erika gomez - piano and theory instructor

Hello! 

My name is Ms. Erika and I have been teaching piano and theory for almost 40 years.  I started with both when I was 14 and preparing for my Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music Level 9 examinations, the theory as an assistant instructor in my theory teacher's studio, the piano on my own but under the tutelage of my piano teacher of the time.  And I continued on from there.  I occasionally digressed, and I usually was running the music studio in conjunction with something else, but I could never let it go, I loved it too much. I switched over to online lessons with the onset of COVID-19 and decided to keep it that way. I am now focused on the music studio, providing both piano and theory lessons.  I am open to taking on students from anywhere within Canada.

I am a Registered Music Teacher (RMT), registered with the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher’s Association, with full memberships in the Alberta Registered Music Teacher’s Association, Calgary branch, and the Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association, Ottawa branch. Membership in these associations provides me and my students with access to their services, which includes in-person recitals, bursaries, and other learning opportunities. 

I attained my Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music Performer’s A.R.C.T. in 1990. I also have a B.Sc. in Engineering (1995), a B.A. in Psychology (2012), and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies where my focus was on comparative cultural analysis (2020) - this is the "explorer" portion of my title - I love exploring different ways of seeing the world. I feel this benefits me greatly as a teacher as my teaching philosophy is that it is the teacher's responsibility to approach the instruction from the student's perspective; having experience in explicit exploration of perspectives assists me in making that transition, particularly for individuals whose living experience may be radically different from my own.  

I have engaged in a substantive amount of work in education and human development, ages 3 through 26, outside of my work as a music teacher, primarily, but not solely, in conjunction with Developmental Optimization Ltd. I have developed and/or assessed educational programming for students from early childhood through undergraduate university education, in ways such as: the creation of dual credit courses to support the transition from secondary to post-secondary life; creation of educational programming for special needs students; advocacy for special needs students entering post-secondary education; and assessment and development of early childhood educational programming. I have worked on the development of parenting programs for social support organizations supporting families at risk. I have been extensively involved in research involving the transition from secondary to post-secondary life for youth and young adults ages 16 through 26, this is ongoing. I volunteered as a Cub leader where I was responsible for programming for badge activities, was an activity leader for a residential program for troubled youth, and was coach for several sports teams, ages 8 through 16. For a time I administered the Safe and Sound Protocol, an auditory intervention program which I delivered to individuals with physical and developmental delays. I have a solid understanding of teaching, child and youth development, and how they interact. 

I have experience with teaching individuals of all ages, from 5 to 75. Music doesn’t stop when you reach legal age! Nor does it have to only begin when you are a child. Each person comes to their music experience with their own desires, goals, and backgrounds, I tailor each individual's music experience to meet their interests and life stage. Music instruction really is for everyone.

I also have considerable experience with individuals outside of the normative and I welcome such individuals into my music studio. I meet all of my students where they are at. Please do not be afraid to reach out to this studio because of lack of welcome or understanding experienced in other settings. 

Although my accreditation in music is through Royal Conservatory I started out in the Suzuki method, which is a methodology based upon learning music by ear, and I support this approach. I highly value having the student listen to their music, as compared to simply taking the markings on a sheet of paper and transferring them to wooden blocks on a wooden construction, and I integrate this value into my teaching. 

Although I have many additional interests music is a vital part of my world. Additional to that, I love sharing this love of mine with others. So come, share with me, and open the doors to an expanded world for yourself.
 

To get to know me better please feel welcome to reach out for a conversation through the contact form below, directly to my e-mail at erika.gomez@musicaldreamspianostudio.ca, or by phone at 1-403-472-8405. I am always happy to chat!

Ms. Erika

Erika.Gomez@MusicalDreamsPianoStudio.ca

1-403-472-8405