School of Music

CLARA SHANDLER
Piano – Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays

Clara Shandler is a classically trained musician from Vancouver, who plays and teaches piano, cello and violin. She completed a B.Mus degree at UBC and has spent the past decade teaching, performing, recording and writing in a number of different mediums. Clara has held teaching jobs in Canada, Nepal, Cambodia, and Myanmar as a private teacher and a classroom instructor. Clara guides her students to find their own unique musical path through a variety of musical games and exercises.

LAINE LONGTON
Cello – Thursdays and Mondays

Laine has been playing the cello since the age of 5 and holds a B.Mus in Performance from the UVic , a M. Mus from the University of Illinois and a Doctor of Musical Arts from UBC. Laine runs the string section of UBC’s Summer Music Camps. Sheloves teaching students of all ages and abilities and believes in a personalized approach for each student.

CLARA SHANDLER
Cello – Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays

Clara Shandler is a classically trained musician from Vancouver, who plays and teaches piano, cello and violin. She completed a B.Mus degree at UBC and has spent the past decade teaching, performing, recording and writing in a number of different mediums. Clara has held teaching jobs in Canada, Nepal, Cambodia, and Myanmar as a private teacher and a classroom instructor. Clara guides her students to find their own unique musical path through a variety of musical games and exercises.

AIDEN BROOKSTONE

Guitar, ukulele – Wednesdays

Aiden has been playing music all his life. After playing tenor saxophone in his school’s bands, he was inspired to pick up the guitar. Taught through the likes of John Mayer, Eric Clapton, and Neil Young, he began writing songs and finding the joy in creating what isn’t yet there. Through teaching, he loves passing on his joy for the depth of music and creation to discover the unique musician in each one of his students.

JEFF TOBIN

Drums – Tuesdays & Thursdays

Jeff has been playing, performing, teaching and recording on the drum set since he was 8. He furthered his drumming studies by taking lessons with a percussionist from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and later started playing with the band ColorWheel and performed in Vancouver. “Playing and teaching the drum set is a passion that brews inside. I couldn’t think of doing anything else and I feel so fortunate to be making a career out of it.” Jeff is a very engaging, energetic and well-loved teacher who also performs at JCC community events.

SHIR BARZEL
Voice, Piano Fundamentals – Tuesdays

Shir has been singing and playing the piano ever since she can remember. She is a vocal coach with experience in numerous singing styles: musical theatre, pop, and rock and a piano instructor for the fundamentals. In addition, Shir was trained in the LEV voice method, which allows her to teach singing in a unique and fun way and focus on developing foundations that are personalized for each student. Shir believes in creating a safe environment in which students feel free to express themselves and explore their voice and creative passions.

CATIE AKUNE

Violin – Mondays

Catie took up the violin at the age of 10 and received a B.Mus from UBC. With love for a variety of genres, she performs in many different settings including symphonies, weddings, DJ clubs, and churches. She has multiple years of experience teaching, and creates lessons structured around her students’ interests, values, and goals. Her mission is to inspire a lifelong appreciation and fascination of music just as her teachers have.

JULIA KUZKA

Violin and ECE Music Music – Sundays

Julia is a music teacher with passion and experience in working with students of all ages. She has unique experience in Early Childhood Education using the E.Gordon and E.Dalcroze methods and is currently also specializing in art therapy. She has been teaching violin, viola and piano and has played in various orchestras and music ensembles as a viola and piano player, as well as composing music for films and television in Poland. She believes that being a music teacher isn’t a job, it’s a vocation, and the most important thing for her is an individual approach to the student. Julia believes in creating a safe environment in which students feel free to express themselves and explore their voice and creative passions.