Student Testimonials:
| "Ramona is an insightful and inspiring teacher whose
enthusiasm and humor make lessons a joy. My nine-year-old daughter has
studied piano with her for the past year and a half, and has made great
progress both in practice and in music theory. She has even learned some
historical context for the music she's playing. It's a great educational
experience for her, but we'd drop it if she weren't having fun as well.
After her weekly hour-long lesson, my daughter routinely says, "Is it
over already?"" Ms. Babich Belmont, MA |
| "It is rich, fun and rewarding to study piano with
Ramona. She is a patient and creative teacher, clearly a master of her
subject. One feels immediately confident in her guidance. Even if I fall
behind in my practice, Ramona makes our lessons productive: we work on ear
training or music theory. In learning to play piano there is plenty of work
to do; with Ramona’s teaching, the work is light and laced with laughter." Rebecca Watertown, MA |
| "I have known Ramona for several years, initially starting out as being
one of her piano students for a period of three years. Some of the many things that lead me to
say today, without hesitation, is that she has been the most mature and influential teacher I
have ever studied with. (I have had three years of serious jazz education at the Humber College
in Toronto, Canada). Ramona’s approach is to inspire her students, get them very involved in what they are learning. She made sure to cover all aspects of jazz and classical piano training with me, including theory, technique, repertoire, improvisation, harmony, history, listening skills and composition. She communicated her thoughts and ideas with a natural enthusiasm that was such a great motivational factor for me. I believe that in order to be a truly successful teacher, one needs to possess an extraordinary love for the subject being taught and a keen desire to impress the same on others. I can sincerely say that Ramona fits the description." Laura Tarumian Toronto, Canada |
| "I am continually amazed at the technical and theoretical progress I have
achieved while studying with Ramona. As a forty-something with no prior musical training and an
occasional aversion to hard work, I was apprehensive about the wisdom of pursuing my childhood
dream of playing the piano. Now, three years later, it seems it was a wise decision since I had
the great fortune of finding a wonderful teacher. Ramona's remarkable musical gifts combined with her boundless enthusiasm for teaching have given that childhood dream wings and enough sky to last a lifetime." Judy Battista Ottawa, Canada |
| "Ramona taught piano to two of my children; Billy who is eight and Katie
who is nine. Not only did she inspire and motivate my children to play their best but she was
also very personable and was flexible in her approach. My children miss her very much. In fact
it was very difficult to find a replacement for her. Every potential music teacher was
scrutinized in light of her. Although I found this somewhat frustrating, it indicates how
greatly Katie & Billy appreciated Ramona's efforts. I would like to say that in my view what is most important to me in terms of my children taking piano lessons is that it is a positive learning experience. This was indeed the case with Ramona. I would highly recommend her." Kathleen La Forest Ottawa, Canada |
| "I had not touched a piano for over 10 years when I started taking lessons
with Ramona. What I remembered from my childhood piano lessons was very rusty. Under Ramona's
guidance and with her encouragement, it did not take me long to get my confidence back and to
start to love playing the piano again. Her enthusiasm, her dedication and her impressive
knowledge and love of music are inspiring. She is an exceptional person and a first-rate music
teacher. I am just sorry she had to move away from me." Roxanne LaFreniere Ottawa, Canada |
| "As an aspiring jazz piano/keyboard player, the experience of studying
with Ramona Borthwick proved to be the turning point in my musical journey. She brings about a
quick rate of progress toward proficiency on the instrument in the shortest time, and is able
to discern where the students' weaknesses and shortcomings lie. Her teaching enabled
impediments and stumbling blocks (technical, theoretical and creative), to be quickly overcome,
and obstacles along the way, to be surmounted. She seeks to equip the student with a solid
well-rounded foundation- to strengthen the 'basics' so to speak (for example: concentrating on
the development of technical ability, music theory, the study of western classical music etc.)
- thereby aiding the student to develop into a 'complete' musician - over and above the
ultimate direction the student wishes to take - whether classical or jazz music, being a
keyboard professional, or a hobby pianist ... I deeply treasure the time that I spent learning music with her, and have gained much - both musically and personally in my life." Harmeet Manseta Bombay, India |
| "The piano learning experience with Ramona is wonderful. I thought I am
going to learn piano only, but I end up learning music instead. She make everything so full of life and spirit. She is good in explaining every details and particulars. She make things simple and easy. And most wonderful thing is she tread me as a friend more than a student. And I really miss her as both an excellent piano teacher and also as a friend." Vincent Chiew Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| "Besides being a knowledgeable musician, Ramona has over a decade of
teaching experience, which enables her to be a very effective teacher for beginner as well as
advanced students. I've studied piano (technique & music theory) as well as Jazz bass theory
with her, and have thoroughly enjoyed every music session with her since she is very organized
and enthusiastic about every class she conducts. I've positively improved my music skills after my sessions with her." Laryn Fernandes Toronto, Canada |
| "Ramona has a very special way to convey her enthusiasm for music. I think
one of the essential qualities of a great teacher resides in being so effectively contagious!
Like placing a seed in fertile soil, my interest for piano, latent until now, is blossoming
with Ramona's patient & energetic guidance." Elizabeth Nanni Ottawa, Canada |
| "Testimonials are usually written by successful students. If this is the
norm, then I'm least qualified to do this. However, if I don't write a few words on my
experience with classical music - I would be disappointing a dedicated music teacher like
Ramona. For a student in pursuit of a parallel career in cricket 20 years ago, I had little to do with music. My interest in music was limited to avidly listening to the groups of the seventies like the Bee Gees, Eagles and solo artistes like Cliff Richard, John Denver and Billy Joel. For a person who could not strike a right note, let alone sing, I allowed myself to be persuaded by one of the choir members to join the Wilson College Choir, Bombay, in 1980 as a tenor. Once the initial anxiety dissipated, I started liking the practice sessions and enjoyed the learning process, difficult as it seemed. I was with the choir for three years and I picked up music from scratch. Sometimes I wonder how Ramona could tolerate me and a couple of others who, like me, were least qualified to be there. This, I think, is the key to Ramona's teaching - that anybody can learn music if he/she takes the first step. I never took any piano lessons or appeared for any exams. However, I'm grateful to my friend who forced me to join the choir because music is one of the vital elements for wholesome development of a person. It widens ones perspective in life besides triggering the creative processes. If music can do this a person who did not take formal lessons, imagine what it can do to people who persist with their piano lessons, particularly with a teacher as gifted as Ramona." Sudeep Sonawane an expatriate Indian, Bahrain, Middle East |
| "My piano lessons with Ramona were a wonderful experience. I am very
grateful to her for giving me the initiative to appreciate music in a unique way. Her guidance,
patience and understanding put me through two exams of the Trinity College of London (theory
and practical), where I passed with flying colors at the age of 7yrs. Older now, I still look back with fondness on those days." Roxanne Panthaky Bombay, India |
| "I have found Ramona to be an excellent instructor of music, who takes a
personal interest in her student's progress. She is keen on imparting her expertise and
knowledge to her students, thus helping them achieve the same high standards she sets for
herself." Priyan Perera Ottawa, Canada |
| "Even with my very erratic practicing habits, I have made more progress
over the past months with Ramona, than I ever imagined would be possible. Her enthusiasm and
love for the piano, has impacted on my relationship with the instrument. I feel that I now
approach my piano playing in much more of a "relational" way; meaning that I am much more aware
of how my body and mind (and indeed spirit) are all important in making a full and true
connection with the music. All these facets are inextricably important in uniting the student
with his/her instrument and the beautiful creations of the composers whose gifts of music we
bring to life. Ramona is a teacher who challenges me. Growing up, I took many years of unstructured piano lessons from an aunt of mine, who although a very good teacher, never truly challenged me to excel and grow. Ramona opens up a piece of music as to its musical form, phraseology, and interpretive exploration that challenges me and excites me to "connect" with my homework. This has made a great difference in my relation to the music I play, and indeed all the music I hear around me. I also appreciate her approach to teaching piano theory, especially the monthly 2-hour sessions that focus on theory. Her use of the 30-minute class is excellent. I find it very hard NOT to want to prepare well for my piano lessons; since Ramona's love of music is infectious and "rubs off" on me in a way that I really WANT to get to know my music well. When I come to my lesson not having practiced much (which is unfortunately more the norm than the exception recently), Ramona will often adjust my class to work on my sight reading or ear recognition of a tune. I always leave my lesson with some new and exciting understanding of the piano, even when my practicing has been absent in between classes. Its a testimonial to Ramona's excellent teaching that I'm still sticking with the piano these past six months, considering all the stressful happenings in my life (including divorce, two big moves, restructuring of my job, and giving birth to five kittens!). I'll end by saying that I am very lucky to have recently inherited a beautiful grand piano from my aunt who used this piano to teach hundreds of students during a career spanning 50 years. Whenever I sit down to practice, I'm conscious of the wonderful gift of music that all these students have enjoyed over these years; and I'm excited that I too am enjoying the gift of music on this instrument. My present relation with my piano is absolutely due to the inspiration and excitement of the instruction I am receiving from Ramona. I am convinced that the dust would be gathering on my piano if it were not for the excellent teaching I am currently receiving. Needless to say I want this to continue!" John Gall Ottawa, Canada |