About Us

Andy is the founder and principal instructor at AK Music.

Using over 19 years' worth of knowledge he’s gained from the classical and jazz scene, Andy provides first-class methods of instruction for both classical and jazz piano. He can teach all levels of RCM practical piano, Theory I-III, Harmony I-III, History I-III, Analysis, Counterpoint, Adv. Ear Training, Classical/Contemporary Composition, and Songwriting.

Achieving high levels of success is a fundamental principle of Andy’s teaching philosophy. The teachers at AK Music are thoroughly vetted to meet Andy’s high expectations. Whether getting high grades at RCM exams, winning competitions, performing at recitals or seeing the personal enjoyment a student experiences when playing, this kind of success is a crucial point Andy and all the teachers at AK Music value.

Students at AK Music have won local and provincial competitions. They also have been known to score First Class Honours with Distinction at the RCM seasonal exams. Furthermore, at AK Music, there are multiple opportunities for students to perform and collaborate with others throughout the school year.

Student recitals, competitions, teacher performances:

Each year, AK Music hosts two recitals where our students can perform for others. Piano students have the opportunity to play on a concert grand piano (a costly instrument!). These recitals are held in June and December and are entirely voluntary, but students are highly encouraged to participate.

Students who put in the work are encouraged to compete in the Peel Music Festival and Kiwanis Festival competitions. We have some top-place winners! These festivals are held in the spring and offer an excellent chance to expose students to the competitive and reflective side of performing.

It’s also worth mentioning that many of our teachers are active performers and have regular performances throughout the year. We strongly believe students who want to become better musicians should go out and listen to more live music (Toronto symphony orchestra, Jazz Clubs such as the Rex, and local rock/pop concerts). Seeing your teacher perform is a great starting point!

Student Expectations: Students should designate a notebook (to write in their homework) and should have manuscript paper on hand as well.

Practice is key: How much you practice per day, per week, and overall throughout the year will determine how quickly you will progress. After the first few lessons, your teacher will explain how long you should spend per day practicing and in what manner you should divide your time up.

Whether you are starting at level 1 or are finishing your level 10 exam, music should be fun! Showing up prepared will allow everyone to have more fun during the lessons. Our teachers will always prepare for their classes and will do their best to make your lessons enjoyable and memorable.

Cancellation policy: We are flexible - however, 24 hours of notice is needed if you want to reschedule/cancel a lesson. We understand that emergencies do happen, so we allow for 1 cancellation under 24 hours of notice per calendar year without charging for the lesson.

After using the 1 free cancellation, we charge for any cancelled/rescheduled lessons that are given less than 24 hours of notice or for classes that are no-shows.

If a teacher cancels, we will try to reschedule a makeup class as soon as possible. If we cannot find a time that works within that month, we either credit the missed lesson towards the next month or we will refund you the missed class.

If you want to stop lessons permanently, 30 days of notice is required, otherwise the remaining lessons within the 30 day period will be charged.

Yearly Studio Fee: An annual fee of $75.00 is charged per student. This goes towards paying for the two yearly recitals and admin fees.

About Us

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AK Music Studio