Piano

Dianne Bohn is an experienced independent piano / theory teacher of all levels and ages of students and has enjoyed teaching piano in Nanaimo for over 25 years. Her students successfully participate in our local Upper Island Music Festival, BC Provincial level, community events and concerts presenting both classical and pop styles of piano performance. A few students have had the opportunity to perform internationally in England and Germany. Along with teaching, Dianne enjoys performing, accompanying, and being music director for various events.

Dianne has an ARCT Diploma in Performance and Pedagogy (Teacher’s), as well as the ALCM Performance Diploma from the London, England College of Music.

Teresa Marusarz-Borek has successfully taught piano and theory (all levels) for over 25 years.

She holds a Master of Music degree from the Szymanowski Academy of Music in Poland and a Teaching Degree from the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

In addition to her private teaching, Teresa is also a piano instructor and accompanist at Vancouver Island University and a faculty member at Nanaimo Conservatory of Music (Piano, Rudiments, Harmony, History). Many of her past students enjoy their own musical careers as teachers and performers.

Lisa Brown has been an experienced, independent piano / theory teacher for over 28 years. She has been a member of the Mid-Island branch since 1993. Lisa is an Associate of the Victoria Royal Conservatory of Music and has an AVCM diploma in piano performance and pedagogy (Teacher’s). She has over 10 years of experience in accompanying Royal Academy of Dance, ballet exams and over 15 years performance experience in accompanying High School musical theatre productions. Lisa enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels, and specializes in classical and popular music and theoretical studies.

Sherilene teaches piano, trumpet, computer-assisted beginners’ theory and theory rudiments for the High School Fine Arts credit as well as musical theatre. Sher produces Dolphin Bay Music educational musical theatre programs, and facilitates concerts/studio rental throughout the year including the annual performance of ‘The Messiah for All Voices’ at St. Mary’s Church in Nanoose Bay. She is also a Public School Arts Consultant/Coordinator facilitating professional development partnerships with the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the US Department of Education. Sherilene holds a B.Mus-Ed, a M.Mus-Ed and an Ed. Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Miriam has 36 years experience teaching both Suzuki method to children ages 3 and up and traditional approaches to all ages. She just moved to Nanaimo after living and teaching in Duncan, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg. Her training includes: Victoria Conservatory of Music teacher training course (AVCM), Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT teacher’s diploma) and Suzuki Method Levels 1-4. She is an RCM Certified Advanced Teacher. She believes:

-music is a language and any child immersed in music will develop musically

-every child can, just as every child learns to understand, speak, read and write their mother tongue

-parent involvement is important and welcome.

Gayle Dunsmoor was born in Calgary, where she completed the requirements for the Associateship of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto. She continued her musical education at Le Conservatoire de Musique de Québec where she received the diploma, Laureat de l’Academie de Musique de Québec. Two years of studies in Paris included concert performances and competition. Currently taking a leave from teaching, Gayle is developing three series of books. Two of the three series are now available. To view, click on ‘keyboard accompaniment’ above.

Carmen Falconer teaches theory and piano to all levels and ages of students. She also offers a unique program called “Music Explorers” for children 3 to 6 years of age. Music Explorers introduces children to music (including piano), art, drama, and dance in a small group environment. With 20 years of experience, Carmen holds many degrees including ARCT, LTCL, and B. Mus. For more information, please view her website at http://www.nanaimopiano.com.

Donna Falconer teaches piano and voice from beginners to diploma level. She also offers lessons in Rudiments, Harmony, History, Counterpoint, and Analysis. Children’s Musical Theatre classes are also available. Donna has over 25 years experience and holds ARCT Diplomas both in piano and voice, LTCL, and M.MUS. More information can be found at her website http://www.longlakemusic.com

Mary teaches all levels of Piano and Voice (including Musical Theatre), and enjoys working with people of all ages and abilities. She also offers Speech Arts and Theory.

After completing her B. Mus. degree at UVic, Mary continued to study, and has added ARCT, AVCM and GTMLI diplomas. She is a former Victoria Conservatory of Music Department Head and a former Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Mary has performed in volunteer and professional capacity with opera and musical theatre companies in Victoria, Kamloops and Kelowna, as a pianist, a singer/actor and a vocal coach.

Andrea Lahmer, pianist, has recently relocated to the Island after a successful performing and teaching career in Vancouver. She has more than a decade of experience coaching and instructing, particularly in her roles as pianist and music director at Gateway Theatre and Vancouver Opera. 

She completed her Bachelor of Music and Postgraduate Diploma in Collaborative Piano at the University of British Columbia. For 8 years she was on music staff at Vancouver Opera preparing and performing in the mainstage shows and touring the province with Vancouver Opera in Schools. 

Now in Parksville, Andrea will be offering private piano instruction to all ages and abilities as well as Music Pups, a wonderful early music program for children 0-4.

Andrea has been active in the community as well. She co-founded the Stewart Arts Council in 2012 in rural Northern BC, and in 2014, she will be performing in a series of concerts in Victoria with the Health Arts Society. Andrea spent 6 months in Melbourne, Australia where she was a collaborative pianist at Melbourne University and the Victorian College of the Arts. She has performed across the country including at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and has been heard numerous times on CBC Radio. Andrea is looking forward to becoming part of the musical community in the Oceanside area.

Jacinthe Laramee, a 25 year member of the BCRMTA welcomes piano students of all ages with a passion for music. A graduate of the Bachelor of Music program at the Université de Montreal, Jacinthe teaches piano, theory rudiments and composition. She loves to play with her students at her piano recitals and encourages them to prepare for RCM exams and music festivals. Jacinthe also teaches a Xylophone program (Kodaly Method) using French songs with rhythmic elements. This progressive method has proved to be very beneficial for ear training and language with elementary students.

Susan Morrison (ARCT) teaches piano at all levels, including the Associate of the Royal Conservatory diplomas for Performer and Teachers. She also teaches theory up to and including Grade V, and the teachers written ARCT exam.

Linda Patterson holds her ARCT Teachers Degree and teaches Piano and Rudiments. She enjoys teaching all levels from beginners to advanced students and all ages from pre-school to seniors are welcome. Linda enjoys teaching students with various goals and interests, whether preparing for RCM exams or playing popular music for pleasure, or both. She also teaches the Suzuki piano method.

Amber has been teaching Piano and Rudiments to students of all ages, levels, and abilities since the fall of 2004. She holds a B.Mus. degree from Brandon University, and enjoys helping students prepare for RCM Exams, or play and learn casually in Classical, popular, or Christian genres. Amber has successfully started beginners as young as 4 yrs old, and also believes it’s never too late to start! She also teaches beginner voice, composition, and guitar lessons. She is located on Braddock Road, in Errington.

Patricia has been on faculty at the Vancouver Community College School of Music since 1988 where she has taught piano, voice, class piano, piano pedagogy, keyboard literature as well as conducting the Willan Community Choir, co-conducting the VCC Concert Choir and coaching chamber collaborations.

Here on the island, Patricia enjoys teaching all levels of voice and piano at her home in Nanoose Bay, conducting the British Columbia Boys Choir in Nanaimo and working with the VIS directing the VIS Symphonic Choir and the Grade Five Honours Choir. Her bi-annual piano masterclass weekends on SSI and teaching at the WCAMS summer camp in Langley are also highlights each year!

Krista (ARCT) teaches piano – beginners to advanced. Krista specializes in “Music For Young Children”, designed for children ages 2 and up. “Music for Young Children” offers group instruction in piano including singing, rhythm, ear-training, sight reading and composing. For more information, please view her website at: http://www.nanaimopianolessons.ca or http://www.myc.com/Teacher/KRogers.

Susan Schleppe has over 30 yrs of teaching experience. She offers lessons in both Classical and Contemporary Idioms. In addition to their weekly private lessons, students take part in four class lessons and three studio recitals annually. Students who wish to take exams are prepared for Canada Conservatory Examinations. Theoretical studies are also included.

Sharon teaches both voice and piano, all ages from beginner to advanced. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria where she majored in piano and specialized in choral music. For over 20 years, Sharon taught choral music and music education in the Nanaimo School District. She is the founder and director of the award winning youth and young adult choir, The Sinclair Singers, and is the Choral Conductor for the Island Bel Canto Singers. She also sings in the Island Consort Chamber Choir.

“Suzy” has been teaching piano and rudiments to all ages and abilities for over 30 years. She accompanies the Parksville Elementary School Choir and teaches piano for the joy of teaching. She offers private piano and rudiments lesson in her home. You may choose to study RCM, popular music, prepare for exams, festivals and/or recitals and she will assist you on your journey. Suzy has her ARCT. She welcomes all who wish to fill their lives with the joy of playing the piano; a skill to last a lifetime.