About Sara
Sara offers online lessons in various instruments and music-related subjects. She holds a Master's degree in Music Therapy and has extensive experience teaching piano and theory to students of all ages. She is also skilled in playing guitar, clarinet, Balinese gamelan, Japanese Taiko drums, and singing. Sara's teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of open communication and personalized instruction to ensure a fulfilling musical experience for her students. Book an interview now!
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH SARA NOW
"Put all your soul into it, play how you feel!" - (Frédéric Chopin) Self-expression and playing from the heart are paramount. Music is a personal journey for every individual and should be a source of joy. My aim is to nurture the joy of music in each student and support them in achieving their goals, whether that involves taking music exams or simply playing for enjoyment. I believe in recognizing and utilizing each student's strengths to help them progress in their musical journey. My lessons are warm, welcoming, and centered around open communication between student and teacher. With my extensive music background and education, I provide a knowledgeable foundation for music learning.
Name: Sara (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: female
With a Master's degree in Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Calgary. I have also achieved my Performer's ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music. My main focus is piano, but I am versatile and skilled in playing guitar, clarinet, Balinese gamelan, Japanese Taiko drums, and singing. For over 20 years, I've been passionately teaching piano and theory to students of various ages, ranging from 4 to 75 years old. I find immense joy in sharing the magic of music with others, and I take pride in nurturing long-lasting connections with my students as they progress on their musical journey. My teaching approach is tailored to each individual, catering to their unique interests and strengths, ensuring that they find delight and fulfillment in their musical experience.
I am proud to have received the Gold Medal for my Academic Achievement during my Master's degree in Music Therapy. Additionally, I take great joy in celebrating the successes of my students, as many of them have achieved outstanding results in their piano and theory examinations, earning First Class Honours and First Class Honours with Distinction. It is immensely rewarding to witness their growth and accomplishments in music, and I am dedicated to continuing to foster a supportive and inspiring learning environment for all my students.
In addition to my role as a music teacher, I am also a certified music therapist, which allows me to provide music therapy sessions and adapted music lessons. I have experience working with diverse groups, including children with autism, seniors with dementia, and individuals with developmental disorders and visual impairment. If you are interested in exploring adapted music lessons or music therapy sessions, please feel free to reach out to me. I am passionate about using music as a powerful tool for healing and growth, and I would be honored to support you or your loved ones on this musical journey.
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
Sara 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.