Taking music lessons can be an exciting learning tool. Music not only has the power to stimulate the mind, enrich the heart and soothe the soul; it can also help you meet educational objectives. We teach all levels of the Royal Conservatory of Music including: diploma preparation and ARCT level, coaching for concerts, and preparation for prerequisites that universities and colleges require for their music programs, with a strong emphasis on all aspects of techniques, memory work and musicianship.

We offer private and group* lessons for the following instruments:

• Piano Lesson
• Guitar Lesson
• Bass Lesson
• Violin Lesson
• Cello Lesson
• Voice Lesson
• Saxophone Lesson
• Flute lesson
• Clarinet Lesson
• Oboe Lesson

* If you are interested in group or semi-private classes, we require a minimum of two and maximum of four persons to form the class. Please contact the Ava Music for group class availability. Please click here for the Fall/Winter Semester schedule.

Instruments

Piano:

Careful attention is placed on each piano student to ensure a custom lesson plan. Our piano teachers understand that every student has different needs and abilities and therefore the piano lessons will be planned with that knowledge in mind. All aspects of music will be taught, including reading, rhythm, sound development and piano repertoire so that the student becomes a complete musician. Learning to play piano will improve upon a student's coordination skills. Unlike many other instruments, the piano requires both hands to independently maneuver around the keys. This will give independence to each hand. For a new player to witness this during the course of their piano lessons, it is often an awe-inspiring feeling for the student! The piano can give the student a feeling of creating their own band without needing any other instruments. Wherever the student's musical interests lie, Ava Music has the right piano instructors to help the student realize his or her greatest musical ambitions from very beginner level to ARCT and even the NEW Licentiate level by Royal Conservatory of Music.

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Guitar:

The Guitar Courses at Ava Music, like all of our courses, is quite unique, placing an emphasis on each individual student's personal interests and requirements for development. Directed by Justin Brown and Mario Silva, two guitarists with many years experience, the course takes the student on a journey from general music education to the more practical learning of the instrument. The instructor's experience and skills of all styles of playing are accessible to the student e.g. Rock, Classical, Blues, Soul, Jazz, Flamenco etc.  The course places emphasis on the need to perform and students will gain experience in areas of solo performance, session playing, accompaniment skills, and being part of a band.  With consideration of versatility as a musician the course also includes teaching on harmony and theory, use of the fingerboard, and application of various techniques.
Acoustic Guitars are a very good place for children to begin their studies and exploration on the guitar, as many acoustic models can be found in smaller size for children. The electric guitar is great for teenagers, but both young and old can find inspiration when they hear and feel the power of the Electric Guitar. It is quite possible you might already have an old guitar sitting around the house. Often times these can still be quite playable, but you may want to have it adjusted and have the strings changed. There are acoustic guitars with both nylon and steel strings, and hundreds of different varieties of electric guitars and amplifiers. One of the best things about the Guitar is that even low cost instruments often play and sound very good after just a few lessons.

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Bass:

Ava Music features some of the finest music teachers in the North Vancouver who have their finger on the pulse of what bassis wants to learn today; everything from funk grooves to the slap bass techniques.  Our instructors give you the highest level of instruction available.  Our lessons have helped hundreds of people to realize their dream of becoming a musician.  Are you ready to make your dream come true?

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Violin:

Students may begin lessons on the Violin at a very early age; we recommend the student be approximately 4 years or older. For younger students who require a small size violin, renting may be the best option available. Many new student models are also available from many music stores or through Ava Music. When it comes to purchasing a high quality instrument, the experience gained from speaking to a professional Violin teacher would be invaluable.  Ava Music follow both Suzuki and Royal Conservatory curriculum.   Suzuki is a method and philosophy in music education. Suzuki is a1so a person, Shinichi Suzuki, who founded the method.  According to Suzuki, young children have an enormous thirst and potential for learning which is generally overlooked. He has shown that this potential can be realized with any healthy child, given the right conditions.  Suzuki outlines five "conditions for developing great ability:

• Begin as early as possible
• Create the best possible environment
• Use the finest teaching method
• Provide a great deal of training
• Use the finest teachers
  

When all these conditions are working together the flower of really wonderful ability will bloom.  At Ava Music with the help of our wonderful Violin teacher Ms. Braun your child will be able to develop her/his talent from the very beginner to university advance levels.

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Cello:

The Cello demands many of the same skills as the violin, but due to its larger size it may be more appropriate to start a student on the cello when they would be able to carry and hold the instrument comfortably. Ava Music recommends the student be approximately 6-7 years old, but it may be possible to start as young as five.  Playing the cello requires a refined ear and exceptional dexterity of the arms, hands, and fingers. Upon acquiring these skills through cello lessons, the student will then have the opportunity to be a part of this great history of cello music by studying the various repertoires by different composers.

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Voice:

Another extremely diverse instrument, the voice can be used in every music known to man from opera, to blues, to classical, to Broadway. The list goes on and on. Historically, most professional singers choose a classical training to strengthen their breathing, sound and range. This enables the voice student to be more versatile. From this basic understanding, voice lessons will give the student the opportunity to cultivate their own unique sound and style. By utilizing the rudiments of vocal technique, a voice student will learn reading, rhythm, vocal production, intonation, theory and more. You can never be too young to begin your training as a musician. Many teachers have different ideas as to what age is appropriate, but generally 12 years of age is a good place to begin serious Voice lessons. It is possible to start Voice lessons at a much younger age, but the lessons would focus more on basic musicianship skills and vocal breathing techniques in order to prepare a student for serious training as their body and voice matures.

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Saxophone:

Young children can begin Saxophone lessons as soon as seven or eight years old. The larger saxophones can be rather large instruments, so take this into consideration when choosing an instrument for a child. The saxophone is also a great instrument for adults wishing to learn another instrument or pick one up for the first time.  Many student and intermediate models can be purchased or rented at a reasonable price. There are four main kinds of saxophone: the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. In addition to an instrument, the correct stiffness of reeds is also a consideration to be discussed with your Saxophone teacher. Generally, new students on the sax should choose reeds that are softer rather than harder.  Saxophone lessons will teach the basic techniques of reading, theory, and sound production. Using a classical repertoire will give the students the fundamentals they need to play the style of their choice later on in their music education. For more advanced sax students, sax lessons will teach improvisation as it can be applied to jazz, blues, and modern popular music. Saxophone lessons will help the student find their own individual voice and to make that voice fit in any style they wish to pursue.

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Flute:

 The flute is a popular choice because of its delicate appearance and tone. When deciding to start a young student on flute, just consider their hand size; making sure their fingers can reach all of the keys.  Through the flute lessons at Ava Music, you will learn technique, sound production, reading, rhythm, and theory. You will learn the tradition of the flute as well as the more modern genres where the flute has been employed. Many flute students also later pursue voice lessons because of their deep connection to the signing quality the flute has. Like many woodwinds, the flute is an affordable instrument to either purchase or rent.  Younger students may find it easier to start with recorder and switch to flute at alter time.

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Clarinet:

The Clarinet is a great option for even very young students because of its small size and light weight. It is used in both orchestras and bands, thus being a highly versatile ensemble instrument. The clarinet is also a great choice for adults due to its rich, smooth sound which is also great for jazz and blues.
Clarinet lessons at Ava music will first focus on getting the student to make a pleasant sound. From there, basic technique and theory will be taught. Gradually the student will learn the classical repertoire and will have a chance to perform in one of our yearly recitals to show off their new found skills. 
Student model Clarinets are made of both plastic and wood. Plastic is a great choice if the instrument will be taken outside and used in band. Nearly all professional instruments are made of rosewood, which often produces a warm, dark, vibrant tone. Wood is more fragile and sensitive to temperature changes though, and is best for orchestras and concert bands. A good Clarinet teacher can also help you select any accessories you may also need along with your instrument No matter what your chosen clarinet style is, Ava Music will develop a lesson plan that best works for you!

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Oboe:

The Oboe is one of the instruments closest to the human voice, and is so beautiful when played with skilled hands. It is a great advantage to all beginner and intermediate music students to have proper private instruction from a professional. Oboe is a woodwind instrument, played with a double-reed, and has a different mechanism from other woodwinds common in bands and orchestras. These two aspects of the instrument can be a challenge for the Oboe student to get good instruction in proper technique. For kids learning Oboe, having specialized guidance makes an enormous difference. Having private Oboe lessons is an excellent way to get a proper and full insight into this instrument right from the start. Ensemble conductors and school band teachers will really appreciate the improvement in sound and technique that your lessons will bring you.

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