Our Teaching Philosophy

At Maple and Spruce Music Academy, we teach individual students.

Every person has a unique way of learning, unique goals, and a unique way of expressing themselves through music. It's our job to help each student reach their potential by providing them with the tools and opportunities to be successful. 
We define successful students as people who are achieving their goals and are enjoying the journey. Learning an instrument can be both fun and frustrating at times and performing can be both exciting and scary. But our faculty members have experienced all of the highs and lows of music making and are dedicated to providing an encouraging, supportive, fun, and compassionate environment.

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Students are encouraged to practice using a wide array of tools that inspire great results, build confidence, and keep students engaged in the practicing process. Ultimately, we find this brings out the best in our students. We strive for a high level of skill on the instrument, but ultimately, being a musician is so much more than just having good technique. It means being a good listener, understanding what you're playing, being invested in the arts, and being an empathetic and responsive person. 

Our studio is non-competitive. We never push students to complete examinations or participate in competitions and festivals however, we recognize the value in these musical experiences and are fully supportive of any student who would like to share their hard work through these activities. We coach our students to articulate their strengths and areas to work on next. We value feedback from adjudicators, examiners, and other musicians for the learning potential to help us on the path of being our best selves.