About Yamaha Music School

The first Yamaha Music School was born in 1954, in Tokyo, Japan, as an experimental class for young children. Unique instruction methods produced excellent results, and the Yamaha Music School quickly gained a high reputation throughout the world.

Yamaha has since grown into an international music education system encompassing 16,000 locations in more than 40 countries across the world. To date, more than six million people have graduated from the Yamaha Music Education System, producing well-rounded musicians who not only play instruments but make real music.

Music for Life – Yamaha Music School is a locally owned and operated growing music school catering to musicians of all ages in London and surrounding area.

For more information about Yamaha’s international and national music education activities, visit the Yamaha Music Foundation and Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.

Instruments & Facilities

Music for Life – Yamaha Music School offers the best facilities available in London, Ontario for group instruction. Each group classroom features state-of-the-art Yamaha keyboards and digital pianos, with each of the students seated at their own instrument.

Our younger students have access to a full range of touch-sensitive keys to develop expressive ability. For our advanced students, Yamaha Clavinovas with 88 weighted piano keys will help to develop technical proficiency. All keyboard instruments feature a veritable orchestra of realistic sounds and rhythms, utilizing the latest in digital technology  to allow for a complete musical experience.

For more information on Yamaha’s line of piano and portable keyboard products, visit the Yamaha Musical Instrument Portal or our authorized instrument dealer, D & S Pianos

Teaching Faculty

We are proud to have a dynamic and diverse teaching faculty! Our instructors come from varied backgrounds (including teaching/pedagogy, performance, improv/composition), and all share one goal: to provide each student with a fun and comprehensive musical experience.

Each group instructor must pass a comprehensive evaluation where he/she must demonstrate skill in not only performance of an instrument, but singing, accompaniment, sight-reading, improvisation and transposition, as well as having the required aural abilities and knowledge of harmony and music theory.

Instructors of the Yamaha Music Education System undergo annual training, upgrading, and observation by the members of our local and national administrative teams to ensure the highest calibre of musical instruction.

Our teaching faculty for the 2010-2011 school year includes:

Mr. Andrew Gunadie, MW, JMC, YMC, Private Piano

Andrew has over ten years experience teaching with Yamaha. He has achieved advanced certification in Piano, Electone, and Yamaha Music Education System course instruction. Andrew’s students have achieved top standing at various music festivals, and have been invited to perform at national showcases in Toronto, Banff, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. Andrew’s personal musical interests include popular music composition and electronic music technologies. Disciplined in many fields, Andrew obtained a concurrent Honours degree & diploma from The University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College. He has worked on many popular television productions, and also serves as an independent producer of digital media. Andrew is the co-producer & co-composer of Canadian, Please which recently gained a lot of national and international media attention.

Ms. Megan Dow, MW, JMC,  Private Voice

Megan joins our school for her fifth year at Yamaha Music School, bringing over ten years of professional experience as a musician, singer, and actor. She has performed with such companies as Huron Country Playhouse, St. Lawrence Stage Company and Upper Canada Playhouse, and spent six seasons singing with the Canadian Opera Company Chorus in Toronto. Megan received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto and has also trained at the Banff Arts Centre. She also holds a diploma in Music Theatre Performance from Sheridan College and has acquired piano certification through the Royal Conservatory of Music. This past year, Megan completed her Bachelor of Education at UWO.

Ms. Karin Asselstine, MW/JMC, Private Voice

Karin has been sharing her love of music with students for 5 years as a private voice instructor and group class teacher. With companies such as Raymond Playhouse Theatre, Lethbridge Musical Theatre, University of Lethbridge Opera, and Alberta College, Karin has performed across the Alberta, the western United States, and Mexico as a solo performer and collaborator in various productions in Opera, Musical theatre, and chamber performances. Karin received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Lethbridge under Patrice Jegou and has also trained with Kim Mattice Wanat. Her private voice students have received top marks in RCM exams and festivals, with several students successfully auditioning for undergraduate programs across Canada. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Voice in Performance and Literature at UWO.

Ms. Kate Dunning, Private Piano/Voice

Kate is currently studying at the University of Western Ontario pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Music degree in Music History, and specializing in the area of Western Art Music. She continues to take piano lessons, specializing in pedagogical piano practices. Kate holds advanced certification in both piano and voice, and also played the oboe in her high school band. Kate has experience teaching privately and also by teaching at the Piano Studio in Newmarket, ON. Kate’s other interests include painting, reading and studying in the library at school.

Ms. Daniela Bute, Private Piano

Daniela brings to Yamaha Music School a diverse musical background and internationally acquired experience in choir conducting and piano and music theory teaching. Daniela holds a Bachelor of Music Pedagogy Degree in Romania, at the National University of Music in Bucharest and a PhD in Music Education at The University of Western Ontario. In Romania, she successfully participated with her students in several national music competitions (instrumental and voice contests as accompanist and teacher and choral Olympiads). At Western, Daniela provided instrumental coaching to voice students and was a consultant for the Faculty’s summer music camp programs. Daniela is also a choir member of the St. Paul’s Cathedral Church in London, Ontario, where she also performs soloist parts in the Cathedral’s concert series. Daniela’s other interests include community music and analysis of popular music genres from a musicological and social perspective.

Mr. Edward Greene, Private & Group Guitar

Ed Greene, a well-rounded, seasoned musician, joins us for another year at Yamaha Music School. In addition to completing piano studies at the Western Conservatory of Music, he is also trained in guitar, trumpet, and vocals. Ed was in a band that was awarded first place in the Fanshawe Band Wars competition and won the creative music festival twice at the University of Western Ontario Conservatory. He has been teaching and performing solo as well as in various bands for more than 20 years. Folk, rock, country and blues music are among Ed’s tastes. His other interests include going to the gym, playing tennis and swimming. Ed has acquired certification for Yamaha’s group courses, including our new Popular Music Course series for teens and adults.

Mr. Ivan Recinos, Private Guitar

Ivan joins us for yet another year teaching at Yamaha Music School! Drawing experience from many guitar instructors, as well as having studied theory and taken courses in high school, he has become a very skilled musician. Ivan’s many musical influences range from Spanish and rock music to virtuoso, and he has performed at weddings, concerts, and most recently here at Yamaha. In his spare time, he is active in three bands and is always practicing the guitar. Ivan is currently studying at The University of Western Ontario.