Music Theory tutors in Cape Town

I have a degree in music. Theory was, and still is, one of my favourite subjects. I have been tutoring other theory students since I was in high school. For some reason, they always seem to understand my explanations better than those of the other teachers.

I am a BMus qualified music educator with more than five years experience in teaching children, teens and adults. I am specialized in vocals, but also teach piano, guitar, recorder and keyboard. My BMus had music composition, theory and history as majors. I am also able to tutor University modules such as music composition, history, ethnomusicology, gender music studies, music and religion, music sociology etc.

Although I have a Completed BA degree majoring in English and Afrikaans, I am also a passionate musician, having completed both vocal and performance exams through Trinity College London. I am currently undergoing further vocal training to pursue my musical ambitions, but am also passionate about working with people, thus find tutoring the ideal way to combine my language skills with my desire to help people. I also have an interest in education and understand the importance of academic support to realise students' potential. Due to my creative nature, I apply my creative thinking to academics and problem solving too - if the usual approach fails, I enjoy seeking an alternative way to understanding, because while all people may not learn the same way, all people are capable of learning.

I am a friendly and intelligent 25 year old female currently studying Early Years Montessori Teaching. I am really passionate about education and am particularly interested in helping students with their Music (theory and piano practical), English, History and/or Drama studies. I am very creative with particular interest in sewing, painting, reading, drama, dance and music. I have worked in the fashion industry (as a fashion designer, blogger, stylist and visual merchandiser), broadcasting (hosting 2 radio shows over 3 years) and most recently have been working at a Montessori pre-school as an assistant teacher.

I'm a trained piano player having studied at UCT where I did 2 years training in the Classical stream followed by 3 years training in Jazz. I graduated in 2006. Since that time I have been working as a music teacher at various local music schools as well as working as a performing musician. My performing experience includes working as a session musician for various cover bands in Dubai as well as working in local bands. Currently I am a member of a duo called "Mistura". The type of music we perform is light tangos, classical pieces and arrangements of pop songs (which I arrange).

I am a second year UCT student doing a triple major in Psychology, Music and Film. I attended The Drakensberg Boys' Choir School as well as Kearsney College where i graduated with double honours in Music as well as Academic Colours in 2014.

I am currently a second year jazz guitar student at the University of Cape Town and a freelance musician.

Ruan Strauss Kalis was born in Paarl, South Africa, commencing piano and music theory studies at age 10. At age 14 he took up organ lessons and shortly after started studying composition under Paul Loeb van Zuilenberg (1993 – 1996). He matriculated at Paarl Boys’ High School in 1996. His professional music studies, majoring in Piano Performance, commenced in 1997 at the University of Stellenbosch under the guidance of the esteemed pianist and pedagogue, Melanie Horne. Following her death in 1998, he moved his studies to the University of Cape Town, where he completed the Performer’s Diploma in Music (majoring in Piano Performance) under the guidance of distinguished professors Lamar Crowson and Graham Fitch. Whilst studying for his undergraduate qualification, he performed at several masterclasses from renowned pianists, among which Leslie Howard, Martino Tirimo and Andrzej Jasiński. During the years 2003 and 2004, he taught piano and music as high school subject at Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard (College), as well as privately and later at the Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of the Western Cape. At the same time he wrote, compiled and hosted a radio programme for Fine Music Radio, as well as reading the news and weather reports. This period was followed by several years working in the hospitality industry, which included a year’s residency in London (U.K.). In 2012, he was appointed as Sales and Marketing Consultant for a piano specialist company, Ian Burgess-Simpson Pianos in Muizenberg, where he also fulfilled the roll as resident pianist, requiring regular performances for prospective buyers as well as for promotional purposes. In March 2013 his musical setting of poems from Antjie Krog’s Verweerskrif – a song cycle for Voice and Piano – was premiered at the Woordfees in Stellenbosch. Since his departure from Ian Burgess-Simpson Pianos, he has established himself as a voice artist, continues to compose and has commenced preparation for returning to the concert platform as pianist. He has also functioned as freelance organist up until the present date. Furthermore, he is a keen student of languages, having studied German to Matric level and later a refresher course, alongside an introductory course in French and currently Italian.