Piano, (classical/pop) or the art of accompanying
Voice, pop/musical theatre
Coachings for vocalists: Classical, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, & Musical Theatre
Coachings for instrumentalists, and chamber music of all levels
Theory and ear training (group classes possible)
French Horn
Trumpet
Orchestral audition preparation for brass and winds
University audition preparation for piano, voice, brass and winds
Stratford Symphony Youth Orchestra

Patrick grew up in New Brunswick, Éric in Québec, they met at Western University and moved to Stratford in 2017. Alongside his work as a professional musician, Éric also teaches a studio of voice and piano students. He offers coaching and audition preparation for voice (opera or musical theatre), piano, chamber ensembles and accompaniment students. Éric is fluent in French and English, and can coach multiple languages for singers. He is happy to accept students who want weekly lessons, or to work with students as a coach on an “as needed” basis, preparing them for kiwanis, university auditions and/or attending student’s lessons as an accompanist. 

Éric has a B. Mus in performance from the University of Sherbrooke and a M. Mus in collaborative piano from Western University. He has been teaching piano since his teenage years and always keeps a balance between teaching and performing. The Stratford Festival brought him to Stratford as Éric joined as rehearsal pianist on HMS Pinafore and substitute keyboardist on Guys & Dolls. Then, Éric was the associate conductor on The Music Man, Billy Elliot and, in 2020 before Covid-19, on Chicago. Éric joined the Stratford Festival’s Education Department in 2017 as music director of the musical theatre intensive The Shakespeare’s School and has been teaching different workshops for the theatre since then. He has performed with Canada’s finest musical theatre talent and was recently seen on stage with legendary composer Alan Menken in Portrait of a Collaboration: Alan Menken & Marion Adler. Further credentials can be found at:

linkedin.com/in/ericcharbon

Patrick privately teaches french horn, trumpet, piano (classical only), theory and ear training. He also offers sectionals and masterclasses to chamber ensembles, brass and wind students.

Patrick recently joined the horn section of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra. He obtained his B. Mus with honours in performance from Dalhousie University and a M. Mus in performance & literature from Western University. Patrick completed his RCM grade 10 in piano before making the switch to french horn. Patrick has performed with professional orchestras in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, as well as toured across Europe with an orchestra from Long Island New York. 

Both Patrick and Éric maintain small studios, with a focus on (but not limited to) students aged 10 and above. They are able to share students, and always begin with an introductory zoom meeting for prospective students to understand their goals and match them with the appropriate teacher.
Éric & Patrick have formed Peck Productions in 2018 as they produced Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah at the Palace Theatre in London. You can reach both of them at:
peckprods@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/peckprods/
Lessons are held at their home in Stratford, On. 

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)