Teacher Info

At Music For Creative Families, lessons are tailored to each individual student’s goals and interests. Instructor Dana Baitz ensures that each student learns exactly what is important to them, which can involve learning songs the student chooses, skipping the occasional unappealing song, focusing on specific musical topics (as described on the Learning Streams page).

Although we ensure that each student progresses in measurable ways, we aim to foster an enjoyment of music first and foremost, so that students are motivated to learn.

Dana Baitz, ARCT, PhD

Dana Baitz, ARCT, PhD

Dana Baitz
I’ve been teaching piano since 1997. I’ve taught private and group lessons to students age four to adult, in classical and jazz styles. Some of my students have chosen to take Royal Conservatory examinations, others were fulfilling university music requirements, and many simply followed their own goals. I’ve taught in private music schools, in my own studio, and in universities in Canada and England.

The breadth of my musical background allows me to teach a wide range of musical skills, including performance, improvisation, theory and composition. I frequently create custom arrangements of songs that students wish to learn, matching their ability level.

I hold a PhD in musicology (York University), a piano performers’ ARCT diploma (Royal Conservatory of Music), and a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition (University of Toronto). As part of my ongoing training, I am currently in the process of becoming an RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) Certified Teacher.

I have contributed to 14 commercially-available albums, currently play piano in a jazz ensemble, and have produced 9 film scores. I also hold a grade 9 certificate in violin from the RCM, and occasionally play violin in klezmer ensembles.

I am a registered member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and have received training and certification through the “Music for Young Children” program. As the mother of a child who is taking music lessons, I know first-hand about many of the challenges and milestones involved in learning music!

While I help students enjoy music as much as possible, my background and current activities as a musician also demonstrate the importance of in-depth learning and persistence, which I hope to pass on to others.