Olivia's Music Studio

Piano Teacher in Scarborough

Meet Olivia

Want to learn piano? I’m offering private piano lessons for kids 5+ at my home studio.

I am an RCM trained pianst with 18 years of music education and 5 years teaching experience. Music has always been an in integral part of my life ever since my parents enrolled me in piano lessons at the age of five. I continued to learn and grow as a pianist by completing the RCM curriculum and completing the Level 10 RCM Certificate in 2019. Now I am currently working on completing my ARCT dipolma in piano performance.

What inspired me to teach music was the invaluable personal growth results I achieved through learning music. Growing up I was always a more shy individual, but music was what developed my confidence as I was able to hone a valuable lifelong skill that I could proudly call my own. Playing in recitals and in public helped with my confidence as I learned to face the challenges of being on stage; music also allowed me to connect with the emotions of other people and experience living through the different worlds of the past and the present. I want to pass on my knowledge and assist others with their personal growth and confidence, help them see the world through an artistic lense and help them develop a skill that they would carry on with them throughout their entire lives.

I like to teach using the RCM books and I will cover the fundamentals such as note reading, tempo, musicality, and technique. I believe that everyone has a different pace at which they progress and have different learning styles, so each lesson will be tailored to the student’s needs and level. I will make sure the student not only progresses and improves their piano skills but enjoys the lesson as well, as playing piano should be fun! I teach children up to Level 10.

My previous teaching experiences include teaching at Xavier’s School of Music online and in person, as well as at Little Fingers Music School in Toronto.

Lesson Format

I offer private one-on-one lessons in-person at my home studio or online. Lessons are taught on an upright Yamaha piano that is tuned yearly.

Online lessons are offered synchronously on Zoom.

What You’ll Learn

  1. Piano Repertoire: I like to teach first using Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Piano Adventures, and then the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) syllabus. The core material is classical music, but I am also open to teaching whatever interests the child.
  2. Piano technique: How to expressively and effectively play the piano.
  3. Other musicianship skills such as reading notation and technical requirements

Lesson Structure

A typical lesson consists of:

  1. Warmup and reviewing homework pieces
  2. Learning new pieces
  3. Other activities such as ear training and music theory

Lessons for younger children will include on and off-bench activities.

Lesson Fees

Payment will be pre-paid monthly. Books and materials will be extra.

1 hour

$50.00

45 minutes

$37.50

30 minutes

$25.00

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Teaching Philosophy

Ever since I started teaching in 2019, I have learned that the power of music and how it can foster a meaningful connection and a positive change in student’s lives through holistic mentorship. As a teacher, my philosphy revolves around nurturing creativity, confidence, and a deep appreciation for music. Here is my teaching philosophy that I abide by.

1. BRINGING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

The well-being of my students is my top priority. I aim to create a safe environment for students to thrive in their learning and become lifelong learners who are passionate about music. I approach learning enthusiastically and through encouragement, as well as positive reinforcement.

2. EVERY STUDENT IS UNIQUE.

Everyone learns in a different way and therefore I tailor the teaching experience to each individual’s needs, learning styles, goals, strengths and weaknesses. I approach teaching for each student differently: some students might require more off-bench activities or some might want to learn more popular pieces rather than classical. I accomodate for all these differences and the pace at which I teach each student is different to maxmimize their learning experience.

3. GOOD COMMUNICATION AND FLEXIBILITY.

I am flexible to my students’ and parents’ needs. I listen carefully to make sure everyone is comfortable with their experience and keep an open line of communication to make sure that there is transparency between us. I strive to make learning a memorable and enjoyable experience.

4. HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT.

Piano education is not just about mastering technical skills and interpreting aim to create students that are not only profficient in playing musical pieces but are developed intellectually, emotionally, and creatively. In addition to technique and repertoire, I incorporate elements of music theory, ear training, and music history into my curriculum. Through this approach, students will gain a more well-rounded approach into music as an art form.

5. BUILDLING CONFIDENCE.

I strive to build confidence in my students as they embark on a journey filled with challenges, setbacks, and moments of triumph. I believe in a growth mindset that emphasizes persevereance, build through positive reinforcement, constructive feedback, and goal-setting. I help students strive for excellence by overcoming ostacles and celebrating achievements small and large, developing their sense of fulfillment and confidence in the process.

Studio Policy

Payments and Registration: Payments are made in advance by cash or e-transfer. There may be four or five lessons each month (one lesson per week), depending on the number of weeks in that month.

Holidays: You may choose to take Christmas Break, March Break, or other holidays off–just let me know! We will reschedule a lesson that falls on a holiday to another day of the week.

Cancellations and No-shows: Please let me know one day in advance if you need to cancel a lesson. For cancellations that take place less that 24 hours, you will be charged for that lesson unless it is due to an extenuating circumstance (ex. sickness, bad weather).

Make-up Lessons: A make-up lesson will be issued if you cancel your lesson 24 hours in advance or before your lesson on the day of if it is an extenuating circumstance. You can choose to combine your make-up lesson with your regular lesson (ex. 30 minutes + 30 minutes make-up lesson) or schedule it on another day of the week.

Online Lessons: Online lessons will take place over Zoom. A link to the Zoom room will be sent out prior to the lesson. Please make sure there are no distractions in the background and that the lesson takes place in a quiet place. A device with a webcam and a built in or external microphone is required for online lessons.

Sitting in on lessons: You are welcome to sit in on your child’s lesson or you may drop off and pick up when the lesson is over.

If you have any questions, please contact me!