Performance Studios
"Growing With Music"
Teachers
Karen Aitken
Director
My vision to have a music school that made a difference in the lives of everyone of any age began over 25 years ago! GROWING WITH MUSIC- helps concentration, confidence, co-ordination, memory and learning. I am a graduate of the prestigious Humber College music program and the Royal Conservatory Of Music. After Humber, I joined as educational representative of Roland Canada Music and subsequently became a partner of an entertainment consultant company in Toronto. I have obtained Music For Young Children certificates for all levels and completed requirements to teach Kindermusik along with ongoing professional development. Throughout many years of teaching, as a director for a Mississauga music school and a member of the Humber College Children's music school faculty, I have gained considerable insights into all aspects of music education. I am proud to have been a longtime member of the Not So Grand Players: a musical theatre non profit group which has donated 80,000 back to the community. As a musician I have performed at various functions from weddings to funerals to daycares. After all this time I still enjoy spreading the magic of music to my students and parents, and to watch my students GROWING WITH MUSIC!
Then
Alex Gulino
Alex has been playing music for 20 years, focusing mainly on drums throughout his youth, and many instruments along the way including guitar, bass, and various percussion and string instruments.
He has had experience teaching, as well as playing in multiple bands and solo studio drumming.
"Rock On."
Now
Gayle Ackroyd Gibson
Gayle has been teaching for 16 years and has her level two in Artist Educator Professional Training. She has completed the Learning Through the Arts program with the Royal Conservatory of Music, studied through a 2-year Musical Theatre program at Sheridan College and under multiple private coaches, as well as received Honours on her Grade 3 Singing Examination through the Royal Conservatory of Music.
With the songwriting experience from five albums worth of original music: Gayle has taught workshops on the fundamentals of good songwriting and hosted her own cable television show featuring songwriters.
Gayle feels that the ukulele is the cutest instrument in the world; perfect for small hands and teaching reading skills to beginners. She also believes that singing is a way to creatively express yourself by developing good technique, so, bad habits don’t hold you back.
Guitar is Gayle’s favourite instrument for performing although she also plays the mandolin for a variety in sound. "Classical, electric, and Spanish guitars all have their own sound and inspire very different styles of playing" she says. Gayle teaches how to sight read sheet music and tablature, and a variety of strumming, as well as the theory behind the structure of chords.
Nancy brings a variety of teaching experiences. She has her ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music, a BA from York University, and is a certified teacher in Music For Young Children. She started teaching piano 35 years ago and MYC for 23 years. Nancy has developed and taught music programs for daycares and special needs students.
Currently she is teaching private piano and loves to see children’s and adult’s enthusiasm for playing piano grow as they become more confident in their music studies.
Nancy King
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Shirley Jemmett
Shirley is a registered music teacher with ORMTA (Ontario Registered
Music Teachers Association), specializing in Music for Young Children. She's taught privately for over 45 years and MYC for over 25 years.
Shirley has a vast array of experiences that make her a great teacher: teaching workshops in schools, directing numerous bell choirs and voice choirs, and even being a singer in choirs, solos, trios, and quartets! She also works in summer day camps as well as music therapy programs!
Teaching piano to the young or young at heart is her passion: RCM
classics or recreational including pop, jazz, blues, theory or composing
your own music.
"I encourage and prepare my students to enter festivals, exams, recitals. I look forward to teaching your child on their musical journey. Play On!"