Reviews
“I have been a student of Patrick's for many years. He brings a wonderful balance of knowledge, passion for the cello, kindness and sense of humour to his teaching. I highly recommend Patrick!”
-VY
“Patrick is an exceptionally skilled cello teacher and I owe him a debt of gratitude for the many ways he’s kept me moving forward. As an adult student, at times I have allowed life to get n the way of practice and my self doubt to undermines my confidence, I have set unrealistic goals and harshly judged
the sounds I produce, and sometimes I arrive to my lessons unfocused! Patrick responds with infinite good humour, the patience of a saint, kind and generous encouragement, and detailed approaches that inspire me to keep going. He has supported my interest in Celtic, improv, soul, jazz and even beat box music! He had guided me through cello repairs & upgrades and offered flexible lessons times to accommodate extended out of country trips. It is a privilege to have such a caring teacher with a deep commitment focused on my success and for that I am grateful!”
-MW
“As someone who had long dreamed of learning to play the cello, but put it off due to family responsibilities and the busyness of life, I finally took the plunge (well into mid-life) and started lessons with Patrick. All I can say is it's been life changing -- not just because the cello is no longer a mystery to me and I'm actually making music -- but because Patrick's kindness, patience, sense of humour, encouragement, and ability to infuse wonder and delight into our lessons has helped me rediscover parts of myself long dormant. Each week my curiosity is ignited. My mind (and entire body) are challenged and humbled by the magnitude of the learning I face. And the spirited, fearlessness of my younger self re-emerges for the hour that I spend in the company of two cellos and one remarkable teacher. As a teacher (and very accomplished cellist) Patrick meets you where you are, adapting lessons according to your strengths and weaknesses, celebrating your wins, and pushing you through your (inevitable plateaus). He is a master translator of even the most technical of concepts and gives you confidence in knowing your next breakthrough is within reach. A consummate professional and all around lovely human, I recommend Patrick to any adult music lover -- at any level -- who is inspired to learn and play the cello.”
-JL
“I couldn't have imagined having a better teacher than Patrick. This is my first time playing cello and Patrick is so accommodating - he knows when to push me a little and when to just go at a relaxed pace in my learning journey. He's patient, always pleasant, and most importantly he makes learning so much FUN.
I've been playing cello for 8 months now with Patrick. My work schedule can only accomodate one lesson a week, but I'm still making great progress. Patrick has given me a lot of confidence in my skills and I have looked forward to each and every class.
Aside from being a fantastic teacher, Patrick is just such a wonderful human. He is kind, fun, incredibly talented, and inspirational. I truly couldn't recommend him more!!
If you're an adult thinking of trying cello for the first time, absolutely go to Patrick!!”
-CP
“As a student who started playing cello as an adult, Patrick has been an amazing teacher. He is patient, he understands the challenges of adult learners and is passionate about helping students meet their musical goals. He is flexible in his approach and tailors the lessons to what I am motivated to play and what I need at any given time. He has provided an excellent foundation in cello playing that will serve me for many years to come.”
-SG
“I’ve been studying with Patrick for 6 years and I enjoy my lessons so very much. He’s patient and very flexible with what you want to learn. I started as a complete beginner (no instrument experience and I didn’t know how to read music). He taught me to read music while playing the instrument and that was so motivating. I did both in-person and online lessons and I like both formats.
I can’t recommend him enough!”
-CL
“I cannot say enough nice things about Patrick!!
He is the best teacher I’ve ever had for any subject. I did a wonderful year of cello lessons with him and had so much fun. I learned a great deal, and he helped me rekindle a love of music that I had lost for many years. His passion and positive attitude are contagious, and I left every lesson excited about music!
His approach is modern, adaptable, and so very encouraging. He’s the kind of teacher who can help you grow in whatever way you’re looking for—he even helped me practice a little song that I wrote myself! He can adapt to different learning styles, always has useful hints to help in spots where you struggle. If I had a low practice week or got stuck/frustrated, he was always able to pivot to exercises that helped me work through it.
He’s very open to discussing music theory & history (teaches theory, too, if you ask!). The lessons where he answered all my obscure questions were some of my favourites, not only because his answers were so knowledgeable, but also because his love of music made it such a joy to talk about.
But most importantly to me, Patrick is patient and exceptionally kind. There are many people who might make you feel like starting an instrument as an adult is already too late, but with Patrick, I always felt inspired and like I could reach whatever heights I wanted. He's so supportive and optimistic, and I fully believe that whatever your cello goals are, whether you’re more casual like me or have bigger dreams, he can absolutely guide you there!
Also! My lessons were mostly over Zoom, and I was so impressed with how smooth that was. I never felt like it reduced the quality of the lesson, so if you’re remote, Patrick is a great teacher for that, too!”
-KS
“I have been studying with Patrick for nearly two years. He is super patient and knowledgeable. He knows the reportoire very well too.”
-HM