Flexible scheduling

I’m happy to share that after 25 years of Toronto-based music work, I have shifted to flexible remote work. I travel often and keep a less rigid schedule doing music preparation and lessons for adults.

About me

I’ve been a music teacher since the turn of the millennium and have worked with A LOT of different students. My work with children in private lessons led to my ongoing role as co-developer at FULL VOICE Music. I engrave all the FULL VOICE sheet music, and I get to create amazing exercises and songs for voice teachers to use in their lessons.

For over a decade I conducted jazz choir at York University and Mohawk College. At Mohawk, where I studied vocal jazz and am an honours graduate of the Applied Music program, I also taught ensembles and gave private lessons. Until recently, I was the long-time vocal coach for the Toronto All-Star Big Band and the conductor of The Jazz Project community choir. These groups often performed music that I arranged or transcribed.

Some of my own songs have been recorded with my rock band, Canary Mine. We’re rather sedate grownups now, but we performed all over Canada in the late ‘00s – a formative experience for me as a vocalist branching into contemporary styles. I’ve been a side performer for various other rock bands, and for a few years I lived one of my dreams as the featured vocalist of the classic big band jazz group GTA Swing Band. I most recently performed and recorded with Stranger Still whose original compositions are based on the poetry of Alden Nowlan.

It’s exciting to look back on the ways my own music skills have developed. It seems clear that musical communication has been the thread throughout, whether reading the page or using my ears. It’s a long road, and there aren’t any shortcuts for those who want to learn. Building the confidence to give and take musical directions, however, is pure joy, and we can surround ourselves with supportive peers and mentors as we try!