Meet Taras (Terry) Babyuk
Owner of Da Capo Academy of Music
What’s the name of your teaching studio?
What inspired you to start Da Capo Academy of Music?
Music (and piano in particular) has always been my passion and I could see the potential it has to enrich people’s lives. This compelled me and my business partner to start a school of our own where, with the help of our amazing teachers, we could share this passion with our students and make their lives richer.
What instruments do you teach?
At the moment, we teach piano, guitar, drums, voice, music theory, and toddler lessons (group). We are hoping to add other instruments over time.
What ages do you teach?
If you include toddlers, then from about age two to adults. So basically all ages!
Who’s a favourite musician/band that inspired you?
Being a pianist, my initial inspiration came from the classical and romantic composers, especially Beethoven and Chopin. I was also really inspired by the “minimal” music of contemporary composer Yann Tiersen, whom I admire very much.
How is Da Capo Academy of Music different to how you learned as a beginner?
In my case, this is like asking how music education in Ukraine is different from that in Canada. My first ever music lessons were in about 1992 when I was still living in Ukraine. Let’s just say it was a lot more strict there than in Canada. Also, the philosophy back then (and it’s still largely true in post-Soviet countries) is that music education is only for young children, and once you reach a certain age, you should just not be taking lessons. This is very different to the western approach, where music is accessible to everybody at any stage of life (which I happen to agree with more).
What’s something about your school that you’re really proud of?
I am proud of having built a friendly and inclusive environment for our students and staff, which is something we put a lot of emphasis on. I’m also proud of our students and their progress!
What advice do you give to parents looking for a great teacher for their child?
I would say take advantage of the “free trial lesson” that many music schools offer these days and see if the teacher and your child “connect” during that lesson. When teacher and student are on the same “wavelength”, this will do wonders for the student’s progress and create a strong and potentially long-lasting student-teacher bond.
What’s something you see successful students doing that new students need to know?
Of course – practice. This is the number one thing that separates successful students from the average students. At our school, we always try to emphasise the importance of setting aside time in your day/week for regular practice.
What opportunities does Da Capo Academy of Music offer students beyond lessons?
In addition to lessons, our students also have a chance to participate in one or both of our bi-annual music recitals/concerts. We are currently also working on a band program, so this will hopefully be another thing our students can have a blast participating in!
What’s the big vision for Da Capo Academy of Music? Where are you headed in the next few years?
Being still a relatively new school in our area, our focus right now is on growth. We would like to increase our student numbers and make people in our neighbourhood more aware of who we are and what we do!
