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