Teaching Philosophy and Educational Approach
As both an artist and educator, Kris has built a reputation for balancing technical excellence with creativity, emotional connection, and real world musical application. His teaching system focuses heavily on core musical competencies including rhythmic development, melodic accessibility, improvisation, ear training, harmonic strengthening, songwriting, and practical musicianship. Rather than forcing students through rigid traditional pathways, he designs highly customized learning experiences that align with each student’s personal goals, artistic interests, and natural strengths.
Kris specializes in helping students accelerate their development through structured training systems refined across decades of teaching, performing, composing, and mentorship. His methods incorporate customized practice routines, mindset coaching, creative exercises, performance preparation, listening development, improvisational freedom, and strategic progression systems developed through over three decades of hands on educational experience.
He is also the creator of a proprietary music practice and development app designed to support student consistency, motivation, and long term growth outside the lesson environment.
Performance Career and Musical Achievements
Throughout his career, Kris has performed across Canada in numerous professional projects and has shared the stage with internationally recognized artists including Lee Aaron and Gene Hoglan. He has performed with highly regarded bands including Soulstream, Side One, and West Of Hell, and has appeared multiple times as part of in game entertainment performances for the Vancouver Canucks.
As a solo instrumental guitarist, Kris achieved international recognition by placing in the Top 5 in major international fingerstyle guitar competitions and releasing two acclaimed solo instrumental guitar albums showcasing his compositional and technical approach to modern guitar performance.
Empower Through Music Society and Community Impact
Kris is also the founder and Executive Director of Empower Through Music Society, a recognized Canadian charity dedicated to supporting underserved, marginalized, and at risk youth throughout the Greater Vancouver region through cost free music education, adaptive technology, and client led curriculum.
Through innovative programming and deeply personalized musical engagement, the organization has helped transform the lives of hundreds of children and families. This work remains one of Kris’s greatest passions and continues to play a central role in his mission to make music accessible to everyone, regardless of circumstance or ability.
Neuro Harmony Method
In addition to his performance and educational work, Kris is the creator of the Neuro Harmony Method, an innovative music engagement system utilized through Empower Through Music Society to help engage nonverbal and nonspeaking youth through interactive musical experiences with remarkable success.
FastTrack Premium Music Experience
While the rapid growth of Horizon School of Music and the demands of his charitable work required him to step away from private teaching for several years, Kris is now returning to direct mentorship through the FastTrack Premium Music Experience. This highly selective program is designed for students who are serious about achieving exceptional results and want to work directly with one of the most experienced and sought after music educators in the region.
Many of Kris’s former students have gone on to become highly respected performers, professional musicians, recording artists, educators, and leaders within the music community themselves. For Kris, the true purpose of music education extends far beyond technical ability. Music is a vehicle for confidence, self discovery, emotional expression, discipline, creativity, and lifelong transformation.
“My Method and Teaching Philosophy
As no two musicians are in the same place or have the same needs, my teaching philosophy is rooted in a comprehensive onboarding process designed to understand each student as an individual. We begin with an in depth conversation about your interests, inspirations, motivations, current skill set, and your short, medium, and long term goals. From there, I build a customized lesson plan designed to create a fun, efficient, practical, and most importantly transformative musical experience.
Having taught professionally for more than 35 years and worked with thousands of students, I’ve observed many repeating patterns that allow me to quickly identify common pitfalls, limitations, and roadblocks before they become overwhelming. My philosophy is rooted in simplicity and accessibility. Music is a language, and I believe anyone can learn to speak it fluently when concepts are broken down into clear, attainable, and meaningful steps.
At the core of my teaching are the foundational elements of rhythm, melody, and harmony. By understanding which area may be limiting a student’s progress, we can unlock dramatic breakthroughs. For some students, approaching guitar or piano from a rhythmic perspective creates a seismic shift in their musicality. For others, the key may be ear training, learning to hear music internally and connect that sound to the instrument. Others may need help unlocking creativity through improvisation, songwriting, or composition.
I especially love working with students who feel stuck, discouraged, or convinced they have plateaued. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing the “aha” moment when a student realizes they are capable of overcoming obstacles they once thought were permanent. That transformation is often far bigger than music itself.
To me, learning music is a lifelong process of growth and self discovery. It is meditative, therapeutic, and deeply transformative. Music gives people an opportunity to disconnect from the noise of daily life and reconnect with themselves through creativity and expression. Whether you play privately in your bedroom or perform on stage in front of thousands, the emotional and personal benefits of music are available to everyone.
I also bring a strong sports and athletic background into my teaching. I’m fascinated by physiology, movement efficiency, and human potential, and I often approach technique development through the lens of a strength and conditioning coach. After all, musicians are training muscles, coordination, endurance, and neurological pathways much like athletes do in any discipline.
I’m also a strong believer in objective versus subjective practice. Progress becomes inevitable when students consistently spend focused time working on the areas that matter most, whether that means strengthening fundamentals or removing key limitations. As I often tell my students, “Let the practice do the worrying for you.” Set the process in motion, trust it, and over time you will surprise yourself with what becomes possible.
I can’t wait to meet you and help unlock the language of music.”
-Kris
