Chris Weatherstone
About
Chris Weatherstone is a producer, multi-instrumentalist and actor based in Toronto. He has enjoyed a varied career with many of Canada’s most exciting artists and groups. He produced for JUNO-Nominated rapper KILLY, and performed worldwide as an actor and musician alongside klezmer-folk troubadour Ben Caplan. In 2016 he founded Bangerz Brass, the megaband currently defining Toronto’s live hip-hop movement. From 2011 to 2016, he toured and recorded with balkan party sensation The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, earning a Canadian Folk Music award and two JUNO nominations along the way.
His theatrical credits include “Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story” by Hannah Moscovitch in New York City , "Midwinter Night" and "Drink With Death" at LaMama ETC in New York City, and "Counting Sheep: A Guerilla Folk Opera" at Edinburgh Fringe 2016. Chris studied with Roma (Gypsy) musicians in Romania and Serbia, and is a graduate of the Humber College Jazz program in Toronto. He is currently completing his Master’s Degree in Musical Composition at York University in Toronto, under a full scholarship.
I like to learn what the student wants from their experience with their instrument - Do you want to be a virtuoso improvisor? Do you just want to be able to play a few songs at home? Are you a semi-pro who wants to improve their sound and performance?
Once I learn what you want from your work on the instrument, I begin with a course of fundamental exercises and basic theory assignments to give you an understanding of music and your instrument up to your desired skill level. I also ask you for music that you like, admire, or want to learn, and tailor your training towards those technical or musical goals. My favourite moments as a teacher are sharing the joy when you begin to sound the way you always hoped you would, whether that's playing along with your favourite artist, or being able to improvise a solo that sounds like your heroes.
My focus is always on building a solid foundation on which to build your enjoyment and performance of music. And what I expect of you as a teacher will be based on what you expect of yourself as a student, and how far you want to go.
MMus. York University 2021
Varies by Instrument