Kanata

amir meshgini (Guitar, Ukulele)

Online Lessons:

Lessons offered in English and Persian
Amir Meshgini holds a Master of Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Ottawa where he studied under the supervision of Canadian composer and guitarist Patrick Roux. During his career, he has had many performances as a solo guitarist and has also been a member of various ensembles. In addition, he was a tenor in the Tehran Choir for four years where he had several performances. He has also performed on several occasions in Tabaret Hall and the Gatineau Conservatory of Music.
He has been teaching guitar to students of different ages since 2014. His enthusiasm for teaching has always led him to study modern pedagogical approaches in music to create the optimal situation for every student based on their personalities, their cultural and musical backgrounds, and their interests to keep the learning process both fun and engaging. He teaches anything from classical guitar to Rock, finger-style acoustic guitar and ukulele, and improvising lessons.
$26 per 1/2hr. Lesson

brandon curtis (Voice, Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Brandon Curtis studied at Vanier College in the Professional Music Technique program as a jazz vocalist, holds a degree in Audio Techniques from Recording Arts Canada and has been teaching since 2015. Brandon is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who enjoys performing solo and in bands whether it be jazz, rock, punk, metal, acoustic, folk or pop among others. Brandon’s lessons are tailored to the individual needs and expectations of the student with the belief that music should always be fun, thus charisma and humour are fundamental parts of how he encourages his students.
$27 per 1/2hr. lesson

brenda griffith (Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Brenda Griffith holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Ottawa with a major in voice. She continues to study for the A.C.C.M. in Vocal Performance with Conservatory Canada. She is also a pianist, having completed the requirements for the Grade 9 piano exam with the Canadian National Conservatory of Music. She began studying voice at the age of 7 and piano at the age of 6. She has performed at many events, including singing the national anthem at both the Ontario Provincial Swimming Championships and the Minto Skating Club Annual Ice Show. As well she has performed as a chorister in a concert at the NAC with the Lawrence Ewashko Singers and on Parliament Hill on Canada Day with Astronaut Chris Hadfield. Brenda has been teaching voice and piano for 15 years.
$25 per 1/2hr. Lesson

cheryl trachy-goulet (Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet)

Online Lessons:

Cheryl is an experienced educator, with over 20 years of teaching in classrooms ranging from kindergarten to Grade 12. She holds a M.Ed. from the University of Ottawa and a B. Mus and a B.Ed. from Queen’s University. In addition to her experience as a high school instrumental music teacher, she has taught privately and has engaged with community programmes offering music education. Her specialization in private instruction is flute and woodwinds. Cheryl is dedicated to making a musical education an engaging and varied experience, incorporating theory, history and listening activities in all her lessons.
$26 per 1/2hr. lesson

chris stephenson (Drums)

Online Lessons:

Chris Stephenson began his passion for playing drums at the ripe age of 12. At 18 years old, and a recent graduate of high school, Chris began his drumming career as a professional touring/recording artist gaining two JUNO Nominations and over a dozen world tours under his belt, to date.
With his experiences as a professional touring/recording artist and masterclass clinician, Chris is now focusing on his knowledge of theory and application in drum performance towards his first educational book ‘The Rhythm Trees’. Having studied under the likes of Alex Landenburg, Thomas Lang, Chris Coleman, Benny Greb, Matt Garstka and Aquiles Priester, Chris has developed his own approach to drumming in hopes to influence, educate and inspire drummers locally and globally. Chris proudly endorses Los Cabos Drumsticks, Mapex Drums, Murat Diril Cymbals and Remo Percussion.
$25 per 1/2hr. Lesson

chris zimmerman (Drums)

Online Lessons:

Chris has been providing private drum lessons in Ottawa since 2007, and has performed professionally in various bands and projects for over 10 years. He has performed in every province and territory in Canada. Some notable performances that Chris has participated in include the multi award winning record "Signal Fire" by Twin Flames, Folk On The Rocks Main stage in Yellowknife NWT with Twin Flames 2016, Dragonboat Festival Opening for Half Moon Run with Twin Flames 2017 and Bluesfest Main Stage opening for The Backstreet Boys with Kyle Ivan 2019. On top of performing as a drummer, Chris also sings and plays guitar in his own project Chris Zimmerman & The Weather. The Weather toured across the country in 2018, played The Calgary Stampede in 2019 and opened for Canadian music icon Alan Doyle at a festival in Kuujjuac, Quebec, also in 2019. Chris will tailor the lesson plan to your musical goals and needs, while keeping the lesson fun and engaging.
$25 per 1/2hr. Lesson

daniel miller (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Daniel has been teaching piano for seven years. He acquired his Bachelor of Music specializing in performance in 2022 from the University of Ottawa. There, he studied with Andrew Tunis and Frédéric Lacroix to become a classically trained pianist. He hopes to provide an encouraging and fun environment where his students can thrive. His goal is to train his students to be intuitive musicians who can confidently and comfortably play with musical expressivity.
$25 per 1/2hr. lesson.

david williamson (Guitar, Bass Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Dave is a passionate and highly dedicated Juno-winning guitar player. He has nearly a decade of experience teaching and has been performing live music since the age of 14. Over the past few years, Dave has performed all over Canada and has travelled to Germany and the USA performing with the Juno-winning Angelique Francis Band. To back up his musical experience, Dave also has a Bachelor of Music degree from Carleton University which he graduated from in 2019 with High Distinction. To ensure the best possible experience for his students, Dave creates well balanced lesson plans that are engaging, fun, informative and disciplined. Topics such as technique, music theory, ear-training, song learning and performance psychology are all key points of focus during his lessons. He is proficient in many styles of contemporary guitar including pop, country, rock, metal, jazz and more.
$25 per 1/2hr. lesson

francois lacelle (Guitar, Ukulele)

Online Lessons:

Lessons offered in French and English
François Lacelle began his studies at Cambrian College under Philip Candelaria. He then pursued a Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa and is currently studying his Masters of Music in classical guitar with Patrick Roux. He has participated in master classes with world renowned guitarists Jérôme Ducharme, Marcin Dylla, Lorenzo Micheli and Gabriel Bianco. François is an experienced teacher and a versatile player with repertoire ranging from Renaissance music, Classical, Rock and Blues.
$27 per 1/2hr. lesson

james reid (Drums, Piano)

Online Lessons:

Lessons offered in French and English
James is a drummer and pianist. He has toured 15 countries and 9 provinces as a session drummer with various rock and pop artists and is the current recording/touring drummer for Double Experience. James has studied at Carleton University with (the late) Chuck Burrows, as well as online with Dave Elitch (drummer for Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus), and James Murphy (associate professor at Berklee College of Music, drummer for Blue Man Group) and he has a Diploma in Music Industry Arts from Algonquin College. James has over 10 years experience in the music industry and over 5 years experience teaching. He can teach drums at any level as well as beginner/intermediate piano.
$26 per 1/2hr. lesson

karam chakkour (Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Lessons offered in English and Arabic
Karam Chakkour holds a Bachelor in Music from the National Music Conservatory in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is currently working on his Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Music Studies at Berklee Online. Karam has been working as a vocal coach, piano instructor and choir conductor since 2009 and now offers classes in Songwriting & Intro to Music Production (Ableton). He is also the founder of “from The Living Room” music production project. He is passionate in helping students to develop the best singing and piano technique in classical, pop, and music theatre styles in addition to his especial experience in Arabic music. Karam has been an International Baccalaureate music teacher and a music director for various musical productions, including “Oliver Twist”, “The Wizard of Oz”.
$27 per 1/2hr. lesson

matthew evans (Saxophone, Piano, Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Matthew Evans is a versatile saxophonist, pianist, and guitarist from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. After completing his studies in Music Performance at Holland College in Prince Edward Island, he relocated to Ottawa in 2021. With over 5 years of experience as a music educator, Matt excels in inspiring and instructing students of all ages and skill levels. His teaching approach fosters creativity by establishing a solid foundation in music theory and by enhancing technical skills, with an emphasis on improvisation. Matt’s expertise in jazz, blues, funk, and other contemporary genres allows him to effectively guide students in mastering and composing the music they love.
$25 per 1/2hr. Lesson

natashia st john (Voice, Piano)

Online Lessons:

Natashia has been passionate about vocal performance since the age of six years old. Professionally, she has acquired fifteen years of voice and piano teaching experience within various schools and academies including ten years at Centrepointe Music Academy & 4 years at Carleton University. She trains in a variety of styles including pop, gospel, RnB and Jazz and incorporates a variety of vocal warm ups to ensure that proper breathing, tone and pronunciation are always improving.
Her experience also includes audition preparation for vocal students who wish to pursue training at the university level, those who wish to compete in the Kiwanis Music Festival, and any students looking to pursue examinations in voice with The Royal Conservatory of Music. Her educational accomplishments in Music include two years with Kent Christian College in Dover, Delaware in USA, Associates of Arts in Biblical Studies & Music. Natashia has been following the RCM vocal program since the age of 9, and is currently seeking completion of the Level 10 RCM accreditation.
$25 per 1/2hr. Lesson

paula santa cruz (Cello)

Online Lessons:

Lessons offered in English and Spanish.
Paula Santa Cruz completed a Bachelor’s in music at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. Later, she received her master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Oklahoma, where she studied under the tutorship of Dr. Jonathan Ruck. Paula has performed in concerts with various orchestras in Puerto Rico and Oklahoma and was the principal cellist in the Orquesta Filarmónica Municipal de Guayaquil until 2023. She has taught at diverse institutions in Puerto Rico, Oklahoma, and Ecuador while also having her private cello studio. Paula has participated in many music festivals and created her musical series Música entre Amigos, dedicated to chamber music. Her love for music has kept her involved in various projects ranging from Classical to Popular music. 
$27 per 1/2hr. lesson

rebekah reichert (Violin, Viola, Fiddle, Piano)

Online Lessons:

Rebekah Reichert has her Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) certification with First Class Honours (Grades 1-8) and RCM advanced theory. Rebekah played violin and viola as part of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy performing with various string ensembles (Junior Strings 1-3), and full orchestras (Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra). In addition, she performed with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. In 2015, Rebekah began teaching music as a teacher's assistant for individual and group lessons. In 2017, she became an independent music teacher for violin, viola, piano, and music theory. Rebekah has a Bachelors of Behavioral Science with Honours from Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and she uses this knowledge in concert with her musical certification and performance skills to promote a positive, engaging classroom setting, with individualized learning experiences for all ages.
$25 per 1/2hr. Lesson

robert wannell (Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Piano)

Online Lessons:

Robert Wannell is a guitarist, pianist, composer and educator hailing from Nepean, Ontario. He is a graduate of Humber College’s prestigious contemporary music program and has strong ties with both Ottawa and Toronto’s respective music scenes. Over the course of his professional career, Robert has had the opportunity to work with wedding bands, jazz ensembles, singer-songwriters and theater companies and has performed at all 3 major jazz festivals in Canada (Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto). Robert has over 7 years of teaching experience to offer with a focus on private, group and ensemble instruction. As a teacher, he has been praised for his fun, personalized lesson plans as well as his friendly, patient and communicative approach with students. Some of the concepts Robert covers in lessons include: improvisation, song learning, harmony, ear training, sight reading, rhythm, composition and RCM prep for piano and guitar.
$25 per 1/2hr. lesson.

sherryl fitzpatrick (Violin, Fiddle, Piano)

Online Lessons:

Lessons offered in English & French:
Sherryl is an Ottawa native and East Coast Music Award nominee who is a highly skilled and sought-after traditional fiddle teacher and piano accompanist. Entering her 40th year of teaching, this prolific composer and recording artist combines traditional Quebecois, Celtic, Classical, Jazz and Old time music, giving her students a solid musical foundation. She has her grade 8 RCM violin and Grade 2 Theory.
Sherryl has received two nominations by the 2024 Ottawa Capital Music Awards in the categories of: Educator of the Year and Live Music Curator of the Year for the Fiddles on the Rideau Festival. In May 2021, Sherryl launched a Canadian musical heritage project called, “Fiddles on the Rideau Festival”. This organization was founded to promote and preserve Canadian fiddle music and to raise awareness and financial aid for local mental health organizations. To date over $15,000 has been donated to mental health organizations in Ottawa.
$27 per 1/2 hr lesson

shirley liu (Flute, Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Shirley Liu is a graduate of the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), where she obtained a M.Mus (Performance/Pedagogy) in Flute studies. She is the winner of the MUN School of Music Concerto/Aria Competition (2020). Shirley also holds a B.Mus and B.Ed from Queen’s University. A versatile musician, Shirley enjoys not only her main focus of classical music but also more contemporary styles such jazz and musical theatre. Her ensemble experience includes playing in orchestra, jazz ensemble, pit band, and collaborative piano work. As a music teacher, Shirley endeavours to create engaging and rewarding lessons for all her students.
$26 per 1/2hr. lesson.

zakari frantz (Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute)

Online Lessons:

Ottawa-based saxophonist Zakari Frantz is a dynamic musician and educator with a talent for engaging humans with his distinctive energy. An in-demand jazz, funk, soul, and world music collaborator, Zakari has performed to acclaim on stages around the world. Over a decade playing alto saxophone, flute and percussion with the legendary Souljazz Orchestra, has led to three JUNO nominations and numerous North American and European tours. He also regularly engages audiences with musical groups such as the Atlantis Jazz Ensemble, Prime Rib Big Band, Greece's Agios Lavrentios Brass Band and many others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Zakari holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Boise State University where he was an inaugural recipient of the Gene Harris Jazz Endowment Scholarship. Sought after for his active and engaging approach to music education, Zakari guides his students to positively challenge themselves both personally and musically. From 2016-2019 he teamed up with OrKidstra, a charitable social development program for kids living in under-served areas of Ottawa, Zakari dedicated his time to help youth realize their full potential & discover new possibilities through the joys and challenges of learning music.  
$26 per 1/2hr. lesson.