Our Instructors

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.

Rob attended the Mohawk College Applied Music Program and studied with some of Canada’s best musicians. Around that time, he also began a career of regular live performance and teaching the guitar.

Over his almost 30-year private teaching career, Rob has conservatively taught in excess of 50,000 guitar and ukulele lessons, a number he is immensely proud of. Many of his students and their families have remained close friends long after their lessons came to an end. Some have even gone on to professional and semi-professional musical careers themselves.

He believes what sets him apart as a guitar instructor is the empathy he shares for people of any age who are starting out to learn the guitar.

“It can be intimidating. I remember what it felt like. I really enjoy that very first lesson. I like helping people to relax, let go of their anxiety and realize their potential as a musician”. -Rob Cutting

Marie has her Grade 9 Vocal RCM, and has been song-writing, performing and recording for over 15 years. She has been teaching music for the past decade and works with students interested in performing (and writing) in popular styles, as well as those preparing classical repertoire for RCM exams or auditions. She studied piano and voice at Nipissing University and Prairie College. She is studying to complete her Vocal RCM Grade 10 in 2020.

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 beginner to advanced piano and is a licensed teacher of the Simply Music piano program.

Brandon is a graduate of Western University where he received a BA in Business Management. After working in sales for a couple of years, he decided to pursue his true passion: music. He is currently a student at the Mohawk College Applied Music Program, where he is studying contemporary guitar. He has studied, and continues to study, many genres including Blues, Folk, Rock, Pop, Jazz, and Funk.

Brandon is currently the lead guitarist of Toronto band Glutenhead. The band has recorded and released two EP’s and has played headline shows at Toronto venues such as The Horseshoe Tavern, Sneaky Dee’s, and The Monarch.

Brandon is enthusiastic, patient, and caring, and he inspires students with his excitement and dedication. Whether you’re picking up the guitar for the first time or looking to continue your musical development and journey, Brandon has the experience and drive to help you achieve your goals. His philosophy of teaching is to inspire a deep love and passion for the instrument as well as explore the joy of creativity.

Shealagh received her Bachelor of Music (Honours) in 2016 from Humber College as a vocal major. She has been teaching for over 6 years now and continues to be inspired by her students’ growth and motivation in their musical journeys. She teaches voice, ukulele, piano, and beginner guitar.

Shealagh is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and released her debut EP “Island” in 2016, which can be found on Spotify under the name Shealagh Rose. She is currently based out of Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area where she works towards her sophomore release.

Aside from music, she enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, and embroidery!

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 teacher 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.

Patrick is a graduate of Carleton University where he holds a BA in History, but his real passion has always been music, specifically the recording arts. While recording some music with Hemispheres co-founder Rob Cutting, it occurred to them that Patrick’s recording expertise could be applied to teaching people how to use the incredible technology available to every Mac/iPad or even iPhone owner and design a course to create personalized recording projects using GarageBand or Logic Pro, regardless of your level of musicianship or previous recording experience. Maybe you are familiar with GarageBand and just need some extra guidance? Perhaps you’d like to write a song and build a track from scratch? Don’t play an instrument? No problem. Patrick will help you start making your own music!

Amanda is a graduate of the Applied Music program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, where she studied classical flute. She is currently continuing her flute studies at Wilfred Laurier University. She has her Grade 8 RCM in piano and RCM theory accreditations. She brings both a classical, technique-based methodology and her fun, supportive personality to her teaching!

Shawn Trotter, a professional musician with over 30 years of performing and teaching experience, specializes in guitar and mandolin instruction for adult and professional musicians. He recognizes the unique aspirations of experienced students and tailors his lessons to meet their specific needs.

You can expect personalized attention, expert instruction, and a dedication to helping you achieve your musical goals. Shawn is excited to work with you whether you aspire to perform professionally, compose original music, or continue your musical journey.