ABOUT SUSAN

Susan discovered the art of teaching at the age of 15, having achieved her Grade 9 in five years, and has taught ever since! She believes that the early years of piano lessons should be fun, and should motivate the young player with a wide variety of pieces, developing an appreciation of lots of musical styles!

 

It is important to Susan that students love the lessons. Playing games lets them
have fun while learning various elements of music!

 

Susan feels it is important to have a great rapport with her students, and wants them to love the lessons! She plays games with her pupils, so that they have lots of fun whilst learning various elements of music. Even more advanced students thrive with a 60 second blast of a chord recognition game to increase their speed and knowledge!

Susan earned her Associate Teacher’s diploma before entering the University of Western Ontario. Upon graduating with both her Bachelor of Music degree and Associate Performer’s Diploma, Susan moved to London, England where she lived for five years, working at St. John’s Smith Square Concert Hall and performing in chamber music recitals in England and Scotland. She attended hundreds of concerts throughout Europe.

Susan has examined all levels of piano from Vancouver to St. John’s. She feels
that music festivals should be enriching and rewarding.

Susan is an examiner and has examined all levels of piano in cities from Vancouver to St. John’s, Newfoundland. She believes in making the examination experience a positive one and does her best to put the candidate at ease!

Susan loves adjudicating, and has judged music festivals across Canada, including Contemporary Music Showcase and the Provincial Finals several times. She is always positive when adjudicating, and feels that music festivals should be an enriching and rewarding experience for young people.

Susan believes that the piano can be a life long art, from ages 5 to 95, and welcomes students of all ages with the hope that all who study with her can have that life long appreciation for music and this wonderful instrument!

Susan performs a wide variety of chamber music with the Kingston Piano Trio.

Susan is the pianist of the Kingston Piano Trio with violinist, Andrew Dicker and cellist, Jeff Hamacher. She adores the genre of chamber music and the wide variety of works that inspire her to go to the piano every day!