Katharine - BAH Teacher #3307

Name: Katharine (Full name will be provided upon registration)

Age: 60's

Gender: female

I have an honours Bachelor of Music (Education) degree from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Education degree (Junior/Intermediate Vocal and Instrumental Band, Special Education) from the University of Toronto. I took private piano lessons from age 8 to 12 and flute from the age of 14 to age 23. I studied classical flute with Helen Onishi (The Niagara Symphony) and Paula Elliot (former principal flautist for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra). I have performance experience in small ensembles, orchestras, bands (concert, military, rock and pit band for musical theatre productions), and in choirs (McMaster University Choir and church).

During high school, I was awarded a bursary from the Hamilton Musicians Guild for post secondary training as a flautist. I was asked to compose and perform a piece at my Grade 12 graduation ceremony. It inspired me to pursue a university degree in music. During my 2nd year at McMaster, I was seconded and mentored to teach music at Hillfield Strathallan College. I was also selected to be the alto sectional rehearsal leader for the McMaster University choir and the premiere performance of “Genisus” by composer, Dr. Sasha Weinstangel. Many of my vocal and instrumental music students have achieved individual and ensemble gold and silver medal standings in Kiwanis Music Festivals, Musicfest Canada Regionals and performed their winning composition for the CTV Canada 125 national broadcast , sang our national anthem at a Blue Jays game, and recorded background vocals in a music studio. My Mittimataluk Children’s Chorus performed in both English and Inuktitut for the Peter Zowski Celebrity Golf Tournament on Baffin Island.

At the age of 3, I began ‘tinkling the ivories’ while my mother played piano and sang. I remember playing while mother sewed and fitted costumes for the so many theatre productions, dance studios and parades. I grew up watching my father conduct and play his trumpet, baritone, and saxophone....thus began my life long love of music! A lot of my early informal training in music was at home and as a member of a church choir and regular soloist. During high school, I took private classical flute lessons at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts and achieved RCM, Grade 10 flute. In university, I received training in the Kodaly method, choral conducting and performance, with private lessons on the flute and teacher training and 1st year lessons on the strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion and vocal music. I composed the songs and performed as a singer/dancer for the annual University of Toronto teacher’s musical that was performed over 2 days for students from across the city. Towards the end of my career, I taught an arts style program at the Grade 6/7/8 level. My class was filled with students immersed in art projects, set building, rehearsals on their instruments and trying out their compositions, practicing vocal parts for upcoming performances, and figuring out a dance routine...it was an amazing, inspiring experience!

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).