We contract excellent music educators who are passionate about teaching music and making it fun. We take care of all the administrative tasks so that the teachers can focus solely on what they do best – teaching!

CEMA handles all payment collection, receipting, student recruitment, marketing, recital and event planning. Our teachers provide their own studio space, usually in their own homes. By not paying to rent a single large building we’re able to hire extremely well-qualified teachers across the city of Winnipeg.

Here's our "Meet Our Teachers" page: https://cemacademy.ca/meet-our-teachers/

Music lessons have traditionally been a somewhat stuffy and isolating learning experience. Students are required to learn songs they don’t know, or don’t enjoy. And if you took lessons as a child, you probably remember how anxious you felt leading up to that one recital at the end of each year.

That is not how we operate! We strive to provide a much different learning experience that excites your child and keeps them engaged.

Our teachers are professional and remain committed in creating the best experience possible for your child.

CEMA strives to give you the "small town" experience in the big city. You make a connection directly with your teacher and enjoy lessons tailored to your child in their home teaching studio, not a big building with small, stuffy music rooms.

Our curriculum provides a unique and engaging collection of music-learning opportunities and differs greatly from the traditional approach of 39 private lessons and 1 recital.

We value "learning though play" and our teachers understand the pedagogy behind making learning music exciting and engaging.

At Creative Expressions Music Academy, teamwork between our students, their parents and the teacher is fundamental to our curriculum! With a parent's involvement, encouragement and loving attitude toward music, your child will excel in their musical journey.

• For students: We offer 4 motivating studio challenges with epic prizes for students to earn by practicing and making progress. We incorporate loads of music games and apps into their lessons that keep the learning itself fun, and our curriculum provides students with the opportunity to enjoy learning in a variety of private and group settings.
• For parents: We send monthly newsletters to keep you updated, provide parent education resources for you to browse through, and work diligently to provide reminders when signing up for events. You can always speak directly with your own teacher to check in on your child’s progress or if you have questions.
• For teachers: We provide access to our massive library of excellent teaching resources, music games and music app recommendations, ongoing professional development, and regular team meetings to discuss student progress and goals for each term.

Our students are actively involved in a large community outreach initiative each year that feature their performances and foster important values and a sense of community spirit in each student and inspire them to practice diligently.

More about this aspect of our program can be found here: https://cemacademy.ca/community/

We follow the school calendar and provide lessons from September to June, (10 months). Your music lesson school year consists of 30 private lessons, 3 group classes, 1 masterclass, 2 family events and 4 recitals. We take the total of all of the above and split it up into 10 equal payments for the year.

Some months you may have 1-2 private lessons, and others you might have 4-5 lessons. It depends on what else is happening that month, (group lessons, spring break, etc.) There is a modest increase in rates each year to account for teacher experience, professional development and inflation. You will be informed of the new rates prior to signing on for another year of lessons.

More information about our current rates is available here: https://cemacademy.ca/lesson-rates/

We use a safe and secure online payment system called, Rotessa. Rotessa is an online application for small businesses that collects payment through any bank or credit union.

Payment is collected from your selected bank account on the first of each month. This system allows us to spend more time helping students and parents and less time chasing payments.

If you do not wish to use Rotessa we also accept cheques for the entire year, split into 2 equal payments. We require the first 5 months' payment on September 1, and the final 5 months dated February 1. Both cheques must be provided to CEMA before you may begin lessons.

This will vary depending on your child's musical goals and their level of commitment in achieving those goals. Our teachers work hard to inspire practicing at home, and our curriculum is designed to make it easier for you to motivate practicing at home; but as a general rule, we ask your child to practice the number of minutes that is 3x their age for 4-5 sessions/week.

More information about practising as well as videos of our students performing at a variety of levels can be found here: https://cemacademy.ca/role-of-the-student/

Any questions you have about your child’s lesson, practice schedule, upcoming recitals, etc. can be discussed with your teacher directly. You will be provided with your teacher’s email address and phone number when registering for lessons.

If you have a question regarding payment, or if you need to let CEMA know of an issue you're experiencing with your teacher, please email our info email (you'll have it once you're registered).

We do our best to accommodate students and families with the options presented below, however, our schedules do not allow us to offer make-up lessons.

If you ever can't make a lesson, you are welcome to select one of our alternate lesson options, including online lessons, video lessons, and lesson swaps.

• Online Lessons – when you're not able to make it to the lesson in person, but not too sick to do a video call over skype, zoom or face time.
• Pre-Recorded Video Lessons – when you're not able for an online lesson, you can send videos of your pieces (and pictures of theory pages completed) 1-2 days in advance of your scheduled lesson, and your teacher will review the material and send back their comments in video and/or text.
• Lesson Swaps – we provide a private Facebook Group called "Creative Expressions Parent Group", where you can make a post requesting for a trade. Our families will see and someone may contact you to trade. If no one contacts you, please make another plan with your teacher for an "online" or "video" lesson where possible. Your teacher will not make trades on your behalf, unless it is a permanent change to the schedule.

If your teacher needs to cancel a lesson due to their own reasons, they will provide a make-up lesson later in the term during the first week of our Christmas Break, Spring Break, or the week following our last week of lessons in June.

More about our policies and procedures can be found here: https://cemacademy.ca/policies-procedures/

Yes. We do not break for statutory holidays. Classes continue as usual. Any questions related to lesson dates and times can be found in your lesson calendar. (Found on page 4 of your lesson contract, and the last page of the Parent Handbook.)

For teachers

Our lesson schedule is divided into 3 terms, fall, winter and spring. We continue to teach during each statutory holiday and many of our teachers teach 5-6 days a week or have other full or part-time jobs.

We use our Christmas and Spring Breaks as an opportunity for rest, but also to complete all the many tasks that take place outside of lesson times. We also use the time off to complete a variety of professional development opportunities and meet as a team to plan for the next term.

These breaks are accounted for in our payment plan. Your 10 equal monthly payments cover the cost of 30 private lessons, 3 group classes, 1 masterclass, 2 family events and 4 recitals.

For students

While the breaks are necessary for us as teachers, time apart from your teacher also provides students and parents a break in routine and the opportunity for your child to come back rejuvenated and ready to learn again. It can also provide them with an opportunity to become more independent in their practicing, which helps them become a stronger musician.

Our teachers, where they are located, and the instruments they teach are all posted on our "Meet Our Teachers" page, which you can find here: https://cemacademy.ca/meet-our-teachers/

If you are ready to sign up for lessons simple fill out the forms on our Contact Page: ://cemacademy.ca/contact/ and we will get back to you within 2-3 business days.

We are committed to providing convenient locations for lessons in areas across the city. If our current teaching locations are not ideal, you’re encouraged to still contact us and join our waitlist. We continue to hire teachers in a variety of areas throughout the city. If we know there is enough interest in your area, we will work even harder to make sure we find a teacher for you.

Depending on where you live, it may only be a short drive away to one of our current teachers. Many parents drive all over the city for their child’s sports activity. Why not once a week for their music lesson?