Jonathan Werk

Somewhere in life, I discovered that I could choose what music to play, instead of having it dictated to me, and I've never looked back. I am classically trained, but the curiosity and desire to explore other styles defines me more than any particular genre does. I have been hired to play video game music, chamber music, house concerts, orchestral performances, and traditional music for dancing events or in pubs. I started out playing piano as a small child, but I play many other instruments, including oboe, accordion, tin whistle, bombarde and didgeridoo.

After leaving a career as an Aerospace Engineer, I went back to school to get a Bachelor's in Music Performance, and then moved to Montreal to pursue graduate studies at the Schulich School of Music at McGill. I now work full time as a musician, performing across North America as a member of multiple bands, freelancing, working on my own solo projects, writing musical arrangements, producing recordings, and teaching.

I have been teaching theory and piano at the studio over the last year. I am an expert in music theory, harmony, and history, as well as an experienced composer and arranger. Occasionally, I help write arrangements to accommodate pieces requested by students. I recently composed a set of original songs that were incorporated into a circus and theatre production, and I often travel for work - this past June I spent a week teaching and performing at a music and dance camp in California.

I am a published artist, having produced and released multiple recordings of my own arrangements (written and performed by myself) on online streaming platforms. These include some piano arrangements of music from video game soundtracks. My interests and expertise go beyond classical music, playing a lot of folk music, jazz, and more.

I hope to inspire my students to create music that feels true to who they are and what they love. I am available to teach piano, musicianship, theory, harmony, history and music making in a variety of traditional and popular styles.