Our Oakville Music Teachers
Abu: Vocal and Piano Lesson Instructor
Abu is an R&B/Soul, funk, and jazz singer from Guelph, Ontario. He is an ambitious and goal-oriented pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. His musical journey began when his parents bought him his first guitar when he was seven years old. Ever since then Abu has learned to play a variety of instruments and a variety of different musical genres including varying traditional, contemporary, and classical music. Though Abu has learned to play different styles, his main artistic influences include the likes of Jill Scott, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder.
Throughout high school Abu played the saxophone and was involved with many ensembles including: Symphonic Winds, Stage Band, Concert Band, Dixie Band, and Chamber Choir. He had also performed at silver and gold standards at many festivals including The Golden Horse Shoe Festival, Humber Next Generation Jazz Festival, and MusicFest. Furthermore, Abu has been apart of many community music programs such as: Guelph Glee run by Joni NehRita, Guelph Youth Jazz Ensemble run by Brent Rowan, and The Uptown Waterloo Jazz Choir.
Abu currently studies at Humber College in their Bachelor of Music Program. He has studied with many renowned Toronto teachers including Elaine Overholt, Orville Heyn, and Shannon Gunn.
Abu continues to pursue his career as an artist and performer and hopes that he is able to help his future students at Addison to peruse their musical dreams as well. Abu has taught at JamSchool in Guelph and House of Chords in Milton and is intending on using his goal oriented approach to help his students at Addison get to where they want to be musically as efficiently as possible.
Alanda: Vocal, Violin, and Piano Lesson Instructor
Alanda has been involved in many different aspects of the music scene for over 20 years. She has extensive experience working with choirs, musical theatre, and also plays many different instruments.
Over 20 years ago she started using her contagious love of learning as a teaching tool; inspiring people of all ages to learn and enjoy learning music with a positive and fun approach.
Alanda has also been teaching music lessons at Addison Music Learning Centre for over 20 years.
Shaylynn, Saxophone, Flute and Clarinet Instructor
Shaylynn is an honours graduate of Humber College's Bachelor of Music program. Working as a professional woodwind player in Toronto, Shaylynn enjoys a wide variety of genres and has a passion for jazz and song writing.
With diverse musical training, she is a passionate teacher of classical, jazz, pop, rock, funk, and blues. She has been an educator for 7 years and also enjoys teaching music theory, ear training, and song writing. In April of 2020, she released a professionally recorded EP titled Lost in It, featuring her original song writing, woodwind playing, and singing.
She's played at many venues and events such as: The Rex, The Mod Club, Toronto Undergrad Jazz Festival, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, and more.
Shaylynn's wide range of musical experiences have contributed to her endless stream of inspiration for playing, writing, and teaching music. She hopes to encourage students to embrace their creativity and freedom of expression through playing woodwinds, as well as developing a strong knowledge of theory, technique, and ear training.
Gretchen: Vocal and Piano Lesson Instructor
Gretchen has performed across Canada in Theatre and Music Theatre, Operatic Works, (including original works), Symphonic concerts and has also been seen on television, feature films, and has also performed for CBC Radio. Originally from Toronto, Gretchen has extended her musical and acting studies to include New York, where her training was mostly Classical there, but she feels equally at home in Music Theatre, folk, pop and light jazz.
Her singing performance beginnings, were folk and rock, but she believed in the power of classical training. She is one of the original members of the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA company, and also the MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER concert series, as well as having starred and originated many roles for Canadian Music Theatre.
Gretchen is also well known for her role of 4 years playing Mrs. Jeremiah, the mother of the series star Joey Jeremiah, in the award winning television series DEGRASSI JR. HIGH. Her roles in standard Music Theatre repertoire include Kate, in KISS ME KATE, Alexandra in ALEXANDRA THE LAST EMPRESS (original), Bertrande in THE HOUSE OF MARTIN GUERRES (original), Iolanthe in IOLANTHE, as well as many others that also include Anne of Green Gables, The Boyfriend, The Picture of Dorian Gray (original work, by the award winning composer of the recent DROWSEY CHAPERONE Greg Morrison), and The Desert Song for Shaw Festival. She has appeared many times in concert with the Conductor and Operatic Star Mark Dubois, and has enjoyed singing with full symphonies on numerous occasions.
Gretchen is please to have founded the quartet QuattroVoce. Gretchen has also Music Directed, Conducted and Directed in the Panasonic Theatre’s production of CABARET. Gretchen has also co-hosted a radio show for CBC called Basic Black, with the infamous Danny Marks. She has also trained several movie stars for their singing and musical roles in feature films and television.
Gretchen is a renowned vocal instructor, and spends much of her time training her well known roster of students, who’ve gone on to Broadway, and L.A. in movies and stage, and are all known for their excellence at their craft. (Some call her their “best kept secret”.) She also directs and writes shows 2 - 4 times a year for them, and produces these, at theatres in Ontario.
Gretchen is also responsible for for forming and producing for “SAY YES TO OPERA!”. A group that brings opera to “urban” spaces. CBC RADIO has been a great support of this event, and Gretchen has done a full 12 minute interview for Ing Wong Ward on her radio show. Gretchen has also been interviewed on the internet based radio show LIQUID LUNCH. You will find her on occasional Saturdays, with her group performing for folks at the ST. LAWRENCE MARKET at Front and Jarvis in Toronto.
Irina: Advanced Piano and Vocal Lesson instructor
Irina Graduated from the Saratov State Pedagogical University with an Honours degree speacializing in Music for Elementary and Preschool. Three years previous to this she obtained a Music Education diploma from Volgograd State Pedagogical College.
Since 1995 she has held many positions in the field of music education including an accompanist for a ballet company (piano), Elementary Music School teacher and Choral Conductor, and a private voice and piano instructor at schools such as the Hamilton Conservatory and Mohawk College. Irina specializes in classical but can perform and teach all styles .
Mackenzie: Vocal and Guitar Lesson Instructor
As a 2019 Country Music Association of Ontario nominee for "Roots Artist of the Year", up and comer Mackenzie is already getting industry nods for her unique style and enchanting vocals.
Since the May 2018 release of her debut EP "Dive Bar Diva", the Hamilton, ON native has caught the attention of quite a few country music fans. With her song "Your Company" featured on ET Canada and more than 182,000 views on her YouTube, it's no shocker that renowned producer Ken Scott (David Bowie, Supertramp) exclaimed " Watch out Carrie Underwood" after working with Meyer on EP favourite "Should Have Known".
But if you've ever seen this Steeltown artist live, you'd know her writing isn't the only thing worth bragging about. Her vibrant stage presence and dynamic live show has been wowing audiences on some of country music's favourite stages like Boots and Hearts, Havelock Jamboree, Lucknow's Music in the Fields and many more. As an honours Humber Music Degree graduate and busy professional musician/entertainer in the off-season, to say that Mackenzie has continually been honing her craft is an understatement.
Currently, Mackenzie is working on new music that will be her debut release to country radio this fall. Partnering up with world class producer Jeff Dalziel (2018/2019 CCMA & CMA Ontario Producer of the Year) you won't want to miss what Mackenzie has in store.
Shelisa: Vocal and Piano Lesson Instructor (This is Shelly without an "e" please see Shelley below)
Shelly has graduated from Humber College with her Bachelor of Music degree. While studying at Humber College Shelly has had the amazing opportunity to study with the many talented vocalists such as, Lisa Martinelli, Shannon Gunn, Denzal Sinclaire, Orville Heyn, Sienna Dahlen, and Steve Szmutni.
Shelly has received a grade ten vocal music award from Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, an aptitude achievement award for Piano from Ontario Conservatory of Music, and also not to mention her certificate from Humber College confirming that she has completed the Introduction to Commercial Jazz certificate program.
Some of her influences include Melody Gardot for her use and control of vibrato and world rhythms within her music, as well as using music for therapeutic reasons Ms. Lauryn Hill for her flow when rapping and beautiful vocals, Beyonce for her voice and for her confidence and performance skills, and James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, and many more for the soul within their music, compositions, and voice.
Shelly's passion for music, started when she was extremely young and it has escalated over the years. Music is such an important aspect of her life because she is able to transfer her thoughts and feelings into art, representing a way for her to express herself. However it does not stop there, the most significant aspect of music that Shelly loves is the fact that she has the ability to connect with people, giving them the opportunity to feel something and someday even have an impact on their lives, through music. She has always thought of music as a world wide language, and by making music she is never alone with this ability to connect to others.
Ian: Guitar, Ukulele and Bass Lesson Instructor
Ian has been teaching guitar in Oakville at Addison Music Learning Centre longer than any other teacher at the school. Along with Kim he has watched the school grow from 3 teachers and 30 students to well over 20 teachers and 1,000 students.
If it's maturity in style, education, and experience, it's Ian that you want as a teacher as he has been writing and performing music professionally for over 20 years and he has been teaching since 1992.
He is capable of playing many different styles and to prove that works in diverse bands from rock, grunge to jazz. Ian has also recorded his own CD that features jazz standards as well as a few originals.
Though not trained as a singer Ian enjoys singing and does so at many of his gigs. Ian is a graduate of the Mohawk College music program and is more than capable of teaching any student and any style.
Ray: Guitar, Ukulele and Bass Lesson Instructor
Ray studies guitar at Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts where he's working towards his Bachelor of Music degree. Before that, he'd studied jazz guitar and acoustic folk music in high school. He has been playing guitar and bass since age 10, and also has experience teaching ukulele.
His greatest musical influences are Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, and Herbie Hancock.
When he's not practicing, Ray spends his time rock climbing, cycling, and transcribing music. As an experienced lead camp counsellor at an arts camp, Ray has a passion for leadership in the arts and loves working with kids to help find their passion.
Over the past 11 years, he has learned closely from great guitar players such as Nathan Hiltz, Lorne Lofsky, and Michael Walsom. Ray has played in many musical capacities, performing on guitar in a jazz setting, bass in a funk cover-band at multiple venues around the GTA for the past 5 years.
Ray's main focus as a musician is composition and songwriting, and as a teacher, offers lots of tools and skills to his students to guide them what motivates them on their instrument and what music they want to explore, no matter the style or genre.
Stefan: Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Recorder Lesson Instructor
Stefan recently graduated from Humber College's Bachelor of Music program and is now a busy freelance musician in the city of Toronto.
A deep affinity for woodwinds has led Stefan to master the saxophone, flute, and clarinet. An experienced performer, Stefan often plays several shows per week with a diverse collection of musicians. Considering versatility his greatest asset, Stefan not only plays a wide variety of instruments but also a wide variety of genres and is eager to pass on the knowledge that he has learned in the areas of jazz, classical, funk, hiphop, pop, and rock & roll.
In addition to being a prolific performer, Stefan is also a seasoned teacher. In addition to several years of private teaching experience, Stefan spent the summer of 2018 co-leading jazz ensembles, marching bands, chamber ensembles, and orchestras at the prestigious Buck's Rock Creative and Performing Arts Camp in Connecticut.
Stefan's dedication to music has resulted in a rich and enjoyable life full of experiences and possibilities. As a teacher, Stefan hopes to share his lifelong love of music with his students and inspire them to see the beauty of music and the depth that it can add to everyday life.
Cody: Advanced Piano Lesson Instructor
At an RCM A.R.C.T playing level, Cody is a classical pianist and teacher who has graduated from the Mohawk College Music Program and hopes to eventually become a concert pianist and university music teacher.
After discovering he had perfect pitch, Cody studied with a retired concert pianist, learning Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” which he performed six months later at a piano bar while on a holiday in Cuba. Two years later, Cody enrolled in the music program at Mohawk College where he would study with teachers such as Jamshed Turel, Alexei Gulenco and Dusty Micale as well as many others. Cody now takes piano lessons with world renowned pianist, Valerie Tryon, and looks forward to getting ready for university and furthering himself as a musician.
In a very short time Cody has greatly exceeded anyone’s expectations and performed works such as Chopin’s Scherzo in B flat minor and Liszt's Mephisto Waltz as well as many other virtuosic works.
Cody has participated in master classes with pianists such as Stephen Hough, Marcel Bergmann, Marc Pierre Toth and Samuel Deason. He has also performed in events for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Hamilton Public Library as well as many other venues.
As well as classical music Cody is also an avid lover of musical theatre. Cody regularly participates with an orchestra as a keyboardist for Burlington Student Theatre performing shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Xanadu among many others.
Cody is currently taking some time off from furthering his education to refine his technique and musicianship skills before continuing university studies.
Nathanael: Advanced Piano Lesson Instructor
Nathanael, originally a classical pianist for 12 years, transitioned to contemporary and jazz for his new found love of arranging and improvisation.
On the side, Nathanael plays Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Eastern and African Drums for various occasions when needed. He even achieved his grade 8 RCM guitar!
As a gigging musician and teacher he stresses the importance of exploring all aspects and genres of music. His favorite and most influential are Jazz Fusion, Reggae, RnB, and Afro Cuban/Latin jazz.
With his extensive background in music he's taken his knowledge to the test of being apart of many bands and working with those with an ear for jazz.
Nathanael is a graduate of the Mohawk College music program and has achieved his grade 10 Royal Conservatory in Piano. The Mohawk Music program has brought many opportunities to Nathanael's musicianship, including his love for Broadway music and working with Jamshed Turel apart of the Burlington Student Theater Orchestra. Through the great support of colleagues and the music faculty at Mohawk he enters the music industry confident in his abilities to perform and educate.
Karan: Advanced Piano Lesson Instructor
Karan is a classically trained pianist and is currently in the Jazz program at Humber college. He was introduced to western classical music at an early age and subsequently started appearing for grade examinations acquiring an Associate diploma from the board of Trinity college London.
He has performed at the NCPA and the Russian centre of performing arts (MUMBAI) as an accompanist and solo pianist respectively. He has a wide range of experience teaching various age groups ranging from 5 to 50 in High schools and private music schools respectively having different skill levels from beginner to advanced. He has trained students for piano recitals as well as annual music examinations from ABRSM, LCM, TCL etc.
Karan specializes in good technique and a strong theoretical conceptual base from his classical roots at the same time uses effective variety of techniques to make his lessons fun and enjoyable by teaching an extended repertoire of various genres in music like Pop, RnB, Ragtime, Jazz etc and has innovative methods to teach Aural training as well. He strongly believes that hard work, patience and perseverance with a splash of fun is the key to accomplish any big goal or a goal as small as learning a new piece of music.
Shelley: Advanced Piano and Vocal Lesson Instructor
Shelley began her musical journey at the age of four with piano lessons. After discovering her perfect pitch and natural ear she went on to earn her Bachelor of Music and performed with choirs and churches as well as an accompanist .
Shelley received training at the Royal Conservatory, earning her Grade 10 RCM and theory, and also trained in the Yamaha School of Music earning her Grade 5 Yamaha credentials. After earning her music degree and her RCM and Yamaha credentials, she went on to teach courses to young children for six years and has been teaching piano and voice in Burlington and Hamilton for 14 years.
Her style is always evolving but her main goal is to promote good technical skills in piano and vocal technique as well as instilling a life long love of music.
Patty: Advanced Piano Lesson Instructor
Patty has been playing piano for over 35 years and teaching since 1993. She graduated from the prestigious Arts York program at Unionville High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts (Music) degree from the University of Western Ontario. Patty has a special interest in music theory, having studied with Joe Ringhofer, current Chief Examiner of Theoretical Subjects of the Royal Conservatory of Music. In addition, Patty is active as an accompanist for exams, music festivals, and other events.
Matthew: Guitar Ukulele
Matthew is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and educator whose style ranges from jazz, classical, rock, and folk music. His twenty plus years of experience has taken him across Canada numerous times, throughout the USA and Europe, playing professionally. Matthew studied jazz guitar, composition and arranging at St. Francis Xavier University and Mohawk College. At these schools he grasped difficult musical concepts and learned the ability to teach them. Music is his passion and sharing this with his students fulfills him.
Sama: Early Childhood / Orff / Mini Musicians Music Teacher Specialist
Sama is a passionate and dedicated certified Orff instructor and Early Childhood Music teacher who has worked for several musical institutions since graduating from Art University of Tehran with a Master in Music Education. She has completed Orff Level I & II to further her knowledge in music pedagogy through The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and also completed her Smart Start course at the RCM which concentrates on teaching toddlers music.
Focusing on cognitive, language, and social skill development using music in childhood, Sama uses voice, Piano, Recorder, Tar and her strong knowledge of music theory to provide young children with the tools necessary to succeed in life and music long-term. She works with early childhood centers and schools across Toronto in order to bring a love of music to as many children’s lives as she can.