“Maurice is a highly experienced and versatile music teacher and performer, specializing in electric bass, electric guitar, guitar, ear training, jazz improvisation, music appreciation, music history, and both beginner and advanced music theory. With over 25 years of teaching experience in Toronto and Jamaica, Maurice brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his lessons. He believes in teaching the essential fundamentals of technique, theory, and ear training while also fostering students' awareness of their musical capabilities and bringing joy and fun to the learning process. Maurice has performed and recorded with various international acts and local artists, and he continues to share his passion for music through teaching and performing. Book an interview with Maurice now to start your musical journey!”
- Maurice
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH MAURICE NOW
I am a highly motivated, enthusiastic and a life -long learner of music and education. I am a versatile teacher and performer that enjoys many styles including jazz, blues, folk music and rock, reggae and rhythm and blues. I spend a lot of time learning and practice as I research music to grow my knowledge and skills. I can motivate and teach students any style they are interested in and as an educator believe that teaching the essential fundamentals of technique, theory and ear training, listening and guiding students in practice are very important when teaching. I try to awaken students awareness of their musical capabilities and foster it as well as bring some joy and fun to the learning process for and with students. I have over 25 plus years experience as a teacher in Toronto and Jamaica where I retired early as the head of the Guitar and Bass Department of the School of Music at the Edna Manley College for about 22 years. I have 3 CDs to my credit and has recorded and toured with international acts such as Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Mutabaruka and local artists such Liberty Silver, Kingsley Ettienne, and more along with various ensembles he has put together over the years. He can be seen and heard on YouTube. I am currently performing as the bass player for Jay Douglas and Shakura S’Aida as well as leading my own group Pimento and others playing at the Jazz Bistro.
Name: Maurice (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 60's
Gender: male
I have an honours BA in music from York University, along with private study with various Canadian teachers including James Taylor(canadian guitarist), Bobby Edwards, Frank Falco, John McLaughlin (saxophonist), Barry Harris Workshops and others. I also took piano lessons with Margareth Gibbs. The guitar is my primary instrument and bass guitar my second along with some piano and singing in my group Pimento and Mojamm. I had returned to Jamaica to teach for over 2 decades where I was the Head of Department for guitar and bass and improvisation. I was the primary teacher for a lot of Jamaica's current crop of younger musicians who are touring and recording with local and international artists. I lectured in guitar, bass, jazz improvisation, Black Music History and Jazz Theory. I have been teaching music since I was in my teens starting with my cousin as my first guitar student. During high school I played guitar and was the songwriter for a group called Phase 1V as well as worked with numerous other local bands doing reggae, rock, jazz and R n B. I also taught community music programs for the Toronto Board of Education and Dixon Hall Regent Park Community Music programs. I have worked with a lot of local artists like Michael Dunston, Joe Sealey, Salome Bey, Lazo Finn and international artists like Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander and numerous other Jamaican artists. I have also toured Europe, Japan Australia and North America and the Caribbean many times including on cruise ships too. Currently I have been playing with my group Pimento at the Jazz Bistro and various places on bass with Jay Douglas and the All Stars at the Lula Lounge recently.
I received awards plaques in Jamaica from the Musician Association and Industry for my performance and CD's. As well my greatest gifts have been in the form of 3 gifted guitars. One from my guitar hero George Benson, another from my student admirer from the Bob Marley Band Julian Marvin and another from a former student here in Toronto.
I try to teach with culture awareness in mind that I try to find some music that is from their background that could help them to be aware of their roots. I have learned a lot from hanging and being gifted by y guitar hero George Benson other students that have gifted me with things including guitars for me "believing in them". I am dedicated to fostering the talent of the students and if I can I also contribute to their well being in mind, body and spirit too as they grow in and through music
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
Maurice 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.
Maurice's Studio Location
Maurice offers lessons from his studio. Please note that map locations are based on the postal code of the teachers studio. address will be released to you if needed.