Originally from Regina, SK, Tracey Frank cites music and teaching as her longest running and most exciting adventure that has taken her all over Canada, the United States, and Japan. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Music History from Western University, a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Regina, and a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Duquesne University, in addition to additional woodwind and jazz studies at Humber College.

Tracey enjoys performing both classical and commercial styles with various large and small ensembles throughout Ontario, and can be heard on recently released EP “Bittersweet Remedy” by London, ON based singer/songwriter Leanne Mayer. 

Known for her passionate and vibrant teaching style, Tracey’s teaching focuses on empowering students by giving them the technical and artistic tools to succeed in performance. For over 20 years, Tracey has been dedicated to providing high quality music lessons in a fun and friendly environment. All students learn the tools they need to play the music of their choice. She teaches any age, any style, for any purpose.

As a result, her students are highly successful in competitions, exams, and (most importantly) having fun performing in front of people.  Tracey runs Frank Music Studios for all ages and stages in Woodstock, Stratford, and London, ON.

Lessons are available for:
⦁ Saxophone
⦁ Flute
⦁ Clarinet
⦁ Oboe
⦁ Bassoon
⦁ Recorder

The Frank Music Studios Advantage:

ATMOSPHERE
All teaching spaces are cozy and well-equipped, and in-person lessons are offered as health regulations allow. Lessons are also offered online with the platform that works best with your internet connection.

COMRADERIE
Students are of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, and we all support each other! Additionally, students also get to work with other professional musicians in the community.

OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to two annual recitals in the winter and spring, we also host performance classes throughout the year, with awesome guest clinicians! Students and alumni have participated in select ensembles such as Ontario Provincial Honour Band, won scholarships and trophies at Stratford Kiwanis and Woodstock Rotary Music Festivals, and have gone on to study music at the post-secondary level. Mostly, we have fun playing music!

CONTACT:

(519) 933-9422
traceymfrank@gmail.com

Eric started teaching music when he was 12 years old, after obtaining Grade 10 on piano accordion. With 48 years of teaching experience, he has found that “interest is the greatest motivator of learning,” and that playing music has to be “fun.”

Eric teaches:

• Accordion (piano and button)
• Banjo (Bluegrass and tenor)
• Bass (electric)
• Clarinet
• Dobro
• Ear training
• Fiddle
• Guitar (classical, electric, acoustic)
• Harmonica (chromatic, diatonic)
• Keyboard (piano, organ, synthesizer)
• Mandolin
• Music Theory
• Recorder
• Recording production technique (Protools, Logic Pro, GarageBand)
• Songwriting
• Ukulele
• Voice

Music Styles: Classical, Jazz, Popular, Celtic, Bluegrass, Folk, Rock.

Beginner students are taught by “ear,” playing along with YouTube videos and recordings. This is, after all the way we all learned our first language. We learnt how to talk by imitating our parents… learning to read much later.

After the student has learnt to actually “play” music, applied music theory is taught… explaining why and how these chords, melody notes and rhythms work with each other.

Music notation, (reading) is then taught after the student is already performing and enjoying music.

Music “reading” is introduced earlier on some instruments: violin, clarinet and piano for instance. And on some instruments it’s not really practical to read traditional music notation, but we use tablature or chord symbols: harmonica, dobro, banjo, ukulele, singing and chording on guitar and piano.

Creativity, songwriting and composition are encouraged from the earliest stage of learning music and since lessons are taught in a professional digital recording studio, the techniques and art of modern recording are experienced.

Eric teaches through Skype to advanced guitar students from Australia, Europe and across Canada.

Eric in Studio with “Five Instrument”Student

About Eric Mahar

One of Eric’s earliest musical memories is playing a plastic ukulele or harmonica in front of the television along with the Don Messer Show. Add to this fact that his parents and grandparents are Prince Edward Islanders and he grew up listening to family and relatives playing “Olde Time” music at get-togethers.

Eric’s music education began with harmonica, taught by his father Fred Mahar, and then achieved grade 10 on the Piano Accordion at age 12. He then studied classical guitar, electric guitar and clarinet, playing in several professional bands and joining The International Musicians’ Union before high school, (youngest musician at the time to belong to the union).

After high school, Eric studied music at Humber College graduating with “First Class Honours” in the famous Certificate program, as well as private classical guitar lessons through the University of Toronto. During this time he was fortunate to have private lessons for jazz guitar with the legendary guitarists Lenny Breau, John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner.

Many years were then spent on the road in various recording studios across Canada and Europe with a variety of recording artists, including a ten-year association with the multiple Juno Award-winning group, “The Mercy Brothers,” as a producer and performer.

Eric returned to college to gain a Certificate in Broadcasting and worked in media sales at a Toronto Advertising agency.

Lately, Eric has been a featured jazz, country, pop and classical guitarist/singer performing in Canada and Europe in a variety of stage shows, theatre productions or concerts, and is a busy studio musician and producer. He enjoys mountain biking, cross country skiing or just being out in the woods.

Benefits of Musical Study with Eric Mahar Include:

• teaching all ages of students: 5 to seniors, beginner to advanced
• a lifetime love and enjoyment of music
• various performance opportunities supporting local fundraising benefit shows
• ability to record and learn modern recording techniques
• preparation for college or university music programs

Find Out More About Mahar Music Studio

Mahar Music Studio is located in a 100 plus year old house close to downtown Stratford. Contact for lesson enquiry and fees.

• phone: (519) 274-5664
• e-mail: ericmahar@hotmail.com
• YouTube: Mahar Music Studio Channel
• Facebook: maharmusicstudio
• Skype Name: maharmusicstudio