Tatiana Friesen

Viola, Violin, Early Music, Chamber Ensembles

After a childhood immersed in choral singing and piano playing, Tatiana picked up a viola and became friends with it. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Canadian Mennonite University and a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Music from the University of Manitoba, both under the instruction of Daniel Scholz, and has recently completed a Master’s in Early Music from McGill University, with Hélène Plouffe and Olivier Brault.

As a chorister, she has sung with the Mennonite Festival Chorus in Winnipeg and Seraphim Chamber Choir in Montreal.

What is your education and experience?

Bachelor of Music, Canadian Mennonite University; Post-Baccalaureate Diploma, University of Manitoba; Master’s in Early Music, McGill University.

What makes lessons with you unique?

I’m curious about all the different factors that influence a student’s playing, from body awareness to mood to life circumstances, and I’m also curious about the music itself. Bringing those things together makes for very interesting work, which I try to involve the student in as much as possible.

What do you love about teaching?

I love music, and I believe that artistic expression is the birthright of every human, and watching someone realize they have music in them is a very cool thing.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking music lessons?

Great! Try something!