LESSONS

At Pinnacle Music School students benefit from a well rounded curriculum. Attention is given to developing strong technique coupled with learning a variety of musical styles such as rock, pop, classical, jazz and contemporary. Ear training and sight reading are also important areas of study that are covered. Students are encouraged in their artistic expression by being provided with performance opportunities through recitals, festivals and RCM examinations. As a result, students grow in their musicianship as they enjoy their accomplishments.

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What do You want to learn?

Pinnacle Music School is one of the largest music schools in eastern Ontario and the largest in the Quinte area. Our teachers are dedicated, qualified music teachers whose goal is to instill a love of music in each student as well as promote musical excellence in whatever instrument they choose to pursue.

Our Teachers

Select a lesson category or teacher for profile

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AMBER WALTON-AMAR
Cello
CLAUDIA SCOTT
Piano
DEREK MORRIS
Violin, Mandolin
DUNCAN COOPER
Piano
ED CONLEY
Drums, Guitar, Bass
JANICE FAST
Piano, Theory
JESSICA YARROW
Clarinet, Saxophone
JOE KENNEDY
Guitar, Ukulele, Bass
PATRICIA ROSS
Piano, Theory
SOPHIE BJERKE
Vocal, Piano
VERONIQUE KWAKKERNAAT
Flute

AMBER WALTON-AMAR

Cello

I am committed to creating a positive and nurturing environment for learning and musical growth. Music has the potential to express that which lies dearest to our hearts. My instruction seeks to develop and expand the abilities present in each and every one of my students. We continually strive for musical and technical excellence, while recognizing the miracle that we are all unique. Individual lessons are tailored to bring out our strengths and to address our weaknesses in a caring and conscientious manner. Group lessons are devoted to creating a sense of community and understanding, as well as to celebrating in the joy of music making. Through kinship, listening, sharing, problem solving, and heart, the gift of music increases our capacities for bettering the world in which we live.

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CLAUDIA SCOTT

Piano

Claudia began her piano studies at the age of four and obtained her ARCT in Piano Performance at the age of 17 with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She has received numerous awards and scholarships, and was a finalist in the Toronto Symphony Young Performers Competition and a guest soloist with the Etobicoke Philharmonic. Claudia is an accomplished accompanist and musical collaborator, and works with vocalists, choirs, and instrumentalists of diverse musical styles in a variety of settings. Local to Belleville, she has served as Worship Leader at Quinte Alliance Church, and as an accompanist with the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, the Lianne Ireland School of Dance, and The Hastings and Prince Edward Regional Chorus.

Claudia has taught piano and theory for over 25 years and enjoys helping students of all ages develop their love for music and grow in their skills and abilities. She is a licensed member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ORMTA).

*Please note Claudia is fully booked until the 2023 teaching season

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DEREK MORRIS

Violin, Mandolin

Derek Morris has been performing music since he was 5 years old. His musical life started in the Ottawa Valley backing fiddlers on the guitar. He started playing Celtic and Old Time Fiddle at the age of 11. At the age of 20 he expanded his training to the world of Classical Violin. As well as guitar and violin, Derek also has 13 years of training on Trumpet, and has many decades of experience on Bass guitar and mandolin. Derek is a founding member of Quinte’s Celtic group “Fiddleheads”, and also plays in a variety of other groups such as “The Mississippi Bullfrogs”, The Tilley’s, Berkeley Square, The Dregs and Deja Vu as well as his solo career. Derek is a songwriter currently with 2 albums under the Fiddleheadss name. Derek’s teaching philosophy is not initially structured as he believes every students’ needs and pace are different. The goal is to realize one’s capacity for learning and nurture a balance between challenge, improvement and shear enjoyment for music in its entirety.

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DUNCAN COOPER

Piano

Duncan Cooper has spent 35 years as a professional musician. He is a graduate of Mohawk College Music program

Genres

Jazz
Rock
R & B

Education

Graduate of Mohawk College – music program.
Jazz theory – harmony, arranging
Classical theory – harmony, counterpoint, form and analysis
Private study – classical piano, jazz & pop piano

Teaching

15 years teaching full-time
RCM grade 10 practical and theory
Prepared students for post-secondary musical studies
Prepared students for RCM exams up to Grade 8

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ED CONLEY

Drums, Guitar, Bass

Ed comes from a musical family. He started playing drums at the age of 5, and studied throughout public and high school, also picking up guitar and bass. He played drums with numerous bands over the years including Chris Caddell (Colin James/Big Wreck) and The Ben Thompson Band, where he signed to a nationally distributed record label and toured as a professional drummer for many years sharing the stage with groups such as:

Billy Talent
Alexis On Fire
Three Days Grace
Theory of a Deadman
The Jeff Healey Band
Kim Mitchell
Wide Mouth Mason
Platinum Blonde
Holly McNarland

Ed offers a fun learning environment for kids of all ages as well as adults, teaching music theory, sight reading, timing and also a “Rock Band” rock/pop ensemble coaching for different age groups.

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JANICE FAST

Piano, Theory

Janice studied at the University of Winnipeg-Concord College where she obtained her B.A. in music and ARCT in piano.

She brings with her a wealth of teaching and accompanying experience. Janice is a certified RCM teacher with elementary, intermediate and advanced piano students, as well as elementary and intermediate theory students. Being a strong proponent of performance, she encourages her students to participate in recitals, festivals and examinations.

Students of all ages are welcome in her studio. Adult students in particular, have found learning to play the piano under her tutelage to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Janice is in her studio with her lovely grand piano Mondays to Fridays at Pinnacle Music School.

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JESSICA YARROW

Clarinet, Saxophone

Originally from Belleville, Jessica graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree with a major in music with honours and minor in psychology, and also graduated from Loyalist College with a Recreation and Leisure Services Diploma. Jessica is a regular solo performer in the Belleville area for private events, weddings, long term care facilities and more. Jessica also enjoys performing in pit bands for musicals and is active in the musical theatre community in the county. She loves performing and listening to a variety of musical styles. She plays multiple varieties of clarinets and saxophones. Jessica has been honoured to receive several music awards and was the 2006 recipient of the Silver Pitcher at the Quinte Rotary Music Festival. Jessica has taught private clarinet and saxophone lessons for a number of years and believes in an individualized and fun approach for each student. She has taught students from the young to the young-at-heart, and believes it is never too late to learn a new instrument.

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JOE KENNEDY

Guitar, Ukulele, Bass

Joe is an experienced Guitar Teacher. His background with years of band performance in Rock, Country, Folk and Christian and choir groups allows him to teach many styles and songs. He will give lessons in rhythm and lead for acoustic and electric guitars. Joe teaches Ukulele and Bass guitar as well. The unique opportunity will be his added ability to teach vocal along with your instrument.

Joe is a very interactive teacher that will sing while you play, play while you sing and teach music theory in relation to your instrument through tablature and music notation.

Joe says, ”By having fun and understanding songs through playing and jamming with my students, I find with the added use of smart phone recording of my examples, they get to walk away from each lesson with the confidence and tools they need to succeed each week.”

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PATRICIA ROSS

Piano, Theory

My name is Patricia Ross

I have been a music teacher and accompanist for the last 28 years in the Quinte area. My early music instruction was in French in Montreal with renowned pedagogue, Mlle. Yvonne Hubert. After arriving in Belleville, I continued my music education with Lois Williams and then with Earle Moss at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. I have been a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association since 1995.

In 1995, I received my ARCT in piano pedagogy and was awarded the Adelmo Melicci Scholarship for excellence in piano performance. I retired after 11 years in the accompanist’s position with the Hastings and Prince Edward Youth Chorale. During my years with the choir, I participated in 5 European tours including 3 international competitions in Austria.

At the present time, I have a busy studio through Pinnacle Music School and at my home studio in which I give private piano and theory instruction from beginners to ARCT. I am also an active accompanist for musicians for examinations, festivals, and auditions.

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SOPHIE BJERKE

Vocal, Piano

About Sophie…

Professor Emeritus SUNY Plattsburgh NY & Royal Conservatory of Music, College of Examiners

Her degrees are from UBC & Concordia(Montreal)
The Leonardo Project and ARCT Voice and Piano

Sophie has performed as Soprano soloist and Actress in productions in Vancouver, PEI, Montreal.

She has had the rare distinction of being through the desert on a horse with no name to do voiceovers for a National Geographic documentary.

She has been adjudicator, coach and accompanist, & was musical director and actress with Chazy Music Theatre in NY for four seasons & conducted Chorale Madrigale & The German Men’s Choir (Quebec). Many of her students perform locally in music theatre, rock bands, & oratorio choirs.

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VERONIQUE KWAKKERNAAT

Flute

Véronique emigrated from the Netherlands to Middleton, Nova Scotia on September 9th, 1971 at age 12. She started playing the flute in 1972 at age 13. She was a member of the Junior and Senior High School Bands in Middleton, Nova Scotia and the General Panet Senior High School Band in Petawawa, Ontario. She is a retired French Immersion teacher. She studied flute with Donelda Gartshore in Kingston during the mid to late eighties. She has performed professionally for more than 35 years. She enjoys teaching students and adults of all ages and encourages each flute player to grow musically. She has been a flute/piccolo instructor for almost 40 years and started giving flute lessons at Pinnacle Music School in 2003. She prepares students for RCM exams, recitals, music festivals, and University auditions for a degree in Music. She is a member of various musical groups:

1. Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra, currently known as the Quinte Symphony: early eighties-mid nineties

2. Pit Orchestra, Pinnacle Playhouse: 1986-the present

3. Ardmore Trio: 1986-2016

4. 8 Wing Concert Band: 1990-the present

5. Trobairitz Harp and Flute Duo: 2003-the present

6. Brighton All Star Concert Band: 2013-the present

7. Pit Band, Stirling Festival Theatre: 2014-the present

8. Veritus Winds: 2019-the present

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LESSONS

What do You want to learn?

Our Teachers

AMBER WALTON-AMAR

CLAUDIA SCOTT

DEREK MORRIS

DUNCAN COOPER

ED CONLEY

JANICE FAST

JESSICA YARROW

JOE KENNEDY

PATRICIA ROSS

SOPHIE BJERKE

VERONIQUE KWAKKERNAAT

AMBER WALTON-AMAR

Cello

CLAUDIA SCOTT

Piano

DEREK MORRIS

Violin, Mandolin

DUNCAN COOPER

Piano

ED CONLEY

Drums, Guitar, Bass

JANICE FAST

Piano, Theory

JESSICA YARROW

Clarinet, Saxophone

JOE KENNEDY

Guitar, Ukulele, Bass

PATRICIA ROSS

Piano, Theory

SOPHIE BJERKE

Vocal, Piano

VERONIQUE KWAKKERNAAT

Flute

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