About Us - YaMusic

About YaMusic

Our Story

YaMusic offers Yamaha music lessons in Edmonton and we are an authorized Yamaha School.

Did you know we offer fun and inviting group music lessons to toddlers, 2 years old and up ?

YaMusic was a dream before it was a reality.

Our founders, Jillian and Melanie, taught at the same school together for many years.  Through their experience, they learned what works and what does not.  When the opportunity arrived to partner and start their own school, they jumped!

The decision to start our own business was made in September of 2020.  By the beginning of October we had found our first location to lease, took care of all the legalities of starting a business, enrolled 91 students, and started teaching!

We believe that music is not just a skill to learn; it exists in our very souls and can be found all around us.  Music helps us understand the world we live in and connects us to others.  Learning an instrument is not just about learning an instrument! It’s about learning discipline, perseverance, and focus, and is a fun and fulfilling way to develop skills that are integral to success in all areas of life.

It is our dream come true to share our love of music with our students, and to learn about and from each other every day!

Yamaha Philosophy

The Yamaha philosophy of music education is based on the belief that all people have the
potential to develop musical ability. Yamaha believes that everyone has the capacity to
create, perform and enjoy one’s own music, and that through this joy of music one can
enjoy a richer life. We hope to influence the greatest number of people to enjoy music.
In the early 1950’s, a research team of excellent teachers, physicians, psychologists and
musicians were brought together to develop a new and effective way of teaching music.
Through much discussion, research and experimentation, a unique and remarkable
educational system evolved which is now being praised around the world.

The four main characteristics of the Yamaha Music Education System are:

Timely Education

Comprehensive Music Education

Group Lessons

Both private and group lessons are available.

Systematic Education Program

Meet the Founders

Melanie's Story

I grew up playing piano from an early age. I had many amazing teachers through the years who inspired me and gave me additional opportunities to develop my musical skills. Some of my greatest musical memories involve playing on a bunch of trash (my first band experience) and also being given the opportunity to play trumpet with University students when I was only in high school.

Unfortunately, along with the good experiences, I also got my share of bad. I had the stereotypical piano teacher that people are haunted by in their adulthood. This teacher taught me a lesson far greater than piano technique; what NOT to do with my students.

I was given the opportunity to start teaching when I was 17 years old. I was introduced to the Yamaha group style program in 2007, and haven’t looked back since.

Jillian's Story

Music has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. I’m a “Yamaha kid”, and started taking group classes at 4 years old! I went through the entire program, including the JOC program where I learned to compose my own music. My parents were focused on giving me a diverse childhood, and I can remember attending the children’s symphony concerts, plays, and other artistic experiences from a young age.

I was always a part of the band program in school growing up, and had the opportunity to develop my skills on the clarinet (although I haven’t played in a long time!), participated in choirs, jazz bands, and basically every other musical group I could be a part of.

I’m grateful for my supportive teachers that I’ve had along the way, from childhood all the way through my university education. Each of them has had a profound impact on my life, and that is something I strive to provide with my own students.

Ultimately, from our experiences, good and bad, our dream is to provide a place where teachers want to teach and students want to learn.