potential.
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One of my life goals is to mentor musical, sensitive, and harmonious individuals in their interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, as well as a facilitator of dreams and aspirations. I believe that education is not just about formation; it also means providing the plans and tools to collaboratively build a path toward fulfillment, happiness, and success. My objective as an educator is to cultivate the idea that everyone can develop musical skills and acquire knowledge through cross-disciplinary exploration. This involves identifying strengths and weaknesses to enrich and enhance existing skills while strengthening those yet to be developed. These aspects will be approached with a loving, fun, didactic, and personalized pedagogy to achieve meaningful learning and maximize potential. The Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Freire once said, “Heads think where feet step,” meaning that education cannot be conceived without context. Therefore, I believe each student’s reality and context are different and unique. The learning process occurs in each student’s brain differently, and it is my job to assess how students learn best, considering their realities, to provide them with the right tools to reach their potential and embrace it as they face the real world in the future. We are all unique, wonderful beings with a great capacity to learn. As a Suzuki teacher, I firmly believe that everyone can succeed. Suzuki stated, “You are rarely too young and never too old to start.” Talent is not innate; it develops if the child is provided with the right environment and stimulation, accompanied by patience, consistency, and confidence. Parents are also welcome! Their involvement in the musical education of children and young people significantly enriches the process, providing invaluable support on their musical journey. The environment nurtures growth, so understanding, sharing, supporting, and contributing to their children's learning both inside and outside the home will enhance the experience. This means motivating, encouraging, and helping at every step and challenge. In my class, you will be free to learn with a rich repertoire based on your tastes and motivations while always considering the necessary technical aspects. You have everything you need to make music; I will be the guide to make your journey faster and more enjoyable.
Name: Karen (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 25
Gender: female
I am a musician, researcher, and Suzuki teacher with a master's degree in performance and pedagogy. I have extensive experience in orchestral ensembles and music education across all age groups. I began my career in my native Colombia, where I graduated as a professional flutist and researcher in instrumental pedagogy. My expertise includes a deep knowledge of Latin American music. Most recently, I completed my master's degree in performance and pedagogy at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
• Knowledge and handling of teaching methods such as Suzuki, Willems, Dalcroze and Kodaly. • Music production skills: pre-production, production and recording studio. • Score editing software such as Finale, Musescore and Sibelius. • Audio editing software such as Pro tool and Reaper. • Knowledge planning and developing educational programs for music and flute. • Experience teaching flute from one-on-one lessons to groups of 20 people across all ages. • Ability to conduct small ensembles such as chamber music formats. • Knowledge in arranging music for chamber music groups.
English
Spanish
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
Karen is available to teach in your home if you are located in the following areas
Online lessons
Karen 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.