Who We Are
Samantha Cisilino founded Fermata Music in October 2010.
What once started as a small studio with Samantha as the sole teacher has flourished into a space for many talented teachers, students and supportive parents.
The studio has always focused primarily on piano lessons until a couple years ago when students started showing interest in guitar lessons. Now, the studio offers both piano and guitar lessons for children and adults.
The teachers at Fermata Music believe in a collaborative environment where the students, parents, and teachers are all on the same page regarding each student’s learning goals and progress. They encourage parental involvement by inviting parents to reach out during the week for practice questions, and every parent is also invited to sit in on lessons. Their goal is to foster each student’s ability to pick up a piece of music and play it with technical skill and ease.
Teacher Training
At Fermata Music, each teacher has undergone years of musical instruction to be qualified to teach their instrument to others.
Whether they learned their instrument in private lessons or in a University/College setting, they possess the talent and skillset to provide lessons to students of all ages.
Piano teachers without previous teaching experience are trained by the owner, Samantha Cisilino. Samantha’s educational background in Developmental Psychology and experience working as a Registered Psychotherapist gives her the ability to train the teachers at her studio how to take into account each student’s individual needs, how to help students manage any anxiety that may arise in lessons, and how to navigate the many specific learning challenges students may have.
Recitals
Every year, Fermata Music hosts two recitals: a Holiday Recital and a Spring Recital.
In December, students and teachers travel to local nursing and retirement homes to perform holiday music for the residents. The holiday recital provides students the invaluable experience of what it is like to accompany vocalists.
In the Spring, the recital is held at different performance spaces across Windsor-Essex where the students can showcase their most difficult pieces learned that year on a grand piano. Multiple free group masterclasses are offered to prepare students for this recital, which significantly decreases performance anxiety and teaches students how to provide and take constructive criticism.
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What Does “Fermata” Mean?
A ‘Fermata’ is a musical symbol that signals you to hold a note longer than it is intended to be held for.
With this in mind, Samantha put the word ‘Fermata’ and ‘Music’ together to encourage her students to hold onto their love of music for as long as they can.
Competitions and Exams
Many of the piano students at Fermata Music prepare throughout the year to take practical and theory exams with the Royal Conservatory of Music. This gives them certification in the many piano levels that exist within RCM.
Each teacher also selects certain students every year to compete in the Kiwanis Music Festival. Participation in competitions and exams is not required, but strongly encouraged.
Multiple free group masterclasses are offered to prepare students for their performances, which significantly decreases performance anxiety and teaches students how to provide and take constructive criticism.
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