Welcome to my piano studio!

Music study is both a gift and a vast realm of exploration. Music lifts our souls, builds self esteem and is a creative and expressive outlet.  My piano is the heart of my home and I feel blessed to be able to share my passion for music with my students.

As a teacher, I strive to teach students according their style of learning and personality type, as well as according to their personal goals, interests and musical background. I offer a comprehensive program for piano study at all levels, including theory, sight reading, ear training and technique.

The great pianist Clara Schumann said: “Art is a beautiful gift. What is more beautiful than to clothe one’s feelings in sounds, what a comfort in sad hours, what a pleasure, what a wonderful feeling, to provide an hour of happiness to others. And what a sublime feeling to pursue art so that one gives one’s life for it.”

The art of creating music IS a beautiful gift! From the very first lesson, I try to find something that students can take away and play on their own. As students progress, I favor a very hands on approach to learning and as much as possible like to play duets with students, sing along, tap rhythms and laugh too! I strive to make each lesson fun and inspire students to go home with clear and effective methods of practicing.

Most importantly, my job is to support the students in their goals. Each student has unique strengths, interests and talents. My role as a teacher is to devise a balanced program of study for every student that I am privileged to teach. With respect to individual tastes and preference, students will learn a variety of repertoire from different eras that will build musical awareness, sensitive listening, touch control and technical facility.

Whether students would like to play piano for enjoyment, or whether they would like to take a more studious approach and pursue exams, I will support students to explore the vast terrain of music at all levels. Aiming to provide students with the best possible musical education, I will plan a strategy for achieving the desired results with a combination of personalized long-term and short-term goals to ensure each student’s success.

Ludwig van Beethoven said, “Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into it’s secrets”. For me, music is mysterious and transcendent, yet is a deep and profound aspect of human expression. It allows us to say things and feel things that our words cannot convey.

( Performing at Boyanna Toyich’s Performance Outreach Master Class Year end Rccital, Walter Hall, University of Toronto)

I have been blessed with teachers who in five generations can be connected to Beethoven himself! My most significant teacher who I studied with in my teens was Marion Grudeff (1927-1996). She studied with Artur Schnabel (1882-1951), who studied with Theodore Leschetizky (1830-1915), who studied with Carl Czerny (1791-1857), who studied with Beethoven (1770-1827)! This is just to express that I do not take the role of teacher lightly. I have a profound gratitude and respect for the history and development of western music and the legacy of the gift that has been passed through the generations to us.

May what I offer plant seeds for a lifetime of musical exploration.