“Ewa has helped me to analyze music with a flexible, liberal approach. She prefers to leave room for other explanations, while teaching me that music does not have to be interpreted in one specific way. I learned from her that how we play certain parts of a piece are subject to change, but she has demonstrated consistency in her teaching methods. When I have open ended questions, she gives extraordinary explanations and always leaves me satisfied. Her wit allows for sufficient examples of imagery and metaphors, which I think are significant for learning pieces. Several times, I have felt that she tries to take her students out of their comfort zone to explore into their own means. Her main goal is to make her students become sophisticated performers who are not afraid to express themselves. What I especially admire about her teaching is that she clearly delivers her thoughts while also respecting the students’ ideas. She has often made note of how I feel about certain subjects, changes, or situations. Because she is well rounded, she keeps the lesson sessions interesting and entertaining. Moreover, she has a great sense of humour and will make an effort to connect to her students. Thus far, I have felt that she gives enough attention to me as she remembers all the details of my work. Outside of teaching music, she has told me about her experiences as a performer, tips on taking care of yourself as a musician. She is always considerate of my condition as a student and finds solutions to overcome any of my musical challenges. Ewa has always maintained a curious attitude towards me to help me become my best. She is able to discover ways to motivate her students and encourage them to try anything.

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This year, I was encouraged by Ewa to participate in a few music festivals. As a result, I received bursaries, trophies, certificates and grades in first class honours with distinction. In the Chilliwack Lions Music Festival, I was runner up in senior piano, and in the Abbotsford Music Festival, I won first place in all of the classes that I participated in. She was very understanding of me when I was preparing to perform and compete. Moreover, when I decided to audition for music programs in a few major universities, Ewa gave constructive evaluation and gave me a great direction. As a result, I got accepted at a few universities with scholarships. This would not have been possible without her assistance. In the early lessons, Ewa had indicated that I did not have enough sense of beat, or rhythm. She consistently worked with me to help diminish my weakness, and I have improved greatly. Because tempo is one of the basic foundations of music, she suggested me the idea of feeling beat in my soul. It did not come easily, but now I naturally detect a pulse while I play pieces. Ewa has given me a lot of advices that I will use in my time at university and further future".                              

Ju Hee L. , 18 years old 

Abbotsford, BC