GTMTA

Thank the music teachers in your life!!

#Teachertuesday Christine Gardhouse Christine has taught piano and Music for Young Children classes for more than 17 years in various cities and studios. Coming from a musical family, her musical accomplishments include Grade 9 piano and Grade 8 violin with Theory and Music history. She is a fully certified Music for Young Children and Music Pups teacher, and a current member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association and the GTMTA. In addition to her musical e...xperience, Christine also holds an ECE certificate in Montessori education. She is currently studying to complete her Bachelor of Science with a minor in Counseling. This additional training enhances her music teaching as she guides children in the best way for their unique learning styles and needs. Since moving to Collingwood in 2010, Christine has enjoyed teaching from her home studio and at Beaver Valley Community School. She is passionate about music education and works collaboratively with other local music teachers to promote and support music lessons in our area. She takes pride in creating a well-rounded program for students that provides both quality and enjoyment. Her students participate in yearly recitals, conservatory e-exams, and festivals throughout the year. Christine’s days off are filled with keeping up to her own three young daughters. When she does get a free minute, her favourite things to do are reading, walks by Georgian Bay, and eating chocolate! You can reach Christine at [email protected] or 705-888-7830.

#Teachertuesday Keiko Yoden-Kuepfer Keiko is a concert organist and pianist who has performed and taught in Japan, Europe and Canada! She loves living in Collingwood, and is passionate about sharing her experiences with the local students and the community. She teaches all levels of piano, double-bass, voice and theory from her home studio. Keiko grew up in Japan, starting Piano at age of 7, Voice at 12, Organ at 13 and Double-base at 17. She graduated from Soai Music High...school majoring in Concert Organ performance and received BMusE (Hon) from Osaka National University majoring in Piano. She has received an associate diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and is the RCM representative of Collingwood and facilitates student examinations. Keiko is currently the music director and organist at All Saints' Anglican Church Collingwood where she leads the chamber choir, handbell choir, and ukelele group. She also directs the youth chamber music group "Rondo Ensemble" and is the accompanist for the Sound Investment Community Choir. If those music credentials weren't enough... Keiko loves traveling, nature and outdoor activities with her husband Dennis. Her favorite things are skiing, bike riding, gardening, photography, sewing, cooking. She is always curious to learn new things! She is an ambassadress of "Katano, Osaka, Japan '' - one of Collingwood's sister-cities, where she is originally from. She's been involved in the Collingwood-Katano sister-city committee and helps to develop friendship between the two cities. If you would like to contact her, Keiko can be reached at 705 888 1485 or [email protected]

Over the weekend, an article was published in the Toronto Star outlining the difficulties music teachers and students have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns for the future of music education. You can read the article here: https://www.thestar.com//music-teachers-need-government-he By voicing our concerns together, we have a better chance of being heard. This is to protect music education for our students and the careers of the many wonderful music teachers w...e have in our area. Please consider taking the time, as a teacher, parent or student, to email your local MP and saying something like this: I am writing to voice my concern about the adverse impact of COVID-19 on opportunities for children in our riding to access quality music education. I am forwarding you a link to a recent article discussing this issue in a national context. I ask that you urgently bring the issue to the attention of Ministers Chrystia Freeland and Steven Guilbeault and to your colleagues in caucus. Please cc the two Ministers using these email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]

#TeacherTuesday Beverley Kennedy ~Beverley is a Music Teacher specializing in piano, djembe drums and ukuleles with 31 years of successful teaching experience in Collingwood, Ontario. She is a strong believer in the power of music for the mind, body and soul. ~She trained with Music for Young Children in 1990 and taught this small-group class Canadian program for 29 years leaving a strong legacy of families who learned under her instruction. Currently she teaches private l...essons for students 10 years and up including adults in popular or classical piano up to grade 4 with The Royal Conservatory. She has adapted her lessons this past year to continue teaching online at this time. ~She has attained her Royal Conservatory Grade 8 Piano and Grade 2 Theory in 1972 and the Facilitator’s Workshop training for the Djembe Drum with Ron Cross in 2006. Today she continues to explore and learn Mindful Hand Drumming & Movement with Alexandra Jai. Beverley has been an active member of the Georgian Triangle Music Teachers’ Association since 2002. You can contact Beverley at [email protected] or 705-445-8831 to discuss your music goals. OFF THE PIANO BENCH: Beverley enjoys different styles of music and loves singing in her church choir. She enjoys watching movies with her family, going for hikes, walks or bike rides on our beautiful trails in the Collingwood area. She loves camping and enjoying the great outdoors and travels across Canada. She is encouraged and supported daily by her husband and has fun making music with her 6 grandchildren.

#TeacherTuesday Brenda Beattie Brenda provides online piano instruction for both children and adults in jazz, and classical piano up to grade eight in Royal Conservatory. Lessons in music theory are also available. Brenda’s enthusiasm and passion for music transfers to those she teaches. She successfully transitioned to online lessons with her students in the spring and has continued to teach online since then. Training at the Dick Grove Music School in Los Angeles, Brend...a has a background in jazz vocals and piano. She has attained her LLCM in jazz piano performance from the London College of Music, London England. Brenda is a level two Orff instructor. Brenda is a member of the Georgian Triangle Music Teachers Association, the Ontario Orff Association, The Coalition for Music Education and the Dalcroze Society of Canada. You can visit Brenda's studio website at www.brendabeattie.ca. FUN FACTS: When Brenda is not teaching or playing the piano you will find her listening to jazz; the music that speaks to her soul. Brenda loves to hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski the Bruce Trail and in the summer you’ll find her swimming in Georgian Bay. Gardening is another passion and Brenda has developed the many perennial gardens at her residence, a schoolhouse in the Beaver Valley.

Many of our teachers have pivoted to online lessons to keep our students engaged and progressing. Great set up Keiko!

Music = life skills.

A musical smile for Saturday.....Thanks to NPR Classical for sharing.....