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Experienced High School Teacher Specializing in French and Piano
Simon L.

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Hourly Rate: $50

About Simon


Bio

I teach both Music and French, drawing from a rich academic and professional background that bridges classical training and real-world experience. I hold two bachelor's degrees in music—one in classical piano performance from Université de Sherbrooke and another in instrumental composition from Université de Montréal. To deepen my mastery of written French, I completed FRA 1002 – Maîtrise du français écrit at Université TELUQ as an auditor. As a native French speaker, I bring fluency,...

I teach both Music and French, drawing from a rich academic and professional background that bridges classical training and real-world experience. I hold two bachelor's degrees in music—one in classical piano performance from Université de Sherbrooke and another in instrumental composition from Université de Montréal. To deepen my mastery of written French, I completed FRA 1002 – Maîtrise du français écrit at Université TELUQ as an auditor. As a native French speaker, I bring fluency, precision, and cultural nuance to my instruction. My career as a cruise ship musician, culminating in my role as music director for Carnival Cruise Line, has further shaped my ability to communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and lead with confidence.
For the past four years, I’ve taught high school French and piano, working primarily with teenagers in both classroom and one-on-one settings. Prior to that, I spent over a decade teaching piano privately to students of all ages. My teaching style is interactive and structured: I use step-by-step breakdowns, guided questioning, and scaffolding to help students build independence and confidence. Whether we’re working on ear training, harmony, counterpoint, music analysis, or written French, I encourage students to speak, write, and engage actively with the material. My goal is to make complex ideas approachable and to foster a learning environment where curiosity and progress go hand in hand.


Education

Université de Sherbrooke
Music
  • Licensed teacher

Policies


Schedule

Simon hasn’t set a schedule.


Approved Subjects

Composition (Music)

Composition (Music)

I hold a degree in instrumental composition and studied privately for four semesters with Alan Belkin, a Juilliard PhD and respected author of Musical Composition: Craft and Art. My knowledge of harmony comes from both formal training and years of professional performance, during which I explored a wide array of harmonic languages—from traditional four-part writing to jazz, impressionistic, and atonal techniques. I’ve completed four semesters of orchestration and counterpoint, and have applied these skills in film scoring and musical arrangement projects. My teaching focuses on form and clarity of intent, helping students shape their ideas into coherent, expressive works that flow, build tension, and achieve their desired impact
Ear Training

Ear Training

I completed five years of college-level coursework in ear training and spent six years transcribing pop music professionally—creating charts, solos, and full song transcriptions on a near-daily basis. I’ve taught ear training primarily to my piano students, both one-on-one and in high school classroom settings. My approach blends solfège, interval recognition, harmonic dictation, and transcription with a strong emphasis on understanding harmonic context and scale degrees. I encourage relentless daily practice, active listening, and singing along with music to help students internalize sound and develop transferable skills across all keys and styles.
Piano

Piano

I hold two bachelor's degrees in music—one in classical piano performance and one in instrumental composition—and have taught piano for over 20 years in both private and classroom settings. My students range from beginners to early advanced players, and I specialize in classical and pop styles, with a strong foundation in jazz harmony, chord extensions, and improvisation. I help students connect what they read and play to what they hear and understand conceptually, using a practical, hands-on approach. My teaching emphasizes clarity and technique, offering concrete, actionable feedback that helps students grow with confidence and ease
French
Music Theory
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