Information for Montcrest School students:
Term 3 Music Lessons (April 9th - June 12th)
For 2023/2024 lessons private Music lessons at Montcrest School will be taught after school from 3:30pm - 6:00pm during the week. The schedule for term 3 is filling up fast, if you are interested in having your child participate in music lessons, make sure to head on over to the sign-up form to secure your spot for term 3 or if you want to sign up for next year. *Please note, no lessons are scheduled Monday June 10th, as this date is the recital, see below for more.
End-of-Year Recital Information
I'm thrilled to announce that our end-of-year recital is scheduled for Monday, June 10th 2024 from 6pm (performance times to be decided). The event will take place at the legendary recording studio Kensington Sound, located downtown in Kensington Market. We want the recital to be a relaxed atmosphere and taking part is entirely optional.
Established in 1971, Kensington Sound holds a rich history of producing iconic recordings and has been the creative hub for numerous legendary Canadian artists, including Sharon Lois and Bram, Alanna Myles, Jeff Healey, Teenage Head, Murray Mclauchlan, among others. The studio is nestled in the heart of Kensington Market on Baldwin Street, and offers a unique glimpse into the music industry's past and present, with its 70s-style ambiance and historic significance. We'll be utilizing the newly renovated front lounge concert space (link here for recent filming/recording example in the space), reminiscent of the 'tiny desk' concert series.
The space is permanently setup for performances and recordings, making use of the studio's vintage and modern recording equipment including: amps, microphones, Drum kits, Guitars, PA, stands, cables, recording console and more. Piano students will have the opportunity to play on a very limited edition one of a kind Schimmel Concert Grand Piano which was recently donated. Tickets are $15 per adult, children's tickets are free. A recording of the concert will also be available to purchase on a pay-what-you-feel basis (please let me know in the form below if you are interested in having a recording). This is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable performance experience.
If your child would like to perform, please let me know here in the signup form. Please include the number of attendees you'd like to bring, excluding the performer(s). This is so we can better estimate our recital timings and required capacity as space at Kensington Sound is limited.
Travel and Parking near Kensington Sound
The closest and most convenient parking available is at the Green P across the road from the studio. For public transit the best option would be to take the subway from Broadview to Spadina, and then take the south bound street car to Spadina Ave at Nassau St. Please note the performance space does have stairs as you come through the main entrance of the building.
Next steps…
As we build up to the recital date I’ll be in touch in May with tutors regarding final repertoire for the program notes, and if we need any extra materials like backing tracks, accompaniments, sheet music etc. If you have any questions please email me directly and I’ll be happy to answer any queries regarding the recital.
What Do We Teach and When?
All the information on what instrument lessons we offer can be found here on our website.
We currently offer:
Guitar (on Wednesdays)
Drums (on Wednesdays)
Piano (on Mondays with Patrick Smith, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Andrew Rasmussen)
Ukulele (lessons are on Wednesdays)
Voice (lessons are on Thursdays)
Woodwind (on Mondays with Patrick Smith, with potential of opening up Thursdays *based on demand)
Brass (TBD *based on demand)
All Private Music Lessons are subject to demand and availability, and lesson times are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. In the event that the lesson schedule is filled, additional lesson dates will be offered depending on demand.
Pricing and Lesson Policy
Please click here to visit our lesson pricing and policy page. This page contains all of the relevant information you need.
Check Out Our Amazing Teachers!
Click here to view our current staff. All of our staff are fully qualified teachers and are highly accomplished musicians with years of experience in the music industry.
Instrument Purchase or Rental Options
If you do not currently have access to the instrument you've chosen to have lessons for, then now may be a good time to start looking at purchasing or rental options! Renting can be a better option if you don't want to commit to buying an instrument straight away. We recommend renting through Long & McQuade as they stock quality and reasonably priced products. You can contact your local store for help with sizing or choosing the right instrument for your needs.
Aftercare Clarification
Montcrest School students are able to wait in reception of Thompson House or aftercare (if you have opted for this service), this will be with a member of staff from the aftercare team until their tutor arrives to collect students for their scheduled lesson. After each lesson students will then be brought back to reception for parent/guardian pickup, or alternatively brought back to aftercare for a later pickup time.
If you cannot pickup your child at the end of their scheduled lesson time, then please contact Montcrest School to make arrangements for this service. Beats and Bars Music School is not responsible for organizing or coordinating the aftercare program at Montcrest School, neither do we assume responsibility for this service as it is not managed by Beats and Bars Music School.
F.A.Q.s
When can students start?
Spring Term 3 this year will be from April 9th - June 12th 2024. (No lessons scheduled June 10th as that day is the recital)
Where are lessons taught?
We offer a range of options, whether that’s in-person lessons at Montcrest School or lessons at your home (depending on your location). Tutors are also available to teach remotely via video call on various platforms including: Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime and Skype.
How many lessons will I be booked in for?
Lessons are booked in per term, so you will be booked in for 9 to 11 lessons depending on the day of the week of your lesson.
What if we miss a lesson?
Our lesson policy can be found here. If 24 hours notice has been given, then a make-up credit will be issued onto your account to be scheduled at the end of the term or on an alternative date. Lessons will not be scheduled for the last week of term to allow for any make-up lessons. Beats and Bars Music is not responsible for changes in the Montcrest calendar, for example, sporting practices/events and other extracurricular clubs. If there are any scheduling conflicts that arise then please notify us of your cancellation. Lessons that are cancelled not in accordance with our lesson policy will be non-refundable.
All cancellation messages should be communicated via email to info@beatsandbars.ca
How do I check my child’s lesson schedule?
Email reminders are sent out 24 hours before each lesson.
You will also be given a login to our portal where you can synchronize your lesson schedule to your calendar application (click here for instructions). You can log into the portal here or via the Log In button in our website navigation.
For students in middle school, it may be a good idea to synchronize their lesson schedule with their Google Calendar.
How will lessons be scheduled?
Lessons at Montcrest start from 3:30pm until 6:00pm on weekdays. If you wish to have lessons online or at home please email us. Time slots are given on a first come first serve basis and are subject to availability, please let us know your preferences in the signup form (the more options you give us the better!)
Any Questions? Don’t Hesitate to Ask
We can’t wait to hear from you! Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.