If a given company ’ s website doesn ’ t say anything about internships , ask anyways . The worst they can say is no !
PHOTO : JAMIE KRONICK songwriting using skills she acquired from Canterbury .
Things to consider before applying are the student ’ s ability to prepare for an audition , actual skill assessment , and parents ’ commitment to supporting the program as it ’ s far more intensive than regular high school . Students are required to complete their daily course load and practice their instruments or vocal exercises for hours after school . Also consider that outside lessons may be required , instrument rentals and purchases , and the student ’ s ability to pursue the program .
Dan Hay of Amos the Transparent & The Spark Academy
on coffee and bump into people in the hallways , which is often the best networking of the year . These often happen simultaneously with music festivals . These happen all over North America throughout the year and range from being totally free to having tiered pass options .
Check out the “ Capitalize on Music Conferences ” feature in the March / April 2017 issue of Canadian Musician for more .
SETTING YOUR COURSE
Now that you know your options , how do you decide what ’ s right for you , and how do you tell if those decisions are paying off ?
Arts-Focused Secondary Schools Parents are usually the first to introduce children to the possibility of attending an arts high school . “ They planted the seed at age 11 ,” says Jacquie Neville of Toronto-based band The Balconies . She attended Canterbury High School in Ottawa for music .
“ Growing up , I was playing violin since I was six years old ,” she says . One of the advantages her parents valued was that the program was affordable as it was part of the regular municipal school board . The choice was easy as it was the only school that could satisfy her growing interest in creative expression in the city . “ I saw Canterbury as a promised-land for perfecting my craft and being around people like me ,” she says . “ I ’ m pretty sure I cried when I was accepted .” She wasn ’ t restricted to just one instrument and was able to sample the other programs including drama , choir , and musical theatre with peers just as eager to learn as her .
A pivotal moment for Neville that determined her career path was when she wrote and performed a song for the entire student body . “ I thought , ‘ How lucky am I that I go to school and learn an instrument and get graded on this ?” she says . “ That ’ s when I realized I wanted to perform my own music forever .” As part of her artist development , excellent teachers taught her the importance of practice and dedication to her craft – skills she applies daily to her band today . And as for recommending the program to future students , “ Absolutely !” she says . “ There are so many amazing qualities from attending a performing arts school that are transferable regardless of if students choose a career in the arts ,” she says .
Neville now teaches lessons in violin , vocals , and
If a given company ’ s website doesn ’ t say anything about internships , ask anyways . The worst they can say is no !
Private Music Lessons This can include anything from a handful of lessons to tackle a specific concept to decades of ongoing instruction . Whether students want to learn Taylor Swift songs or write a rock opera , a private teacher can guide your career . But when do you know you ’ re ready ?
“ Right from the moment you start getting interested in playing music ,” says Dan Hay of The Spark Academy . “ The beginning stages are the most crucial time to have private lessons ,” he says , drawing from over 20 years of private teaching . He adds that guitar lessons are just the tip of the iceberg for learning about the music world in general . Internet searches or music store ads are a good launching point for finding teachers in your area ; however , referrals from past students are the best way to discover your ideal match . Lessons aren ’ t just for children – a common misconception , explains Hay . “ The majority of my students are adults who really want to learn .”
Factors to consider could be if the teacher uses theory books and strict lesson plans or if the lessons can be catered around your interests . “ It ’ s important to meet with the teacher beforehand and look at the environment you ’ re going to be learning in ,” says Hay .
Liking each other is also key . “ I want to see if we click in personality and interests ,” Hay says . He explains that the first few lessons , for him , are more conversations to identify goals ( like recording an album ) than strictly learning … and even if they don ’ t know , adding that sense of guidance .
As a musician who has toured internationally with bands like Amos the Transparent and The Fully Down , Hay ’ s students look to him as a mentor , which is why he is adamant that teachers have real industry experience and careers in order to best guide their students . Lessons can often include discussions about how to record an album or get signed to a label . Students may discover that they are passionate about a different instrument than originally planned or that they ’ re more interested in the production side of music .
Students can tell it ’ s the right path if they ’ re excited about the process and results . “ It ’ s not fun to teach them if they don ’ t want to be there ,” says Hay , adding it ’ s best to ask about policies before signing any contracts .
52 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN