IAN SINCLAIR - D.M.A., M.Mus., B.Mus., B.Ed., RMT     

 

Ian has been a music educator for nearly twenty years, incorporating the teaching of jazz, classical, and popular music traditions. He has taught piano lessons, directed and coached ensembles, and provided classroom instruction and clinics at universities and public schools. He has instructed everyone from beginners through professional-level as well as ages that include small children to teens to adults. Ian is a member of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers Association. 

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Ian is available to teach piano lessons (jazz, pop, or beginner-to-intermediate classical), jazz improvisation, music theory (RCM), jazz or American music history, or coach/direct jazz ensembles. Please contact Ian for more information.

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Ian's teaching approach is grounded in building students' awareness of interpretive and improvisational practices in all musical traditions focusing on building skills, discovery, and a special focus on ear/aural approaches. This while maintaining a sense of fun and humour.

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In addition, Ian has been a frequent clinician with high school and middle school students, having given presentations or clinics with students at public schools, and as guest clinician of the Mill Creek Festival and Lionel Hampton Music Festival.​

 

As post-secondary music faculty, Ian has been a jazz piano instructor, an instructor of performance courses, an ensemble director/coach, and lecturer for music history courses. He has worked in various capacities as faculty at Vancouver Island University and as the Paula Knickerbocker Artist-in-Residence and Lecturer at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. In addition, while in graduate school, Ian was also a teaching assistant at the University of Toronto as well as the University Of North Texas. In the latter, he directed an auditioned big band - the 6 O'Clock Lab Band (see below for audio). During the pandemic in 2021-2022, he led three four-session jazz history seminars on Zoom to a group comprised mostly of leading North American humanities faculty and graduate students as well as professional jazz musicians.

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Ian's education and training have prepared him for many teaching situations. Ian completed Bachelor degrees in Education and Music Education from the University of Saskatchewan as preparation for becoming an instrumental music instructor. Through this program, he gained experience and training in directing and coaching concert bands and jazz ensembles with students from Grade 5 through 12. Since then, he has also completed graduate level courses at the University of North Texas in Directing College Jazz Ensembles and College Jazz Pedagogy. ​

 

Testimonial:

"Ian's lessons are largely responsible for the quick development of my jazz piano skills in the past two and a half years. He helped me get accepted into several university jazz programs by focusing his lessons on the most important information to my development. The best part about having him as a teacher is that he wanted to make me a good musician, as much as I wanted to become one." - Jay Peterson, former student graduated from University of Toronto (B. Mus - Jazz Performance).