“A positive learning environment is the best way to keep my students inspired and motivated to learn. ”
- Sonia
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH SONIA NOW
My approach to teaching emphasizes a positive atmosphere, musicality, technique and ease of playing. My past teaching experiences have shown me that a positive learning environment is the best way to keep my students inspired and motivated to learn. I believe that working on technique is important, and that developing musicality and creativity early on is equally valuable. From my own teachers I have adopted a physically relaxed way of playing to avoid injury and have even more freedom in music making. My studies in Alexander Technique contribute to this mindset and are a great teaching tool.
Name: Sonia (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 26
Gender: female
I recently earned my Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Ottawa. I grew up in Berlin, Germany and music was always part of my life from an early age. My main instrument is violin, but I received classical instruction in piano and voice as well. I am greatly inspired by the rich musical culture in Berlin, which influences my own music making and teaching. My main teachers include Yehonatan Berick, and I will begin my Master of Music at McGill University this fall studying with Axel Strauss.
Through violin performances and my dedication to my studies I received several awards: 2017: Rose Bowl Competition Halifax (1st prize), Early Music Society of Nova Scotia Award, HLMC Ida Pascal Memorial Award for Violin Sonata, Fountain School of Performing Arts Summer Program Award 2015: National School Orchestra Award
English
German
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).
Lessons in your home
Sonia is available to teach in your home if you are located in the following areas
Online lessons
Sonia 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.