What Instrument Should I Choose?
With so many instruments out there to choose from, what is the best personal choice for you? Every instrument has it's own challenges and rewards, and speaks to an individual musician. Take a moment to read about each and get an idea of what to expect.
Guitar - Acoustic, Electric, Classical, Flamenco, Fingerstyle
Learn to play a wide variety of musical styles including rock, blues, pop, finger style and classical guitar or bass. As a beginner, get started on the basics. Been working independently, or are you looking to improve or polish your playing? Take advantage of technique pointers from our staff of professional musicians. Whether you want to play professionally or just want to have some basics, our lessons are structured to suit your needs.
With a long tradition, the guitar has established itself as one of the heavyweights. Transcending cultural boundaries, it plays a major role across a stunning range of genres including rock, country, pop, jazz, blues, classical, flamenco, and many folk traditions, to name a few. Studying guitar develops complex coordination, and offers an exposure to complex musical concepts not available to students of many other instruments. It can feature as a solo, accompanying, or ensemble instrument; it's range and versatility make it a great choice whether you want to master the art form or simply play a few of your favourite songs around the campfire.
With a long tradition, the guitar has established itself as one of the heavyweights. Transcending cultural boundaries, it plays a major role across a stunning range of genres including rock, country, pop, jazz, blues, classical, flamenco, and many folk traditions, to name a few. Studying guitar develops complex coordination, and offers an exposure to complex musical concepts not available to students of many other instruments. It can feature as a solo, accompanying, or ensemble instrument; it's range and versatility make it a great choice whether you want to master the art form or simply play a few of your favourite songs around the campfire.
Bass
The bassist provides the rhythmic (pulse), and the harmonic foundations in a musical group. He or she establishes the foundational notes upon which the other musicians build, while linking to the distinctive rhythm of the music. The bassist creates the feel, and propels the music. Mistakes from the lead guitar may go unnoticed, but when the bass player makes a mistake, you can feel that something is wrong. As the bass player, you are the most important member of your band!
Piano, Keyboard
Our instructors cover a wide range of options for everyone from students wishing to play popular music, to those who would like to follow the graded Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) curriculum, to students wanting to get into performance, composition, or improvisation. Build sound technique, theory proficiency, and performance fundamentals and maximize your natural abilities as a pianist. The piano is one of the most diverse and comprehensive instruments on which you can play almost any type of music, solo, as an accompanist, or in a band or group. Playing multiple voices in the bass and treble clef (left and right hand), and constructing chords develops the pianist's grasp of musical concepts to a higher degree than many other instruments. The piano offers richness and elegance, complexity and versatility, diversity and beauty.
Drums, Percussion
Taught by professional drummers with a wide range of musical backgrounds, beginners learn the rudiments of music theory, stick control and drumming patterns. More experienced players focus on improving their rhythm and technique, covering a wide range of styles. The drummer provides a steady foundation, but also accentuates the music, and creates drive, excitement, and drama . Learn the rhythms that let the beat flow through you to everyone else in the room.
Strings
The string section is the basis of the orchestra and the one consistent component of orchestras down the ages. The range of expression available and the great stamina of strings makes them a powerful tool. The Principal of the First Violin section is also the Leader of the orchestra.
Violin
Learn the fundamentals of technique and artistry, and study a wide range of musical genres from classical and popular, to traditional fiddle music. Students can learn according to the Suzuki program (a widely popular and highly respected program for musical education), or work toward their Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations, or simply learn sound technique and musicality to be able to play their own favourite tunes for fun. One of the most recognizable instruments in the world, the violinist leads the orchestra, but can also transcends genres and borders, featuring prominently in various folk music traditions and modern musical genres from rock to country, bluegrass, jazz and beyond.
Viola
The viola's tone is thicker and darker than the violin which makes it perfect for providing resonant solo passages in the middle of the orchestral range and the perfect antidote to the penetrating, crystal quality of the violin. Traditionally the viola was used in uninteresting ways simply to fill in the harmonies between the expressive cello and violin parts, but this is no longer the case. Violas can be every bit as agile as the other Strings and since the 19th century viola writing has just as demanding as that for the other string instruments.
Cello
Perhaps more than any other instrument the cello sound can create a melancholy mood. Its deep tenor voice can be further enhanced by a broad vibrato which on other instruments might sound ridiculous. With its particularly wide range and powerful sound it can one minute be playing a bass line and the next a melody that is high enough for the rest of the orchestra to move underneath. Another of its useful qualities is its clarity of attack, which enables it to play crisp architectural shapes as well as driving rhythmic patterns and makes the cello a key component of the orchestra’s ‘engine room’.
Double (Upright) Bass
The double-bass sometimes comes to the fore with a solo or a particularly prominent part, but mostly it is in the background supporting the harmonies, creating rhythms and adding its rich tone to the overall orchestral mix.
Violin
Learn the fundamentals of technique and artistry, and study a wide range of musical genres from classical and popular, to traditional fiddle music. Students can learn according to the Suzuki program (a widely popular and highly respected program for musical education), or work toward their Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations, or simply learn sound technique and musicality to be able to play their own favourite tunes for fun. One of the most recognizable instruments in the world, the violinist leads the orchestra, but can also transcends genres and borders, featuring prominently in various folk music traditions and modern musical genres from rock to country, bluegrass, jazz and beyond.
Viola
The viola's tone is thicker and darker than the violin which makes it perfect for providing resonant solo passages in the middle of the orchestral range and the perfect antidote to the penetrating, crystal quality of the violin. Traditionally the viola was used in uninteresting ways simply to fill in the harmonies between the expressive cello and violin parts, but this is no longer the case. Violas can be every bit as agile as the other Strings and since the 19th century viola writing has just as demanding as that for the other string instruments.
Cello
Perhaps more than any other instrument the cello sound can create a melancholy mood. Its deep tenor voice can be further enhanced by a broad vibrato which on other instruments might sound ridiculous. With its particularly wide range and powerful sound it can one minute be playing a bass line and the next a melody that is high enough for the rest of the orchestra to move underneath. Another of its useful qualities is its clarity of attack, which enables it to play crisp architectural shapes as well as driving rhythmic patterns and makes the cello a key component of the orchestra’s ‘engine room’.
Double (Upright) Bass
The double-bass sometimes comes to the fore with a solo or a particularly prominent part, but mostly it is in the background supporting the harmonies, creating rhythms and adding its rich tone to the overall orchestral mix.
Woodwinds
Taking private, one on one lessons will give you a great foundation in sight reading, theory, and technique, that you can take to your school or community bands and orchestras.
The flute is capable of extreme virtuosity, and can create beautiful sustained melodies from orchestral arrangements to folk traditions particularly in the Celtic world. It also blends perfectly with all instruments and spends much of its time providing background colour to foreground activity elsewhere in the orchestra.
The oboe plays an important role within an orchestra, particularly in carrying the melody with it's lyrical and mournful colour, often providing solos during emotional sections of the music.
The clarinet's plaintive, clear sound can be perfect for a romantic melody or when agitated for creating angular accented textures and effects. They are often associated with the sound of jazz and are perfect for producing the typically rhythmic, swooping, rippling sounds of traditional jazz and swing.
Choose the saxophone and master the technique, tone, intonation, and musicality of one of the most versatile instruments around, used to create many different sounds in almost every musical genre all over the world. Flute students can focus on classical music, or dabble in Irish/Celtic music at the Sound Factory Music School; flute is a principal instrument in this style and genre and a wonderful addition to your local Irish session!
The flute is capable of extreme virtuosity, and can create beautiful sustained melodies from orchestral arrangements to folk traditions particularly in the Celtic world. It also blends perfectly with all instruments and spends much of its time providing background colour to foreground activity elsewhere in the orchestra.
The oboe plays an important role within an orchestra, particularly in carrying the melody with it's lyrical and mournful colour, often providing solos during emotional sections of the music.
The clarinet's plaintive, clear sound can be perfect for a romantic melody or when agitated for creating angular accented textures and effects. They are often associated with the sound of jazz and are perfect for producing the typically rhythmic, swooping, rippling sounds of traditional jazz and swing.
Choose the saxophone and master the technique, tone, intonation, and musicality of one of the most versatile instruments around, used to create many different sounds in almost every musical genre all over the world. Flute students can focus on classical music, or dabble in Irish/Celtic music at the Sound Factory Music School; flute is a principal instrument in this style and genre and a wonderful addition to your local Irish session!
Voice/Singing
Our highly trained and experienced vocal instructors will help students develop proper vocal technique and performance, expand on and maximize their natural abilities, and explore the possibilities of being a vocalist. Students have a strong say in the selection of materials, and our teachers have the experience and versatility to work with you whether you want to sing jazz, opera, sing in your local church choir, or be a famous pop star! We can even help the business professional develop strong vocal projection and voice techniques that can make you an effective public speaker and make an impact on your big presentation.
Brass
The brass section of the orchestra is known for its brilliant and blazing sounds. Both simple and complex, the brass family of instruments are basically long metal tubes that feature valves and buttons that alter the pitch. To play them, you buzz your lips inside a metal mouthpiece to create the sound. They're used in all types of concert bands and orchestras, jazz combos, marching bands, and as accompaniment to old-school R & B and soul music. Versatile and unmistakeable.
Music Theory
Build your musical ability through strong foundations. Having even a basic understanding of theory will open you up to how and why music works the way it does. Even just in listening to music, knowledge of theory can create an appreciation for the craftsmanship on display, and can help you to "see" the music on many levels. Having foundations in theory will help the aspiring musician make sense of what they are doing and adapt more quickly and more easily to more complex ideas. It is a "blueprint" that helps a musician mentally organize their musical mind. Theory is the language of music, that will allow you to communicate with other musicians. It facilitates an understanding of the building blocks of music and how they can best fit together to make the sounds you desire.