As 2019 winds down to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all once again for helping us build up such great momentum leading into 2020. Our small army of students is now over 250 – lovingly led by a team of 17 of the finest instructors in the universe. Our humble goal of becoming the greatest music school in the history of the world is slowly but surely taking shape.
In all seriousness, the most important part of building a lasting organization is to take care of the people who put their heart and soul into it every day. In this case those people are our teachers. When we started Horizon, we envisioned a policy that allowed for scheduling changes that would provide the utmost convenience for our students. Moving forward, we will continue to provide the most flexible scheduling options in the industry while also ensuring the most efficient system for our teachers. An updated policies and procedures manual is coming your way! Please make sure to read it carefully and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
In Case You Missed It
Horizon’s founder Kris Schulz has been chosen by the Vancouver Canucks to perform solo guitar during select games. Recently, Kris brought in one of our young protégés from the Kids Rock program: Kylen Mumford to help amp up the crowd. Horizon is honoured to be chosen by the Canucks and excited to feature more of our students in upcoming performances. Kris’s next appearance will be on Saturday, December 21 when the Canucks take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kris has also been asked to perform at the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Warriors lacrosse team.
Holiday Hours
Please note we will be closed for lessons between Sunday, December 22 and Friday, January 3. Lessons will resume on Saturday, January 4, 2020.
Adrian Bellue Concert and Masterclass
Fresh off the heels of the amazing sold out Trevor Gordon Hall show, we are thrilled to announce the return of Guitar Ace: Adrian Bellue. Adrian will be performing on Saturday, January 25 at 7 PM. Click here:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/horizonschoolofmusicpresents/321760 or email Horizonschoolofmusic@gmail.com to reserve your tickets now.
His 2nd show on Sunday, January 26th will be in Chilliwack @ Tractorgrease Café. Please call 604-858-3814 to reserve tickets.
Adrian’s master class is on Monday, January 27 from 7:00pm -9:00 pm at the school.
Creating an opportunity for our students to perform live is very important to us. Our first ever student concert is booked for Sunday, January 26 between 12 and 3 PM at the school. This winter concert will feature performances from students of all ages and levels and we welcome you to sign up yourself or anyone in your family if you wish to gain from this valuable experience. Please email us for additional sign-up details or speak with your teacher for any questions you might have.
Student of the Month
Reena Meijer-Drees is no stranger to music having studied and performed semi professionally while in University on the clarinet. However, it was on the guitar where Reena discovered her passion for writing original music. Over the past year and a half, she has composed enough material to begin recording her debut solo album. This is a remarkable feat considering she had done no prior composing until that point. We’re thrilled to have students such as Reena representing our school and demonstrating the inspirational value of creating art.
Teacher in the Spotlight
Jacob Seyer
International artist, acoustic guitarist, and composer, Jacob Seyer offers an exciting and fluid aesthetic as well as an extensive grasp of guitar technique in his music. Having toured with concerts in Canada, USA, and South America, Jacob’s newest full length album, “Migration” is quickly gaining traction as a groundbreaking collection of new music for the guitar.
Since graduating in 2017 with a Masters Degree in Guitar Performance at UBC Jacob has filled his schedule with teaching, volunteering for local and international music non-profits, performing in festivals, and producing music with support from around the world.
–Tuesday, Nov 19th & Dec 17th: 7-9pm Easily one of the most fun group dynamics to participate in, Bluegrass has become the “go to” for people who want to have fun while they jam with others.
Learn how to improvise over driving upbeat rhythms and add these timeless styles to your jamming arsenal. Perfect for newer players looking to help improve their chords and rhythm playing. Also great for intermediate and advanced players who would like to expand their melodic improvisation skills.
Improvisation Workshop with Kelly Brown
–Tuesday Nov 26th: 7-9pm Ever wondered what it would be like to find musical freedom on your instrument? This course is perfect for players who are looking to expand their musicality. Learn your instrument through improvisation and pick up rhythm techniques from one of the most sought after guitar teachers and players in Vancouver.
The Metal Guitar Consortium with Kris Schulz, Eli Slamang and Jacob Gold.
Wednesday Nov. 27 & Dec.18: 7-9pm Practice strategies, efficient mastery of technique and state-of-the art metal guitar chops will be dissected. If you’ve hit a wall in your playing and are looking for inspiration, the consortium will help push your playing beyond what you thought was possible!
Adult Group Guitar and Ukulele For Beginners with Kris Schulz and Rocky Riobo
–Every Monday between 6-7 pm Perfect if you’re just getting started or want to share the joy of learning in a group setting. This format allows you to learn in a fun and affordable way. Feel free to invite a family member or friend for an even more rewarding experience.
Did you know that you can slow down the speed of a YouTube video without altering its pitch? This is easily one of the greatest innovations in learning to play your favourite songs. Practicing along with music at a slower tempo is the surest way to improve your musicality while nailing the correct rhythms and notes. Remember, the #1 mistake almost all musicians make is practicing too fast and allowing for too many errors in their playing. Remember this valuable quote: “Slow down and you’ll get there faster”.
About Horizon School of Music
Horizon School of Music employs innovative learning and communication strategies to overcome the myriad of obstacles standing in the way of personal musical enrichment. We exist to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to access a more fulfilling quality of life through learning the language of music.
