Ruben | Teacher #3129
About Ruben
Ruben is a multi-talented musician with a wealth of experience in piano, trumpet, composition, and various other musical domains. His philosophy emphasizes creating a positive and relaxed learning environment, guiding students through their musical journey at a pace that suits them best. With a diverse background in jazz, blues, rock, alternative, and more, Ruben brings a unique perspective to his teaching. Whether you're interested in mastering an instrument, delving into music theory, or exploring composition, Ruben's passion for music and teaching shines through in every lesson.
Piano Trumpet Ear Training Music History Harmony Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate) Solfege Music Appreciation Dictation Composition RCM Orff Music Theory (Advanced) Jazz Improvation RCM - Counterpoint RCM - History RCM - Advanced Harmony RCM - Intermediate Harmony RCM - Basic Harmony RCM - Advanced Rudiments RCM - Intermediate Rudiments RCM - Basic Rudiments
Online Lessons
Classical Jazz Country Pop Rock Rock and Roll Heavy Metal Folk Blues Broadway Musicals Celtic Christian Gospel Hip Hop Progressive Rock Reggae Rhythm and Blues Ska Flamenco Funk Irish Fiddle Rap Bluegrass Punk Baroque
English
Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy of teaching is to make a positive, relaxed but involved experience. Progression at a pace that won’t overwhelm a student while simultaneously providing the guidance needed for each step through this progression. I believe no one is incapable of acquiring the ability to play any instrument at any level. It's a matter of personal commitment, proper direction, practice practice, some more practice and often overlooked, a love of playing. I believe passionately that success in one's musical journey can be assured by that love's presence or doomed from its absence. Therefore, I want any experience with me and their instrument to be as enjoyable as possible to keep them coming back! I'm sure there's a next to an incalculable number of potential brilliant young musicians that had their musical dream cut short due to a single, negative experience. As a musician, I find that to be tragic. I wasn't exempt from these, less-than-desirable moments during my musical education by any means. The belief I have in the power of music, and its importance in my life in all facets, my foremost intention is to not be one of those bad experiences.
Musical Education
My musical education began formally in 7th grade at Middleton Regional High School in Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia. However, I couldn’t remember a point in my early years, I wasn't around an instrument, in some capacity. I'm a lifelong Mississippi delta blues aficionado, once I joined my school's jazz band, my path for the foreseeable future became all too clear.. and loud. My musical influences are so widely varied it’d be difficult to put in a concise way. Whether creative inspiration from outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston, or rocking out to the criminally underrated god-fathers of punk, The Velvet Underground or listening in total disbelief, to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker performing Be Bop. The most challenging subgenre of jazz ever conceived... If it's sound, utilizing (but not limited to or even required to have) rhythm, harmony or melody, I’m instinctually drawn toward its call. I started teaching piano at 16 and joined my first couple of bands around this time. These bands were of widely contrasting styles, which would become a consistent theme throughout my professional years. I was a member of the jazz combo, 'Easily Distracted' a grouping of high-school kids from all over Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia led by Acadia Universities' big and jazz band profs. Almost all band members would go on to have considerable success working in music for the years to come. I attended both jazz and concert band camp every summer, during high school, hosted at Acadia University. I was able to take part in trumpet clinics from a former member of Tower of Power’s trumpet section as well as a 3-week workshop with composer, and Pulitzer winner; Micheal Colgrass. I wrapped up high school with honours and a 99% average in music for my senior year. Receiving the, 'most promising young musician award’ by my school. Up until graduation, I would be hired to perform annually for The Annapolis Valley Legion, playing trumpet at their Remembrance Day ceremonies. In 2010, I attended Acadia University auditioning successfully with trumpet as my primary instrument and piano as a secondary, studying music therapy. I auditioned and joined Acadia University's 'Big Band’ soon after. I continued studying for three years, taking part in various local and private bands with styles including; jazz, blues, rock, alternative, heavy metal, gypsy polka and folk punk. I began studying advanced theory, and composition seriously by this point, developing a propensity for the prolific song. Combining that aforementioned blossoming specialization in improvisation that I’d been cultivating, to date I’ve written/composed or contributed to hundreds, if not thousands of original works of music. Including several film credits for film scoring projects I took part in some independent documentaries during a short stay in Ottawa in 2017. My musical attributions can be found on many albums, released under just as many genres, and band names all over the country. After 3 years I moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta and began teaching piano and trumpet privately. Within a few years, I was able to land a position as the full-time house pianist for a fine dining Italian restaurant, 'La Cosa Nostra’ later known as, ‘Asti’. Around this time, I also became the Organist for the Oil Barons hockey team and joined an up-and-coming, alternative metal band, ‘Olorin'. Within weeks of Olorin's formation, we opened a show for one of my own, long-time favourite bands, Protest The Hero. Immediately followed by the start of about a year’s work for our debut album, ‘Fringe’, while performing shows in Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Calgary as often as possible. My creative itch never entirely being scratched, I founded an experimental, spoken word group, 'All Imaginary'. We would later be awarded, 'Best In New Media' for the YMM Buffies Arts Awards in 2019. In 2018, I started teaching piano at Holy Trinity High School through their after-school program; Uptown Music & Dance. In 2019 I had an amazing opportunity to run my own music therapy-styled class with 30 non-verbal autistic students at Dr. Karl A. Clarks Elementary School, bringing my total of students at one point to around 60-70. During this period I became a full-time performing musician with a number of bands but mainly the Fort McMurray local group, 'Surface Below’. I still perform with Surface Below regularly, to this day. Unfortunately in 2020, the COVID outbreak led to all lessons being suspended. I took a year of all the unanticipated free time to create a concept album, consisting of 5 e.p's, totalling 25 tracks altogether entitled, 'The Canonical 5'. At the end of 2020 into 2021, I started preparation for and eventually auditioned, on piano this time, for Berklee College Of Music in Boston. I was planning on enrolling in their film scoring program. The Berklee audition was successful, unfortunately, with the financial hits that accompanied the pandemic, my attendance had to be put on hold for the time being. This year I completed my 7th solo album with the near completion of my 8th, while working on the completion of another debut album with yet another band I recently joined in 2021.
Awards and Distinctions
Most Promising Young Musician, Middleton Regional High School Best in New Media, YMM Buffys Arts Awards , 2019
Special Skills and Trainings
As a songwriter and practitioner of musical improvisation, heavily consist of paying my required “musical dues”. To list a small fraction of some of the required skills to improvise with consistent success: scales, arpeggios, keys (changes, relatives etc), transposition, chart-reading, fake-books, microtonality/post-harmony, song structure, rhythm, embouchure work/dexterity, counterpoint, rudiments, ear-training, progressions etc. If this work is being done correctly, it should last a lifetime. I play a multitude of instruments, the majority of which were self-taught. They include; guitar, trumpet(and subsequent variations), bass, piano, organ, harmonica, jaw harp, snare drum, mandolin, banjo, strum stick, violin, omnichord and recently been studying the world of modular synthesizers, constructing my first private rig last year. I can’t think of a medium of art and art creation that I don’t have experience with in varying degrees. Mainly creative writing and visual media/design are at the forefront of my creative endeavours. Recently I’ve been experimenting with the abundance of A.I. Text to image generators that have been released for use by the general public, manipulating the outcome into a fusion of art by an artificial intelligence and art by someone who some would argue, is artificially intelligent. Jokes aside, if what I’m describing sounds strange, you’re correct in that assumption.
Lessons on an online platform
Ruben 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.Reviews
Associate Teacher Lesson Rates:
Ruben is a Beethoven at Home Associate Teacher
- 30 minutes: $39
- 45 minutes: $49
- 60 minutes: $59
Home visit fee: $15 minimum fee. Teachers may negotiate a higher travel fee if the travel distance is longer than they are comfortable with. Most arrangements use the minimum fee.
One-Time Family Registration: $25. This covers your entire family for life - once you're in, everyone can take lessons!
Our Promise to You
Getting Started Together
We don't offer free trials, but we do something better - a relaxed 2-lesson getting-to-know-you period. You can pause anytime with just 24 hours notice. After your third lesson, we ask for a friendly 2-lesson heads up if you need to stop.
Life Happens - We Get It
Give us 24 hours notice for any cancellation or reschedule and you'll receive full credit. Planning a family vacation or summer break? Perfect - just let us know a day ahead and we'll pause your lessons.
When You're Under the Weather
If illness strikes with short notice (less than 24 hours), you'll still be charged since your teacher has reserved that time. However, most teachers are happy to offer makeup lessons when possible - they have the final say, especially if last-minute cancellations become a pattern.
Stopping Lessons
Need to take a break? We just ask for a 2-lesson notice:
Weekly lessons = 2 weeks notice
Every other week = 3 weeks notice
Twice weekly = 1 week notice
Summer breaks are different - no notice period needed when you return in the fall!
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