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

After graduating with a music degree from Queen’s University I fell in love with theatre and for many years I composed shows and toured schools with a theatre company called Theatre On the Move. From there I began music directing and accompanying shows for other theatres throughout Ontario.

Fast forward to Stratford when I moved here in 1990 with my wife Barbara Fulton who became a regular and recognizable performer with Stratford Festival company.

I briefly taught in the public school system here and then spent many years as the music teacher at Stratford Montessori School followed by four years at the Stratford Middle Years school.

During my time in Stratford I have composed the music for 5 productions at the Stratford Festival. I continue my close association with the Festival and will be composing the music for All’s Well That Ends Well in 2022 in the new Tom Patterson Theatre.

Teaching Style

My approach to teaching recognizes that most students are not interested in a career as a professional musician but simply want to learn the language of music to create, compose and have fun. However, it can only become fun with practice. I encourage parents to be involved even if music is a foreign language. Setting aside at least 15 or 20 minutes a day can make a tremendous difference in the student’s progress as well as their eagerness to continue. I am, of course, willing to work with students who are interested in developing a more advanced proficiency.

I write my own music and love working with any student who wishes to compose music or write their own songs.

I am familiar with many styles of music and continue to play in Jazz and Pop groups. I will teach classical piano up to grade 6.

Contact:

• email: parkvilla36@gmail.com
• phone: (519) 949-8077
• Facebook: @parkvillamusicstudio
• website: www.paulshilton.com (in progress…to be up by Sept. 1st)