Adam Houle

PIANO/DRUMS/INTRODUCTION TO RHYTHM

Available Tuesdays at our Royal York location

Adam has been a member of the Oak Learners staff since 2021. Adam is a professional drummer/percussionist with a strong passion for music and teaching, He has over 11 years of playing experience in multiple styles (Rock, Funk, Jazz, Latin etc.) and has been teaching music for 7 years. Adam believes a great teacher is one who can assess not only a student’s current musical ability, but determine what style of learning the student thrives in. He is passionate about helping his students develop their individuality as artists. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Humber College as well as a degree in Broadcasting & TV production! He is available to teach drums & piano.

In his free time, Adam continues to practice his own musical skills and has impressed many other Oak Staff with his amazing covers!

Kristina Poleva

UKULELE/PIANO/GUITAR/SONGWRITING

Available Tuesday evenings, at our Lakeshore Campus & Wednesday evenings at our Royal York Campus

Kristina has been a member of the Oak Learners team since 2022. She graduated from Kyiv National University in Ukraine and received a bachelor’s degree in Translation studies. She studied piano for 8 years and then guitar and ukulele for 2 years. Since 2018, she’s been playing in different bands, writing music in different genres, and teaching music both in Ukraine and Canada. Kristina’s goal is to teach children to be fearless in expressing themselves through music and be capable of improvising, creating and playing their own music.

Aditya Basavaraj

Guitar//Ukulele/Piano/Intro to Percussion

Available Saturdays-12-6, at our Royal York Campus

With over 14 years of experience playing and performing in multiple genres (rock, blues, pop, metal, r&b, etc) and more than 5 years of experience in tutoring, Aditya brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his craft. He holds a Grade 8 Certification in Guitar from Trinity College London, and loves playing and teaching other instruments like the Piano, Ukulele and Cajon. Aditya is also well versed in drawing, painting, audio recording and music production. He believes in fostering and nurturing the creative genius within every child to bring out the best in them.

Celine Tchang

Early Childhood Music/Piano/Voice/Ukulele/Intro to Percussion/Trombone

Teaching DAY SCHOOL & B.A.S.E. CAMP on Wednesdays at Royal York Campus and Tuesdays at our Lakeshore Campus from 3-7pm

Celine Tchang (she/her) is a Toronto-based musician and educator known for enhancing student engagement and learning through innovative lesson plans. Having previously worked as a Music Coach at Humber College’s Community Music School, Celine has crafted age-specific routines and interactive lessons that captivated all ages. By integrating physical activities to boost focus and aligning lessons with Ontario Curriculum guidelines, she has empowered students to transcribe rhythms and pitches, create, perform, and reflect on their musical experiences.She actively performs as a trombonist in various ensembles such as jazz orchestras, concert bands, symphonic orchestras, and jazz combos. She has also acted as a recording engineer and mixing engineer on multiple projects.

Lesson FAQs

Days & Times of Music Lessons

• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 3:00pm to 8:00pm
• Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm

Lesson Length

• 30 minutes (for beginners/recommended for ages 5-10)
• 1 hour (for students who have taken 2+ years of music or ages 10+)

Lessons are Separated into Terms

• Term 1 (13 weeks)
  September 9, 2024 – December 7, 2024
• Term 2 (12 weeks)
  January 6, 2025 – April 5, 2025
• Term 3 (10 weeks)
  April 7, 2025 – June 14, 2025

*Holiday Recital (week of Dec 9, 2024 – EXACT DAY TBD)
*Spring Recital (week of June 16, 2025 – EXACT DAY TBD)

Cost Breakdown

• 30 min – $37.70 per session
• 60 min – $61.50 per session

Fees Include:

• Oak Lesson Tote Bag & Folder with Practice Book and Parent/Teacher Communication Book
• Recital performance venue
• Progress report at the end of each term (must have attended 6+ classes before a progress report can be generated)

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions:

What age can my child start music lessons?

• There is no “perfect” age to start music lessons, every child is unique. But we suggest piano to start at age 5 or 6
• You can enroll your child in “Early childhood Music” for ages 6 and under where they can explore different instruments & gain the confidence, skills & music knowledge in a fun environment!

Do you offer trials?

• We offer a 20 minute free trial for your child to get to know a teacher and explore an instrument to see if it is a good fit

What if we miss a lesson?

• We require 24 hours notice if you child will be absent for their lesson to be eligible for a “make up” lesson. If not, you forfeit the lesson.
• Without 24 hours notice, makeup** can be added for a fee
• **Makeup lessons can be booked ONLY during the designated “make-up” week at the end of each term. *One “Make up” per term.*

Do we need A ??? at Home to Practice?

• Yes. Practicing at home and helping your child practice is the only way they can progress as musicians. You must have whatever instrument they are working on available for them to practice outside the lesson.

Where Do I Pay for Lessons?

• On our websites, here is the product dedicated to music where you can “add to cart” the item you want to purchase: Music Lessons

Who Can I Contact if I have More Questions?

Specific questions related to music lessons/curriculum/programming, etc. can be answer by our Music Head, Natalie. Email natalie@oaklearners.ca