Our Instructors – Piano

Rebecca studied Applied Music at the Canberra Institute of Technology in her native Australia and at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

She is a licensed teacher of Simply Music, an innovative, playing-based piano teaching method that has students playing songs from many genres, with both hands, from their very first lessons.

She has been teaching piano for over 10 years and has her Gr. 9 RCM Piano equivalent with the Australian Music Examination Board.

She is a mom of two and still loves to play and grow as a musician. She is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist and has performed live around the Hamilton/Burlington area in recent years. Her warm, supportive and encouraging nature appeals to students of all ages.

Jordan Russell is a long-time resident of Hamilton, Ontario, and a life-long musician. From a musical family, he started piano lessons at 6, studied trumpet at 12, and took up drums and percussion at 14. By the age of 18, he completed his grade 9 RCM. He first began teaching as a music theory tutor and private teacher by 16.

After secondary school, he played and recorded with various bands, ensembles, and artists and continued with his love for performing and teaching. Jordan takes an individualized approach with every new student regardless of age or experience. With a strong belief that music should be fun, he encourages students to find joy in performing at any skill level.

He teaches beginners to the advanced piano and is a licensed teacher of the Simply Music piano program.

Anna began taking piano lessons when she was five years old and has explored a wide range of genres with different teachers. Playing and making arrangements for songs she likes, composing her own pieces, and learning at her own pace helped to spark her love of music.

Anna earned her RCM Level 8 Theory and she competed in the Ontario Music Festivals Association provincials in 2017 while attending high school. She has studied classical piano at Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON, and is currently studying Arts & Science at McMaster University. She is a licenced teach of Simply Music, an innovative, non-traditional method that has students playing songs from many genres, with both hands, right away!

She has taught music lessons for several years and loves sharing her passion with students of all ages. Through her enthusiasm, patience, and kindness, Anna encourages her students to explore and nurture their own relationships with music.

Ruchira began her violin studies in Indian Classical music in Trinidad. She moved to Canada at the age of 10 and started her RCM studies at the Toronto Faculty of Music. After graduating from the University of Toronto, she attended the Applied Music program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

Ruchira loves to teach violin and piano, especially to beginners! Lessons with her include classical, fiddle, pop, soundtracks as well as blues and improvisation. She is a licensed teacher of Simply Music, an innovative, playing-based piano teaching method that has students playing songs from many genres, with both hands, from their very first lessons.

Amanda is a graduate of the University of Ottawa, where she earned her Master’s of Music in Orchestral Performance on the flute. She is also a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University (BMUS) and Mohawk College (Applied Music).

As a performer, she is known to be energetic and enthusiastic, with a strong, extroverted musical voice. She is experienced in performing in solo recitals, chamber music and orchestra, and has been a featured performer at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage, Chamberfest’s Rising Stars and Orford Music’s Rising Stars. Her favourite thing to do is perform in chamber groups and collaborate with other musicians.

She has her Grade 8 RCM certificate in piano and theory accreditations, and is an experienced piano teacher. She also has a strong interest and knowledge of music history which she loves to bring into music lessons.

Amanda is a self proclaimed “flute nerd”, and is excited to share her love of music and knowledge with students. She brings a classical, technique based methodology and her fun, supportive personality to her teaching.

Piano player Mike Stevenson’s chance meeting with Scott “Professor Piano” Cushnie (Aerosmith, The Canadian Aces) changed everything. Becoming fast friends, Scott taught Mike blues, boogie and New Orleans jazz piano and – more importantly – how to be a pro musician on and off the stage. Mike toured Europe’s smaller venues over two years, developing his repertoire, working on his vocal skills, and gaining valuable experience. Upon his return, Mike joined Judy Johnson’s Thinline R&B Revue and Clarksdale with Sam Carothers (The Allman Brothers, Ronnie Hawkins) and Rob Quail (The Jeff Healey Band). Reviewing Clarksdale, T.O. Nite’s John Grant wrote “Mike Stevenson’s devastating barrel house left hand and high register work is truly captivating.” Mike returned to Europe with Ray Charles tribute artist Frank Rondell and is honoured to have played piano for many other great performers. Now Mike plays and sings with several local bands and finds himself playing the extremes of fine dining engagements, college pub nights, festivals, dueling piano bars, and various other venues and events. Mike is extremely proud of the local music scene and is grateful to all its supporters and its many talented performers.