Teaching Philosophy
Jean Lyons School of Music, founded in 1963, is Vancouver’s longest established music school. We provide a quality education in piano, theory, harmony and history. Founder Jean Lyons’ goal was to provide music education to children within an atmosphere of enjoyment, appreciation, and nurturing support. As a result of her philosophy and hard work, the School has built an enviable reputation of excellence in teaching and has fostered an interest in each student’s abilities and goals. Throughout the years, Jean Lyons was continually urged to start other branches of her School. However, she kept it small to allow each student to participate in classes and recitals.
Music Community
We are fortunate to be located in the heart of a community with a vibrant performing arts scene. This community takes the fostering of musical education and development just as seriously as professional performances. Therefore, we encourage our students to attend concerts by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Society, Vancouver Recital Society, and the Chopin Society. These organizations offer tickets to students at discounted rates. Jean Lyons School of Music complements these events with regular activities, recitals and concerts for our students. We provide students with recital opportunities each month in our Chopin Room with a supportive audience. These recitals help to ease students into the more competitive city-wide festivals and exams. Performances are a stepping stone in life as they help prepare one to have confidence and grace under pressure.
Alumni
Students at Jean Lyons School of Music are consistent winners in various music competitions that take place throughout the Lower Mainland and across Canada. Many of the School’s graduates are now music teachers themselves, while others have pursued careers in performance, accompanying and composing. The Canadian Music Council named Alumna Alexina Louie as Composer of the Year. She has also become a Composer in Residence at the Canadian Opera Company and the National Arts Centre. In addition to winning multiple JUNO awards, she also received the Order of Canada in 2005, one of Canada’s most prestigious honours.
Purpose
The music education we provide at Jean Lyons School of Music helps students in examinations and competitions. This helps to increases their self-esteem, poise, social skills, and memory. Above all, by cultivating musical sensibility and an understanding of the arts, one gains an awareness for culture and ultimately what makes us human. Music and culture are not merely activities that we do; they are a way we live. We encourage our students to take advantage of the School’s valuable resource pool of knowledge, talent, and guidance through a dynamic combination of private lessons, masterclasses, theory and history classes, recitals and concerts, and other opportunities for musical enrichment.