About Margaret
Margaret offers lessons in classical guitar, electric guitar, guitar, piano, and ukulele for students aged 4 to adults. With a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary, she also provides composition, counterpoint, harmony, music history, and advanced music theory lessons. Margaret's lessons are available online and at her studio in Calgary.
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH MARGARET NOW
Everything starts with a goal. We can shift course if changes occur or if you want to switch paths. But it all starts with initiating the first step. Success and achievements are earned through the accumulation of many small steps forward. It is incredibly fulfilling and exciting to watch how your daily efforts, though small at first, turn into exponential growth. Music is no different. After assessing your needs and creating a plan to see them through, we will begin to introduce music into your life. It is incredibly rewarding to start playing your favourite songs —and even create some of your own!
Name: Margaret (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: female
My interest in the arts was present ever since I was a little girl. My music journey began at a private studio where I studied for 10 years. I was lucky to have had a university graduate as my teacher as she fully introduced me to the music scene. This allowed me to be immersed in a vast, demanding, but fulfilling world. Eager to explore further, I applied to and graduated from U of C with a bachelor of music. My education was pivotal in honing my craft, but also providing me with the opportunity to study abroad in Manhattan, NYC, as well as perform in multiple countries around the world, including Europe. Alongside performing I have also composed numerous suites for the stage. Each was well received and provided further opportunity for inspiration and growth. Through this accumulated knowledge and experience, I look forward to introducing you to your music adventure!
Competed in and achieved numerous Kiwanis Music Festival awards as part of an ensemble. Competed in and achieved awards as a solo performer in the Music Festival hosted by the Classical Guitar Society and MRU.
I began music by learning short folk tunes. My favourite rock songs were still out of reach, but after I jumped on the RCM route I made leaps and bounds forward. It allowed me to foster a greater appreciation and understanding of music. The commitment to artistry and high level of understanding eventually allowed me to play anything I wanted. It also introduced the role of history in music. My awareness grew as I saw the importance history has on a piece and how time periods affect the portrayal of it. The attack, articulation, and overall effect are all different depending on whether you play in the baroque period vs romantic vs neo-classical, etc. My aim henceforth has been to always stay true to the representation of someone’s work. In many ways it is like reading a written piece and evoking the right mood, style, and form. This is why technique is so important: it achieves clean lines, smooth movements, full range of expression, but above all it avoids injury. It is just as important to enjoy a piece and display it well as it is to do so pain-free. I was lucky to have studied under various masters of my instruments including Berta Rojas, Will Kanengeiser, Lana Henchell, Ana Vidovic, and many more established and talented musicians. This training, alongside my education, helped me achieve my goals. I am thankful to have carried their knowledge and expertise forward.
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
Margaret 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.
Margaret's Studio Location
Margaret offers lessons from her studio. Please note that map locations are based on the postal code of the teachers studio. address will be released to you if needed.