Private Lessons

Our lessons are taught by a diverse and professional staff of instructors, ready to help you or your child reach their musical potential. We offer private, one-on-one lessons for piano, voice, guitar, bass, violin, viola, drums and theory. All ages, levels and styles welcome! Length of lessons, depending on the student's level and teacher availability, can range from 30 to 60 minutes.

Registration is easy. Drop by the school, call us at 613-459-6027 or email us to receive information on pricing, policies, and availabilities. The cost is $28 per half hour for all private lessons. Ask about our multiple lesson discounts!

Piano

Piano is an enjoyable and challenging instrument to learn. Piano lessons can start as early as age 4 and students at this age can quickly absorb the basics. Our beginner piano lessons are structured with key finding exercises, finger exercises, note reading, rhythm exercises, music flash card exercises, familiar songs on handouts as well as following a method book appropriate to the age and level of the student. The beginner piano program at BMA was created by owner and experienced teacher, Nadia Zaid. The program is designed for students to master the basics and learn all of the elements of playing the piano without feeling overwhelmed by the content. Piano teachers have access to training manuals, teaching guides and resource binders. Teachers are encouraged to follow this lesson structure, while incorporating their own creative lesson plans, as a segue into the RCM Piano Examination Program if the parent and student desires.

We encourage students to follow the RCM Piano Examination Program because it allows students to feel accomplished and work towards a goal. The program itself consists of mastering technical exercises, ear-tests, sight-reading and learning a variety of styles of music ranging from classical to jazz to modern pop hits. A well rounded musician should be able to both play by ear and by reading music, have all of the major and minor keys memorized, and understand the stylistic elements of a variety of musical styles; These are the fundamental goals of the program.

Voice

Technique is truly the key to becoming a better singer. Whether the student wants to learn pop, country or classical, our teachers teach various warm-ups including 5 note patterns, triads, arpeggios, major scales, minor scales, chromatic scales, long tones, diaphragmatic breathing and more. Our students are provided with a complementary set of warm-ups that they can access with our link, as well as a beginners vocal handout which outlines all the basic fundamentals of signing with pictures and easy to read explanations. Our vocal teachers are also instrumentalists and play guitar and/or piano, giving the students a chance to sing with live accompaniment during each lesson.

Acoustic & electric guitar

Our guitar classes consist of finger exercises, proper picking, proper positioning and fretting techniques, strumming and posture and students can learn how to read treble clef notation, tablature, chord symbols or all of the above. Students are invited to learn all styles and we are able to differentiate the lessons based on the wants needs and level and age of the student.

Bass guitar

While bass players can specialize in a one style of music or another, it provides a key element for all genres: anchoring the harmonic framework and laying down the beat. As a rhythm instrument, bass lessons will focus on learning proper fretting and picking technique, counting and palm-muting, as well as learning your favorite bass riffs and recordings. Students learn how to read tab or bass clef notation, or both.

Drums

Our drum program is ideal for students of all levels, from beginner to advanced, who are interested in improving their drumset technique across a wide range of styles, including rock, jazz, punk and Latin. Lessons will focus on acquiring a thorough understanding of percussion rudiments, wrist movement and rhythm drills. Students will learn common rock beats, groove, fill placement, dynamics, phrasing and time keeping, along with discovering a whole world of songs to play!

Violin & Fiddle

Our violin and fiddle program consists of proper posture, positioning, bowing techniques and reading treble clef notation with songs and exercises. Students learn a variety of exercises including various types of scales and producing accurate and correct pitch, vibrato and harmonics. As students progress through the basics, they will be taught sight-reading, ear-training and theory. After a few years of mastering the challenging basics of playing the violin, students are encouraged to pursue the RCM Violin Examination Program to further develop a well rounded musicianship.

Theory, Harmony & Analysis

Music theory is the study of how music works, through examination of the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures within genres, styles, or historical periods. Overall, music theory distils and analyzes the fundamental parameters or elements of music: rhythm, harmony, melody, structure and form. Leaning music theory will grant students a greater general knowledge of music, how it's written (and why!), and the ability to apply this knowledge to all instruments.

Sax, Clarinet, and Brass Lessons available based on current staff