Annex Academy of Music

The Annex Academy of Music is a community music studio located at 519 Bloor Street West, near Bathurst and Bloor in downtown Toronto. Our expert teachers give lessons in piano, guitar, voice, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, violin, and theory for students of all ages. We take pride in being the most fun, most engaging music school in town. Please check out our site and get in touch to learn more about how we can get you or your child playing today.
We believe that making music is a natural part of life that every child and adult can find joy in. The comfortable atmosphere of our studio allows us to make a personal connection with each student so that we can tap into his or her interests and needs.
Annex Academy of Music provides a balance of contemporary and classical teaching methods to foster creativity and well rounded musicianship in students of all ages. Our music lesson programs are tailored to the unique needs and interests of each student: your goals are our goals. Students are encouraged to engage in the rich musical life of our studio and the city around us to participate in ensembles, festivals and performances.
Our highest aim is to help each student experience the beauty around them, unlock their creative potential, and discover the joy of their own learning process -- the ultimate reason that learning music is so universally important.
We're in the Bathurst and Bloor area of Toronto, just a 3-minute walk from Bathurst subway station. And we love visitors.
We have amazing teachers who keep things fun and interesting. Each of our teachers has a music degree and many years experience in music education.
Andrew Furlong has been active as a bass player and guitarist since 2005, first in Edmonton and, since 2012, in Toronto. In 2016 he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto, following a 2010 Performance degree from Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton. Previous to these academic pursuits, Andrew spent many years learning by ear and teaching himself guitar and piano. All of this education has found a place in Andrew’s teaching method, which he has been sharing with students of all ages since 2008
 Andrew enjoys teaching all styles of music and is focused on helping students learn the music they are interested in playing, including rock, folk and pop styles, as well providing theoretical and technical knowledge as needed. As a teacher he aims to tailor lessons for each student, emphasizing the fun in music, while helping each student explore their own creativity and interests. As a performer, Andrew is active locally in Toronto and nationally with his co-led group Luscar, as well as improvising ensembles with some of the city’s best musicians, including Ken Aldcroft, Joe Sorbara, and Colin Fisher. In Summer 2016, Andrew was awarded first place in The Emerging Artist series at the Sudbury Jazz Festival for his duo with vocalist Laura Swankey.

Originally from Macau, China, Jen Lo is a pianist, composer, and teacher who is known for her lyrical and expressive style in music and improvisation. A recent graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance (2021), she is a classically trained pianist since the age of 6 and earned her Grade 8 piano and percussion with the ABRSM (UK system), equivalent with the Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 piano in Canada. She is active in the Toronto music scene and performs in many jazz venues such as the Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, the Emmet Ray, Tranzac, Jazz Bistro and more.
As a teacher, Jen’s teaching goal is to instil a sense of music appreciation while teaching the technical aspects of music. She strives to expand students’ interest in music by fostering a fun and positive learning environment and to accommodate every student’s needs and interests with an open mind. 
Adam Mansfield graduated with Honours from Humber College’s prestigious Bachelor of Music program. While in his first year at the college, he was the recipient of the Mark Kelso award,  given once a year to a student who shows exceptional dedication to his instrument. While at the college, he studied with Barry Romberg, Steve Mancuso, Marito Marques and Joaquin HIdalgo, while consistently remaining the top marked student by each of his drum instructors every year. Having learned from these world class musicians, Adam is proficient in playing and teaching many styles of music including Jazz, Funk, RnB, Fusion and various styles of Latin music including music from Cuba and Brazil. Adam has had the opportunity to perform at classic Toronto locations such as Lee’s Palace, Poetry Jazz Cafe and the Royal Ontario Museum. He has also been fortunate enough to perform and record alongside artists such as Brownman Ali, Eddie Bullen, Justice Der and Joaquin Hidalgo. He is very excited to help support each individual's unique path to reach their personal goals.
Caleb Klager is an accomplished bassist, composer, and improviser and has been an active member of Toronto’s culturally diverse music scene since 2016. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance program, Caleb has worked with many artists and contributed to numerous recordings and performances across Canada spanning multiple different genres, including RnB, Jazz, Soul, Folk, and Hip-Hop. He has also participated in a number of international workshops, such as the School of Improvised Music (SIM) Intensive in Brooklyn, New York City in 2018. Caleb recently went on an international tour with The Harry Bartlett Trio upon the release of their new EP, which combines elements of jazz and traditional folk melodies into a unique and cohesive sonic experience. He also has worked extensively with Toronto vocalist Erez Zobary, playing a sold-out single release show at Lee’s Palace in December of 2019 and recording on many of her singles, featured on CBC Radio. Caleb also arranges and composes for JC3, a neo-soul/hip-hop collaborative that features the work of Japanese producer Nujabes, which sold out the Drake Underground in November of 2019. Known for his lyricism and sensitivity as a composer and improviser, Caleb currently leads his own quartet and trio projects, which also perform at various venues across the GTA. With over 4 years of teaching experience in guitar, bass, drums, and piano, Caleb strives to create an encouraging learning environment that inspires his students just as his teachers had done for him. Caleb tailors his lessons to the interests of his students, while also striving to set a firm foundation to support them as they pursue future musical endeavours.
Bennett Rouleau is a Toronto based Saxophonist and Composer. He is a recent graduate from the Jazz program at the University of Toronto, receiving a bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance. As a performer, Bennett’s musical background is varied, beginning with classical training on the violin and including experience in rock and pop as a keyboardist and guitarist as well as numerous jazz settings on the alto and tenor saxophone. As a saxophonist, Bennett is known to be an expressive and passionate improvisor. Compositionally, he pulls on a wide breadth of influences from classical and jazz music to the sounds of nature and the city, with the resulting approach being heavily focused on musical texture and timbre. His work as a film composer has been featured in several festivals across Canada. As a teacher, he believes a broad appreciation for music and a solid foundation of fundamentals is the key to fostering progress. Additionally, he believes a unique approach is necessary for every student and approaches his teaching with this adaptability in mind.
Jennifer Pos is a pianist and trumpet player from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She was born missing her left hand, but that has not stopped her in pursuing her goals as a musician. She began playing piano when she was 8 years old and frequently participated in the New Glasgow Music Festival and Nova Scotia Honour Jazz throughout her childhood and adolescence. In 2015, she completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Humber College in Jazz Performance. She is equally adept at classical music, and earned her Grade 9 piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music with first class honors with distinction.
Jennifer’s teaching style has a strong emphasis on understanding the fundamentals of learning music and applying them in practical situations. She draws upon her 10 years of teaching experience to create the best lesson plan for each individual’s needs. Jennifer is well versed in classical music, jazz, rock, pop, and many other styles, which allows her to help students to learn music in a variety of genres. Her students have had success on their exams, in music festivals, and on their university auditions. Jennifer has experience teaching students with both mental and physical disabilities. Being an arm amputee who plays piano, she understands how to think outside the box and to be creative in order help any student succeed.
As a performer, Jennifer leads and writes music for Strike Scream Run, a jazz fusion band based in Toronto. Strike Scream Run released an EP in 2015 and can be found performing at a number of venues in Toronto and Hamilton, including Lee’s Palace, The Painted Lady, Junction City Music Hall, and The Doors Pub. In addition to Strike Scream Run, Jennifer be found playing with The Purcell Project, playing various jazz gigs, or working as an accompanist. Jennifer also played trumpet in the Medieval Times show, The Northman.
Composer and vocalist Lieke van der Voort was born in The Netherlands and moved to Toronto in 2009 to pursue a career in music. She has a Bachelor of Education (Hogeschool Utrecht 2005) and a Bachelor in Contemporary Music (Humber College, 2017). As a vocalist, Lieke can be heard on various soundtracks (Clara, The VVitch), improvises with the Element Choir and leads the Kontraband Kollektif. She can also be heard around Toronto in various ensembles. As a composer, recent pieces include “Catenate” for the opening of The Bentway and University of Toronto’s Jazz and “Endings” with Jumblies Theatre for Soundstreams Salon 21.
Lieke was selected as a composer for Toronto Creative Music Lab 2017, Soundstreams Emerging Composer Workshop 2018 (under the mentorship of David Lang and James Rolfe) and participated at Banff’s International Workshop in Jazz and Creative music, where she studied under the guidance of Vijay Iyer, Tyshawn Sorey and Okkyung Lee. Her works have been supported by Canada Council of the Arts and Ontario Arts Council.
Lieke is a goal-oriented teacher whose lessons are described high energy and fun. She enjoys helping her students finding their true voice and musical interests through listening, improvising and introducing different styles of music.
Melanie Pos comes from Pictou County, Nova Scotia. She grew up taking part in as many musical opportunities as possible, from playing percussion in school band, singing in musicals and music festivals, to the provincial choir and jazz programs.
While earning her Bachelor of Music Degree at Acadia University, Melanie’s studies focused on classical vocal performance. She performed in university recitals, operas, musicals and choirs while also studying music theory, history and furthering her piano skills. On top of coming from a family of music teachers, studying vocal pedagogy inspired her to teach and pass on her passion and knowledge to others.
Melanie specializes in classical voice and beginner piano. She also loves teaching and performing a variety of singing styles including musical theatre, jazz, pop and rock. She finds it incredibly rewarding to help others develop a strong foundation in healthy technique and understanding of music, to see them develop pride and confidence in reaching their goals. And having fun doing it!
Whether you want to learn how to play piano for the first time, to improve your karaoke skills, or you’re ready to prepare for public performances, music festivals or Royal Conservatory exams, Melanie will help you with a smile.
Nirvana is a saxophonist/multi instrumentalist/composer and arranger who is currently a student at Humber College in the Bachelors of music program. Her musical journey began when she started playing classical piano at the age of 10 where she would continue her training for 7 years on the instrument. During this time, Nirvana also picked up the flute at the age of 12, then the tenor saxophone at age of 14. After finding her voice on the saxophone, she decided to pursue her musical as her journey by auditioning for music programs and big bands in the GTA. Moreover, her training primarily consisted of classical piano and saxophone during her high school years at Cawthra Park Secondary school where she was accepted into the music program. Moving forward to 2015, Nirvana got her first taste of big band music when she joined the Etobicoke Jazz where she would be a member of until joining The Toronto All-Star Big Band in 2019. While in the Etobicoke Jazz Band, Nirvana had been awarded with the Judy Reynolds award from the organization. This award helped fund some of her school where in 2018 she had started Humber Collage’s Bachelor’s of Music program. Currently, Nirvana is playing shows around the GTA, as well as teaching piano and saxophone while attending school full time.
Robert Chapman is a guitarist from Hamilton, Ontario. As a teen, Robert completed his Grade 8 guitar studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music and also joined the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band, which awarded him a scholarship to attend Mohawk College’s music program. After graduating from Mohawk, he then completed his Bachelor’s of Music at Humber College in Toronto. Since graduating from school, Robert has been performing at many of Toronto’s premier jazz clubs, including The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, and The Jazz Bistro. He is also a member of the Brad Cheeseman Group, which won Montreal Jazz Festival’s coveted Grand Prix de Jazz in 2016. The band was also nominated for "Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)" at the 2018 JUNO Awards for their 2017 recording, The Tide Turns. Robert has been teaching guitar and piano lessons for over a decade. He has experience teaching many styles of music, including rock, pop, blues, jazz, and classical. The focus of his teaching is to provide a comfortable learning environment and have lessons that are geared towards each individual student’s learning style.
Savic has been an active musician and educator since 2008. Born and raised in Edmonton Alberta, he spent 10 years studying piano with Patricia Frehlich and completed his Grade 9 Practical Examination for the Royal Conservatory of Music. He went on to study saxophone at Grant MacEwan University where he completed diplomas in Jazz Performance and Composition. In 2011 Savic moved to Toronto and studied at Humber College under Pat Labarbera and Alex Dean. He completed his Bachelors Degree in Jazz and Contemporary music in 2014 and has been teaching and performing throughout the GTA since.
Savic tailors his teaching to each individual ensuring that every student is studying the material and the music that they are most interested in, while also maintaining a focus on fundamental skills such as reading musical notation, theoretical comprehension, and ear training. Savic believes that everyone can find something they love in the world of music and he works to guide his students to achieve whatever goals they have, whether that be completing examinations, performing in festivals, or learning songs for fun in their free time.
Teri Parker has been playing the piano for 28 years and completed her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Toronto in Jazz Performance and her Master's in Composition at York University. Originally classically trained, Teri earned her Grade 10 classical piano and Grade 5 theory with the Royal Conservatory of Music with first class honors. She has participated in numerous workshops including the Roma Summer Jazz Workshop in 2015, Banff Winter Creative Music Residency in 2013 and School of Improvised Music Brooklyn in 2009. In 2014 and 2018 she received study grants from the Ontario Arts Council to take lessons in New York City and Italy with piano greats Aaron Goldberg, Sophia Rosoff, Fred Hersch, Guillermo Klein and Enrico Pieranunzi.
Teri draws on her twenty years of teaching experience to share her joy of music with others and enjoys the challenge of creating an individual program for each student. Her varied musical background allows her to provide solid guidance to students pursuing many genres such as jazz, classical, pop and rock. Her teaching approach spells success for her students: she has led winning piano groups in competitions and many of her students have achieved high marks on their exams. Teri is also in demand as an examiner and adjudicator at the Niagara Conservatory and Milton Academy of Music and as a clinician at public schools and colleges across Canada.
We'll get you playing right away! Private music lessons, one-on-one with the teacher, provide lots of individual attention to help set and achieve goals that matter to you.  Lessons are weekly and 30, 45 or 60 minutes long, depending the student’s age and experience level. Scheduling is simple – once we find the best weekly timeslot for you it is yours every week.
Our private lessons are uniquely tailored to each student's skill, musical taste, and aptitude. We teach classical, jazz, pop, and contemporary styles to students of all ages.
We teach piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, and vocals in several styles, to students of all ages and skill levels.
It's not enough to just take your lessons and practice at home. You've got a musical life to live! We offer plenty of opportunities for students to enrich their musical lives, flex their creative muscles, and put their new skills into practice!
Get out there and strut your stuff! We encourage our students to develop self-confidence and performance skills by providing the opportunity to play at concerts, festivals, competitions and examinations. These experiences are not a requirement, but a great opportunity for an enhanced learning experience. Funfest, Kiwanis, casual recitals and concerts are just a few of the performance opportunities we provide our students.
Ever wanted to play in a group? We offer ensemble opportunities for all instruments, from duets to larger bands, and performance opportunities, too. We've also got a glee club and a rock band! Contact us for more information.
We have successfully prepared many students for Royal Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Canada or Ontario Music Teacher's Guild exams. Examinations are an excellent motivator as they provide a clear goal to aspire to and concrete feedback on the result of the student’s effort. The great sense of accomplishment a student feels after completing an exam is another reason to consider taking one. Exams for higher grades can also be counted towards high school credit.
Every summer the Annex Academy runs a Glee camp and Rock Band camp for kids ages 7-13!
Led by two of our amazing teachers, students get the opportunity to learn from professional musicians in a group setting. Music camp runs the second and third weeks of July each summer and finishes with a performance at the end of each week. If you’re looking to develop your musical skills further and have fun playing in a band these camps are for you!
Here are some things we think you might find helpful. Click on the names to get to the links.
An online ear training website for working on intervals, chords, scales and more!
A website with interactive trainers for theory and ear training. Really a great resource.
Want to learn your favourite new song? Go to this website and download sheet music for thousands of songs. Costs about $4.50/song.
Has your teacher been telling you to work on your time? Go to this website to use their free online metronome.
Have you ever heard a song or riff that you'd like to learn but it just going by to fast? Use this program to slow music down to 20% of it's original speed.
For more advanced jazz students, this is a great podcast by drummer Danny Wolf to help students work on intervals, chords, scales and more.
The world's largest on-demand music streaming and discovery service. Over 30 million users flock to Spotify to listen to their favorite music, create playlists, discover new tunes, and share it all with friends via Facebook, Twitter, social news sites, and more.
We get asked these questions a lot. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, never hesitate to contact us directly by email or phone. We love hearing from you.
The majority of our students come to our studio in the Bathurst and Bloor area. However we also offer in-home lessons where that's more convenient for students and their families. Please contact us for more information.
Our programs are designed to get you playing music right away. You should notice dramatic improvements every couple of months depending on how much you practice at home.

We are happy to reschedule your lesson time with at least 24 hours advance notice with up to three reschedules per school year.

Children need to know that they are doing well. By taking the time to listen to them play and cheering them on you will increase their confidence, giving them the motivation to keep it up. Younger children may also need some guidance in their daily practice – ask your teacher for info.
Because we are experienced and well-connected, we are able to offer the best of both worlds.
We offer 30, 45 or 60 minute weekly Lessons, depending the student’s age and experience level.
Yes. After our initial meeting, we will find a time that works best with your schedule and this lesson time will be reserved for you each week.
Currently, our studio offers lesson on piano, guitar, voice and drums. If you are interested in another instrument, please do give us a call as we can arrange a referral.
Developing good practice habits is essential to success in music. Fifteen minutes per day is a good place to start, but your teacher will recommend the best approach for you. The important thing is to be consistent.
At each lesson, the teacher will write page numbers of material and specific instructions in our online student portal. This reminds the student what was covered during the lesson and helps her track her progress. Parents can meet the teacher briefly after their child’s lesson for an update, and also use the dictation book to keep their kids on track.
Positive energy is always better than negative. Try to encourage your child to practice by telling them how much progress they’ve made so far, or how good they sound. Our studio also uses an online weekly practice log and incentives to encourage five days a week (or more!) or practice. Students who are in our practice club receive a sticker for 5 days a week of practice and after 10 stickers there is a prize. A regular routine is also highly effective: find a time of day that is always available and make it ‘practice time.’ (Mine was 15 minutes before school in the morning :o). If all else fails, postponing TV or XBox time until practicing is complete is a very effective strategy. Always let us know if you have a concern – we are here to help!
All children develop differently, so at this age it’s best for us to meet your child before making a decision. Many 5 year olds are ready for 30 minute lessons, but starting too early is a mistake as it can make music seem frustrating rather than fun. An interview lesson will allow us to advise you best.
If you have an interest in learning music, it is never too late to start. We have lots of experience with students of all ages - from kindergarteners to grandmothers. We’d love to help you accomplish your musical goals.
All books required will be available for purchase from our studio. We are also happy to help you select a good instrument and quality gear to rent or buy at local stores.
We feel incredibly lucky to have your school in our community. Our daughter is flourishing and advancing musically, but Annex Academy also provides an atmosphere that is friendly, encouraging, and non-stressful. A far cry from our rather stuffy experiences learning music as kids!
I wanted to thank you so much for a great year of piano! Alice learnt a lot and really enjoyed it - and the COVID transition to Zoom was totally seamless
Thank you for working with Harriet this year, and Lieke with Iris, both of you are so terrific, especially for showing up during this difficult time (with Covid). Having piano lessons continue online was a good experience for our family and I appreciate the way The Annex Academy rose to the occasion.
"Annex Academy of Music has been a great experience for my kids. Not only do they love their lessons but they are also excited to practice at home and learn more about music history. The teachers make learning piano fun and are able to adapt to the personalities and interests of each individual child."
"The Annex Academy has provided my children with a wonderful introduction to piano. The teachers have made the music lessons fun, and my kids enjoy going every week. It’s also wonderful to see their self-confidence and self-esteem grow as they learn how to play!"
"The Annex Academy of Music provides a great environment for kids - the teachers balance music theory and fun to make learning enjoyable. Harley is an amazing guitarist and so patient with kids. Laura has been an inspiring vocal teacher who builds self-confidence. I’ve been really happy with my experience here. I’ve recommended Annex Academy of Music to friends who have now signed up for lessons!"
"I'd like thank you so much for the musical education The Annex Academy has provided for Bella. By teaching her contemporary songs for piano she is way more inclined to practice, and excel."
We are located in the Bathurst/Bloor area of Toronto, just a 3-minute walk from Bathurst subway station. Feel free to call or email us directly. We look forward to hearing from you.

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