Barb Carruthers

BMus; FA Dip (Kodály) 

Piano Faculty;

Music is an art of communication. It allows us to speak to other human beings at a level that is especially deep and in a way that language alone could never do justice. For this reason, I feel that it is a great privilege and a huge responsibility to teach this art to students. I am not only highly committed to providing them with the best music education, but I also strive to inspire them greatly.

I completed a Bachelor of Music and a Fine Arts Diploma in Kodály Pedagogy from the University of Calgary. While there, I also studied advanced ear training with Janos Horvath and composition with David Eagle. My piano teachers have included Marilyn Engle, Kathy Dornian, Vladimir Levtov, and Mariko Sato.

 I have been a private music teacher since 2002. By teaching private piano lessons and masterclasses, I have assisted students with preparing for recitals, RCM exams, festivals, auditions and a variety of other events. I have worked with students of all ages and wrote a 2 - level program that integrates Kodály methodology into piano learning. I have also trained new teachers in curriculum planning, teaching students how to practice, injury prevention, and mental practicing. 

I strive to ensure that my students are well-rounded musicians. During their lessons, they learn how to play with effortless technique, to analyze, to hear the music in their mind' ears, to memorize and to think about the composer behind the music. They also learn how to practice efficiently so that their work at home is meaningful and productive. I always encourage them to play music to express themselves and am their partner in helping them achieve their goals.

Private Lesson Rate: $79.00 per hour, $39.50 per half-hour.