Academy of Music celebrates 30 years

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This article was published 22/08/2021 (1717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Academy of Music is celebrating 30 years with the opening of a new studio and retail location at 51 St. Anne’s Rd.    

“Celebrating 30 years in business is a humbling honour,” said Shawn Coughlin, owner and music director.   

With 40 years of teaching experience, the former junior high and high school music teacher, classically trained through the Royal Conservatory of Music piano program, is also a professional pianist, accompanist, composer, choir director and certified piano tuner technician.   

Coughlin appreciates that the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop music learning. Instead, the use of technology allowed the Academy to expand its musical instruction to other cities.  

“This past June we held our 30th annual year-end recital via Zoom,” Coughlin said.

“It’s been quite an adjustment for our teachers and students to teach and learn through online lessons. Thankfully the technology exists and we’ve been able to maintain our music instruction.

“The advent of online lessons has also allowed us to expand our in-home music service. We now have students from across Canada and even the United States.

“We offer online music lessons on piano, guitar, voice, drums, ukulele, strings, brass and woodwinds.”  

The Academy of Music believes that learning music is an experience that enriches life, and helps build community in social settings, where many people can join in on a freestyle jam or singalong.

For children, learning music expands their cognitive and imaginative abilities. It also teaches patience, since mastering an instrument requires practice and discipline. Classes are offered for all ages, from young children to seniors, with instructors adept at teaching all ages and levels of students.  

“We are looking forward to being able to offer in-person lessons again in September through our in-home lessons, school lessons and now studio lessons at several locations in Winnipeg,” Coughlin added.

Tuition fees are $25 per 30-minute lesson, $37.50 per 45-minute lesson and $50 per hour. There is an additional $7.50 travel fee for in-home lessons.  

The new St. Anne’s Road location will double as a piano studio and piano showroom with a display of high-quality Kawai pianos. The facility will carry grand pianos, upright as well as digital pianos.

Music instruction is held during the week and sales will be available on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. by appointment.

The Academy of Music offers service on all acoustic and digital pianos including tuning, regulation and repairs by certified piano technicians.  

For more information, visit www.academymusic.ca, call 204-786-1704, or email: info@academymusic.ca