EN/FR; guitar+bass tutor, ages 12+, ADHD specialized, 5 min walk from REM, tailored to your preference; prof de guitare+basse, 12 ans et +, spécialisé en TDAH, adaptés à vos goûts, 5 min à pied du REM

Find out more about Ethan

• When and why did you develop an interest in your chosen field?

  Is it a cliché to say that I have loved music since I was a wee lad? No, I'm not Scottish, why do you ask? However, yes, no matter how typical it might be, it's the truth!
  
  When I was nine years old, I listened to the album American Idiot by Green Day, and it was the catalyst that set me on the path from a car kid to an absolute music nerd with way too loud of a voice. Thank you, punk music, I would say I owe you everything, but mostly just power chords and teenage angst. Even so, from the most basic of three-finger chords, I was enthralled by the guitar.
  
  Truly, there was something incredibly captivating about the way Billie Joe Armstrong would deliver such power through distortion and hooks that my brain couldn't even fully comprehend at the time. The only thing that I knew was that I wanted to do what he did; because of this band, and countless other punk, metal, rock and pop acts that I was exposed to throughout elementary and high school (namely Bring Me The Horizon, Chvrches, My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park), I found a medium where I could express myself to the fullest, the craziest and the most chaotic extent, and I'm still living for it.

• What makes you passionate about your subject?

  Music is various and versatile, to put it simply. Personally, I could never gravitate towards solely one instrument. I started with guitar, but I would still be using my voice and playing drums, ukulele, piano, banjo, and especially bass, which at this point in my career, I would consider my strongest instrument. Pretty bass…ic, eh? Yes, I can hear your half-hearted chuckles at my puns, but I have no shame.
  
  What I have is a passion for what I do; what keeps me involved and motivated to continue pursuing this art form is the constantly shifting focus and options which I can apply to my understanding of playing technique, music theory/ear training and songwriting. There's so much! It's so interesting! That one chord in that one Beatles song that I can apply to my own? This rhythmic technique that Prince burrowed in my ears that I can't get out of my head? Honestly, the entire Elliott Smith discography taught me that finger-style guitar, sad lyrics and an affinity for solo recording can reap immense benefits in the form of an Oscar. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll have my own Good Will Hunting to soundtrack on!
  
  They're these details, artists and original takes on their respective genres that give me the passion to apply myself to every instrument I know, and get the exact sound I want out of my craft. Exploring new concepts, constantly learning the intricacies of specific styles and expanding my knowledge through every crevice of my head are, without question, some of my favourite things to learn in my day-to-day life.
  
  Or maybe I just watch too many music analysis essays on YouTube.

• What do you like about tutoring? What makes you a "Superprof"?

  I think I'm a pretty Solidprof, but I like the ring of Superprof much better!
  
  I love tutoring, not only because I get to help students hone in on their artistic passion, but so I can further inspire them to explore new and interesting facets of playing music. I live by the idea of teaching exactly what each student wants to know, rather than following a set manual/textbook curriculum. By learning their favorite songs, or even pieces that are directly related to their preferred genres and desired technique, we can get things going right off the bat towards a more motivated and productive atmosphere, as well as maintain a positive attitude throughout these courses. Of course, if you do wish to start off with something like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or "Old McDonald", I have no objections! Anything you want, I got you!
  
  The faces and reactions I get from my students, notably from seeing a part of a song or theoretical/practical concept click in their head, are the true joy and motivation for me to continue doing what I do. The more that I see them, the more I can truly consider myself a Superprof.

• Do you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you? Please explain.

  My biggest inspirations are definitely my former academic instructors.
  
  For my lessons in CEGEP on jazz guitar, I would look to the impressive and dexterous hands of Kenny Bibace. Seeing this pro blast out incredible lines and melodic examples, showing exactly how I can do the same, all the while maintaining a chill demeanour throughout each class, was an incredibly fruitful and insightful experience every time. He was a key role model in showing me how to improvise and quite honestly "do my own thing" very effectively, helping me to successfully graduate with a DEC in music.
  
  In university, I was taught electric bass by the great Sage Reynolds, a teacher always looking towards improving my skill through detailed exercises and increasingly dense basslines. His approach from the beginning would be to ask me what I wanted to learn and improve on; from there, he would incorporate precisely what I needed into his lesson plan and closely examine my playing technique, rhythm and consistency, making sure that each piece I performed was closely emulated to the original recorded bassist. He even got me to transcribe some jazz sax solos, and those were by FAR the craziest passages I had ever played up to that point. Thank you Charlie Parker, very cool.
  
  Overall, this is a method that worked wonders, and to this day I am very grateful that he gave me so much freedom of choice; I hope to give exactly that to any and all students of mine.

• What are your keys to success?

  Honestly, and somewhat ironically, it took me a long while to answer this question myself before even getting into this interview.
  
  After years of going back and forth, I've determined that the key to success is to keep doing what you love. Whether you want the musical field to be your job in a big capacity or merely as a simple hobby if you feel that passion running through your veins, it is a beautiful thing to let it out in whichever way you so choose. Having that desire to express yourself in the form of a tune is key enough, but putting in the effort to practice, getting results and finding new ways to be able to play is a crucial element in one's own artistic growth. I firmly believe that through this, and especially maintaining that pure sense of joy as it reverberates through your strings, you will find not just success, but a greater sense of achievement, productivity and pride.