Debra studied piano privately for ten years, participating in recitals, concerts and the Peel Music Festival competitions. She was a ’School of the Performing Arts’ student at Mayfield Secondary and studied music at York University. She also began playing guitar at age 14 with a focus on classical, rock, alternative and folk… she has created songs, reads tab and likes rhythm guitar.

She began teaching music full-time in 2011 and quickly built a solid reputation for being a thorough and highly reliable instructor who's students have experienced great success. Her students know how to read and interpret music both artistically and technically, they achieve excellent marks, often place at competitions, enter into talent shows in school, overcome old struggles, and some have even been asked by teachers to help other student’s in their school music classes!

Debra instructs beginner piano to level 6 RCM and enjoys teaching ages 7 to senior adults. She also instructs beginner guitar and can prepare students for RCM level 1. Her main focus is classical but also incorporates popular music.

Valeria has been playing piano for 10 years. She has extensive experience and a diverse background in teaching at the Elementary level. She is passionate about Art and Music and has been teaching private Art and Music lessons for the past 5 years.

Her philosophy as a teacher is to give every student the opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential. She believes that education should be approached in an innovative, positive, and a creative manner. “Art is essential, has countless benefits for our health and well being, and it brings people and ideas together.”

She holds a bachelor of fine arts, a bachelor of professional studies in education and is a member of Ontario College of Teachers.

Jesse has been apart of the Locomotion Family for quite sometime now. He’s a former student now a staple of our educational staff. He’s been playing the guitar since the age of twelve. Over the years, he has further developed and honed his passion for music into a full-time career.

He has had the opportunity to go on tour and perform outside of the province. Even making his way to Saskatchewan at the early age of eighteen. Learning the trades, etiquette of the road, valued team building, networking and people skills.

With this being his full-time job and passion he’s well known for wearing plenty of hats. A D.I.Y (Do, It, Yourself) mad man some would say. There is no real off switch with Jesse. In addition to teaching, he co-runs a label based out of Brampton / Toronto called Glue Gun Records. Doing distro, session work as a co-band member / producer “hired gun”. Pre-production, studio recordings for Bands / Artists genres ranging from Folk, Jazz, Punk, Metal and Rock n’ Roll. Does multiple music therapy classes within the Peel Region. Organizes bookings for showcases around Ontario reaching out to other provinces and states. Has worked as a soundman, stage tech and even door person for live showcases and venues. As well knows how to play other instruments proficiently. Jesse is practically a musical multi use utility tool. What can’t he do!

One of his proudest moments is when working with Drop Top Alibi at Metal Works Studios. Having the former GnR guitarist Gilby Clarke producing a track for their debut EP.

To sum up Jesse, he’s known for his eccentric personality that can be contagious; a side effect may cause you to keep alert and engaged with a smile on your face. His goal is to help students reach their full potential by encouraging strategies and reaching for milestones to bring students closer to their own personal goals.

 Daniel is a passionate multi-instrumentalist and educator. He has been studying music since the age of four and has enjoyed playing and writing music for most of his life. Daniel specializes in jazz and improvisation but has a background in classical piano, completing up to Royal Conservatory grade 8. Daniel is also an alto and soprano saxophonist and composer. He can play many genres of music such as pop, rock, RnB and jazz. Daniel’s influences primarily consist of bebop saxophonists such as Vincent Herring and Cannonball Adderly.

When not teaching, he is performing at staples of the Toronto music scene. Over the past few years, Daniel has been working towards his degree at Humber College and graduated from the program in 2021. During his time at Humber, Daniel was teaching privately and received several awards and scholarships for musicianship and leadership. Daniel strives to create a respectful environment where learning about music is a fun process, while still focusing on important and serious topics.  

Sam is always surrounded by music. He’s taken the time to develop his skills and successfully fuse his passion with his career. As a performing/recording artist Sam can provide great one on one knowledge and practical advisory through many aspects of music, performance, production, showmanship, technical/theoretical, arranging, songwriting, voice acting, djing and music business. Throughout his training. Sam has also developed a wide array of musical prowess, exploring multiple genres in his lessons, Pop, Classic Rock, Jazz, Classical, Musical Theatre, RnB, and HipHop. Music is his passion and he strives to share it with the world.

He is a vocal graduate of the Humber College Contemporary Music degree program, and has been training in the music fields of jazz, classical, and contemporary for over 10 years. Through his time at Humber, Sam has studied with various musicians, such as Greg Wells (Adele), Rik Emmett (Triumph), Ian Terry (Celine Dion) and Denzel Sinclaire (Diana Krall). Sam has also had the opportunity to work with London based producer/songwriter/programmer James Sanger (Madonna, U2, Phil Collins) and has rehearsed and worked with Toronto based Musician/Producer/Songwriter Alan Shiner (Pizza Pizza, Coca Cola, Mariah Carey and Drake). After acquiring his degree Sam quickly found that inspiring others to create and enrich their lives with music was as rewarding as being on stage and performing. He began teaching throughout Toronto at various academies and schools.

Sam has been teaching private vocal, piano, guitar and songwriting classes through Etobicoke based academy Locomotion for about 3 years now, with future hopes of working with them to develop a music therapy program for students. He is also employed as an instructor at both Mississauga Fine Arts Academy and the Canada Music Academy where he teaches DJ and production lessons as well. Sam loves finding each students unique passion and catalyzing it, he’s really good at connecting in his lessons and tries to make each session as meaningful and developmental as the next one. Sam not only has 12 years of vocal performance to share, he’s been eclectically growing his musicianship throughout the years. Sam is trained in voice, piano/keyboards, guitar, production, songwriting, cajon, djing and voice acting. Growth is constantly apart of a musicians journey and Sam is a pure example of that. He always puts himself after others and makes sure the student leaves his lesson with not just knowledge but inspiration.

Ben is a Canadian-born, Juno-nominated guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. From an early age, Ben discovered his passion for music and was accepted into the Etobicoke School of the Arts music program, majoring in cello. His interest in jazz guitar led him to the Humber Community Music Program, where he studied with Canadian jazz icons such as Kirk McDonald, Pat LaBarbra, Geoff Young, and many more. While in high school, Ben spent two summers attending the 5-week performance program at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He later enrolled in the Humber College Bachelor of Music program, where he spent two years. Ben quickly became a sought-after session guitarist in the Toronto music scene, working with artists such as Tanika Charles, Slakah the Beatchild, Justin Nozuka, BADBADNOTGOOD, Charlotte Day Wilson, Daniel Caesar, and Sean Leon. He has recorded and performed on stages across Canada and toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Ben has also backed up international artists like Ed Sheeran (MMVAs 2015, 2016), Pharaoh Monche (Manifesto 2014), and more recently, worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Frank Dukes, contributing his guitar playing to Camila Cabello's song 'Real Friends'. Although often on the road touring with Tanika Charles and The Wonderfuls, Ben finds time for teaching, producing, working as a session player, and songwriting when in Toronto. Ben would like to express his gratitude for the loving support from God, his mother Sandra Cowan, his family, and all his friends over the years.

Carmen has been playing music since she was a young girl to a prodigious level, studying music from acoustic pop to hard rock. After studying guitar in the Humber Jazz program, Carmen started to follow her dreams and went on the road with her first band. She played with Canadian Rock artists, Maria Delmar of National Velvet, Danny Greaves of The Watchmen and with first Canadian Idol winner, Ryan Malcolm.

With the advantage of playing several instruments, such as guitar, bass, ukulele, keys and drums. Carmen has been prepping guitarists for RCM exams and pre-covid band camps. She been sharing her love for music with patients using music for cognitive healing and autism.

  Adina is an indie-folk/rock artist, award-winning songwriter, and music educator based out of the Greater Toronto Area. She recently graduated with honours from Humber College’s Bachelor of Music Program, majoring in vocal performance. Trained classically in piano since the age of 5, she has completed the RCM series up to level 9, and has since branched out into pop and jazz piano as well. Vocally, Adina has performance and teaching experience in many contemporary genres including pop, jazz, rock, folk, musical theatre, R&B, and country. She has been writing original songs since the age of 12, self accompanying on guitar and/or piano, and has 4 singles as well as an EP out under artist name Adina V.  

Adina has been teaching music for the past 8 years - whether it's piano, voice, songwriting, theory, ear-training, self- accompaniment, or exam/ audition prep, she enjoys helping students of all ages and skill levels meet their personal goals while fostering a love of music that lasts forever!

Taylor has been involved in music and the Toronto music scene for many years. He’s a piano, guitar and music production teacher.

Taylor started off with piano, attaining his Gr. 9 with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Moving his attention towards guitar he has been playing in bands for over 15 years. He has a degree in Live and Studio Audio Engineering from Metalworks Institute. Recently he has been working as a producer and mixing engineer with local bands and artists.

Taylor will make sure you understand the “why” of what you’re playing and not just the “how”. He is an all around super positive guy who loves bringing the best out of budding and experienced musicians.

Peter’s musical background is primarily in touring and recording. As a guitarist and bandleader, he has played in bars and theaters everywhere from Halifax to Victoria.

Presently, he studies jazz guitar at Humber college and teaches music lessons throughout Toronto and the GTA. Peter recognizes the potential for music lessons to be a task-like, nervous event for young students and takes active measures to ensure that his students are learning in a thoughtful and engaging environment.

Liam is a pianist currently studying at Humber College in Toronto. He has a broad range of musical interests and experiences. He started with piano as a child but took an interest in drums and percussion, and he soon made this his focus. He played with the La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra for 8 years, as well as playing with local rock/blues bands, pit bands for theatrical productions, and jazz groups at his school and with the Humber Community Music Program.

He began his musical studies at Humber on the drums but has since moved towards fully pursuing the piano as his primary instrument. He is now focused on jazz/rock/popular music genres, but he is equally comfortable with classical music and is pursuing an RCM grade 10.

Liam brings his love of all things musical and his enthusiasm for learning to his lessons. He encourages creativity and personal expression with his students and wants to help make music as fulfilling and enjoyable for others as it is for him.

Jackson is a jazz drummer, bandleader, arranger and composer based out of the Greater Toronto Area. He has been playing the drums for 17 years and teaching for 5 years, wanting to spread his knowledge of music and his instrument to others. He is currently in his last year of studies at Humber College in the Bachelor of Music program studying jazz drums. Outside of school and teaching, you can see Jackson perform at well known venues on the Toronto scene. Aside from jazz, Jackson has experience playing pop, rock, indie, r&b, and latin music, with some of his major influences being Bill Stewart, Billy Drummond and Nate Smith. Jackson strives to create a safe, respectful and fun learning environment while still focusing on the building blocks of learning the drums.

Northey (she/her) is a T’karonto-based producer, teacher and independent pop musician. Originally from Calgary, Northey moved to Toronto and completed her Bachelor of Music in Humber College’s Jazz program, as well as her first EP “I have a lot of emotions, here are some of them.” With proficiency in guitar, piano, bass and percussion, as well as a rolodex of sound design and production experiences, Amelia is the multifaceted musician of this generation. Teaching

Aside from teaching at Locomotion, Rianna currently performs at weddings and other formal events and is actively volunteering at her Parish as a vocal instructor. Her love for music and teaching is what excites her the most about being a teacher at Locomotion Music!

Jacob is a Toronto-based trumpeter, keyboardist, drummer, composer, and producer writing and recording original Jazz/Funk music that reflects the 2020s. Born in Vancouver just prior to the turn of the millennium, Jacob has been surrounded by music since birth, listening to his mom host radio shows and watching his dad play keyboards and record music from home. Soon after picking up the trumpet in grade 5 concert band, Jacob’s family moved to Vernon, British Columbia where he simultaneously thrived in his high school’s jazz band while learning to make Hip-Hop beats in GarageBand. In addition to trumpet, Jacob plays piano and drums, having studied with his award-winning father and uncle during his early high school years. While digging deeper into studying music theory and improvisation, he began writing instrumental tunes inspired by Roy Hargrove, Vulfpeck, Kiefer, and other Jazz/Funk adjacent artists. Now with a Bachelor of Music from Toronto’s Humber College, Jacob has his sights set on finishing his debut full- length album and developing his live show while freelancing as a trumpet player, music teacher, and producer in Toronto.

 

 

     

 Sebastian is a guitarist in the Toronto area and is currently studying music at Humber College. With ten years of experience, both self-taught and with formal lesson experience, Sebastian is comfortable playing a multitude of styles ranging from pop music, rock and jazz. He is always strives to incorporate many genres in a creative way when playing his guitar. 

 Over the last few years, Sebastian has been primarily focused on performing, learning the ins and outs of recording and music production, along with song writing as a session musician and bandmate. Having played throughout the GTA, Sebastian is currently the lead guitarist and co-song writer of the Toronto based group, Wide Witness. Sebastian is always looking for new and unique ways to understand the guitar and to be able to share that with others is a beautiful thing. His goal is to create a comfortable and creative space for students to learn and enjoy the process of making music.     

Natalie, who goes by the stage name Natalie Evans, is a Canadian born and raised singer and songwriter. Natalie is from Toronto, and her stage name is derived from the street where she grew up.

Natalie’s mom picked up that Natalie was musical from a very young age. At as young as two, Natalie would perk up and do her best to sing along to her mom’s Belinda Carlise CD’s and anything mow town. Her love for music and performing has been ingrained in her for as long as she can remember.

Natalie is a formally trained artist and attributes her training to her development as a performer. She began vocal training in the choir as a young child, soon after Natalie started taking music lessons with the highly regarded late Bill Vincent and Jefferey Haurd as a young adult. After being accepted to Etobicoke School of the Arts for musical theatre in high school and the prestigious Randolph Academy for Performing Arts for college, she continued her training.

A powerful female voice has always inspired her. She draws inspiration from the greats like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and relates to other female artsits such as Erika Badu, Norah Jones, and Jene Aiko.

Natalie has carved out her sound, which can be described as soulful and poetic. As a natural-born performer, Natalie never passes up on an opportunity to sing on stage. She has performed at the Panasonic Theatre, Super Market, the Annex Theatre and been a part of many musicals throughout her high school and college career. Natalie is a vocal coach for other aspiring artists and was hired by the Hudsons Bay to perform at Beauty Gala’s across the Greater Toronto Area. Fun fact about Natalie – she won a car for singing karaoke.

  Sienna is a professional musician who has been studying music for over 15 years. As a graduate of the Humber College Bachelor of Music program, she has an understanding and appreciation for many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, pop, and R&B. Sienna is an avid songwriter and music theory enthusiast, with the ability to curate lessons for students based on their interests. A vocalist by trade, she is also an experienced drummer, guitarist, and piano player. Sienna began her teaching career in 2016, leading groups of young children through ukulele and percussion basics. She currently teaches privately and through independent music schools. She believes in fostering an environment of curiosity and joy in music, whether it be playing pop songs or writing your own.  

Thanh began reading music notes for the first time when he was 4 years old. His parents enrolled him in piano lessons at an early age, with the hope that he would develop a passion for music. Instead, he hated it. He stopped after 2 years of lessons. A few years later, Thanh began lessons with a new teacher. This was a turning point for him and his attitude towards music. Thanh was encouraged to choose the work that he would want to practice. So, he picked the most trending EDM song at the time - Faded. The sound of his favorite song on the piano drew him into music. Instead of playing to please others as in the past, he did it to please himself, to enjoy and appreciate his artistic skills. Thanh wants to embrace and pass on this philosophy of learning to his students so they can focus and enjoy their own piano playing and developing their skills. In 2021, Thanh decided to refine his piano skills with the RCM curriculum. Despite having no prior experience in the program, he challenged himself to complete all the grades. Within 2 years of practice, he passed the grade 10 Practical Exam, Harmony Exam and History Exam with First Class Honors. Thanh has not only developed a comprehensive fundamental understanding of music, but he has also honed his skills to express his emotions with technical accuracy. In high school, he performed at annual recitals, public night markets and charitable events. However, Thanh was also once haunted by stage fright. He understands what it feels like to have adrenaline rushing through the body as you step on a stage. He understands what it feels to like to have his legs shaking due to nervousness. He understands what it feels like to have random self-doubt. Having performed at many social events, he accumulated invaluable experience in regulating anxiety, handling mistakes and demonstrating showmanship. Thanh is excited to help his students overcome their limits and reach their full potential. As a teacher, Thanh will provide individual customized plans for each student. Additionally, he has experience interacting with students of all age ranges from primary to secondary school thanks to his previous tutoring jobs. Thanh looks forward to inspiring students to develop not just their piano skills, but to build confidence and an overall appreciation for music.

Avena has a strong passion for music. She began her piano journey at the early age of 8, receiving private one-on-one lessons. Throughout her musical journey, she has participated in many bands, recitals, and concerts. Avena completed her Grade 8 RCM practical and Grade 7 RCM theory, showcasing a high level of proficiency in piano. In addition to piano, Avena is a versatile musician, as she enjoys singing and playing other instruments like the trumpet, clarinet, and harmonica.

Avena's passion extends beyond music, to her love for working with children. She is embarking on a new educational journey, planning to start teacher's college in September 2024. This follows the completion of her specialist degree in Psychology at the University of Toronto.

Avena's teaching philosophy is to welcome anyone with a passion for learning the piano. Her goal is to create a comfortable and close-knit learning environment, where students of all ages can feel at safe and excited to learn. Avena is eager to help piano enthusiasts of all levels progress in their skills while ensuring that the learning process is enjoyable. Her dedication to music, love for teaching, and diverse skills make her excited to help individuals further their piano skills.

Maya has been privately studying piano for 10 years. At Father John Redmond high school, she was a student of the Regional Arts Program studying the Dramatic Arts. Maya has completed the grade 8 practical and grade 7 Theory exam with the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has taught both piano and theory exam preparation for two years. She has extensive experience with children through her private babysitting business and will be working as a camp counselor for the Jays Care Foundation this summer. Maya specializes in lessons for beginners up to grade 6 RCM piano and grade 7 RCM Theory, for students of all ages. She is excited to attend Dalhousie University this coming fall studying Law & Justice.

Victoria is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in Toronto. She has a unique style of movement that was influenced by her exposure to music and dance at a young age. Currently, she is pursuing a BFA in Dance Education at York University while also training with performance groups Kode Red Ignite, Carnival Spice and Drey Dance Academy. During her secondary school years, Victoria focused on hip-hop and had the opportunity to compete with dance teams such as Limitless Compound, Fraud Unit, and York University I.E Crew. Additionally, she has dedicated her time to teaching and workshopping dance classes at Dante Alighieri Academy for four years, specifically in the fusion of Hip Hop. Furthermore, Victoria has established a training and performance team called Coalesce, where she serves as a coach and choreographer. Her teaching experience extends to various dance facilities, including her recent placement at Seneca College. Victoria finds joy in the freedom that dance brings and strives to create a comforting and encouraging environment for her students, sharing her passion with them and helping them grow.

As a competitive dancer of 12 years Jasmine is skilled in many genres of dance including jazz, acro, tap, ballet, hiphop, lyrical, and contemporary. One of Jasmine's passions, is inspiring young dancers to develop a love for dance. With a focus on fun and safety, Jasmine creates a fun, age appropriate, high energy class for all her students. Through her years of assisting and teaching dance classes and camps, Jasmine has learned how to tailor her approach to the different needs of each student. Her classroom activities are designed to maximize fun, learning, and self esteem, so that each child feels special and proud.

Rouddlie has been dancing for 11 years. She is trained in many forms of dance, including Dance Hall, Afro, Hip Hop and Contemporary. In high school she was the dance team captain where she successfully led her team to be chosen for the TDSB Creates Showcase for 2 years in a row. While dancing at school, she was also a part of RVG which is a dance group associated with her community center. With them, she performed in showcases such as STOMP and throwdown. Eventually Rouddlie became a dance coach and prepared other dancers for their showcases. She taught dance at many different elementary schools and even at her own high school, with the goal of showing her community more of what dancing has to offer. Her goal is to enable everyone to have greater access to dance.

Brandon is a University Educated musician, who has been performing, recording, and composing music for over ten years. He attended High School at St. Thomas Aquinas in Brampton Ontario, where he successfully completed his diploma through the schools Regional Arts Program in Instrumental Music. Primarily as a guitar student, Brandon also sung in the school’s competitive chamber choirs, and played saxophone in the school’s competitive big and jazz band ensembles. The groups toured around the U.S and Canada, competing against other high schools in each of the four years he attended the school. Upon receiving a scholarship to study Jazz Guitar at the University of Windsor, Brandon joined the school’s chamber choir in addition to studying under a number of Detroit based guitar professors. Since graduating, Brandon has performed hundreds of live performances in and around Ontario, with a number of cover and original bands. He has been writing and recording original material since 2009, and has had the pleasure of working with producers such as Gilby Clarke (Formerly of Guns n Roses) and Norwood Fisher of the band “Fishbone.” Currently, his band “Drop Top Alibi” is recording with five time Juno award winning producer / song writer, and original “Glass Tiger” drummer, Michael Hanson.

Sarah is a musician at heart and has perfected her skill technically, playing at RCM level 8. Her love for teaching has allowed her students to pick up a new skill and enjoy building thier musical skills. Her encouragement has allowed many of her previous students to stretch thier piano playing skill into both professional and leisure venues. Her fun demeanor keeps the leasons fun and engaging. The focus of the lessons is not only technical. The development of a love for music is key to picking up an instrument. Her goal remains to cultivate that love. The skill will follow as the desire to engage in creating music.