"Jacqueline is an amazing teacher! She is kind, patient, and very encouraging and supportive. ...  "

"Her encouragement of discipline and hard work has laid the foundation for many of my successes in life. ... "

"Not only has my daughter developed as a pianist and has a passion for music, more importantly she grew as a person with confidence and with poise."

"Our son is soaring ahead in his understanding, appreciation and passion for music and Jacqueline is a primary reason. ... "

" ... after many recitals and performances in the Winnipeg Music Festival, I no longer become nervous or agitated when performing or doing presentations on projects or science fairs. ..."

"Her knowledge of the instrument, its technical requirements and music genre is far-reaching ... "

"She has been one of my biggest influences as a performer and it would have been impossible for me to reach this high level without her. ... "

"Piano is a joy and learning it with Ms. Ryz makes it even better. ... "

"In her, we not only find a talented, accomplished pianist, but an inspiring teacher and mentor. ..."

"Over the past eight years, I have been mentored by the most significant educational influence of my life, Jacqueline Ryz."

"She really brought my playing to a new level. ... I got into and was offered scholarships from both schools ... "

"Jacqueline will definitely be someone that I will remember as a teacher who has given me something that I will carry on for the rest of my life: the beautiful gift of playing the piano."

" ... her belief in me has given me the inspiration to continue and to strive to be the best I can be."  

Welcome to my website, presenting my piano studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I maintain a busy schedule giving one-on-one piano lessons to students of all levels throughout the year, but I can always find time for new students who are enthusiastic about music and sincerely committed to learning to play the piano well.

Noteworthy News

Scholarship Success

Congratulations to Alexandra who was recently accepted with a scholarship to the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba.

Congratulations also to Lauren and to Rayment for receiving a Nita Eamer Memorial Scholarship Award from the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association, as well as to Nika, who received the Grace Rich-Bastin Keyboard/Instrumental Award from the MRMTA.

Two Trophies in the Winnipeg Music Festival!

Congratulations to Seanne who placed first in the Grade 10 Concerto Class of the Winnipeg Music Festival playing the Grieg Piano Concerto. This is the second consecutive year that Seanne has placed first in his concerto class, and this year he was awarded the John Melnyk trophy and bursary for most outstanding performance of a piano concerto in the Festival. This was particularly meaningful for me, as John Melnyk was one of my most important teachers. Seanne was also one of two runners up for the Beryl Ferguson Memorial Tropny awarded to the most oustanding Grade 10 instrumentalist. Seanne earned the right to compete for this trophy by placing first in both the Grade 10 Baroque - J.S.Bach, and Early Romantic Composers classes,

Congratulations also to Victoria who won the Institute of Chartered Piano Tuners of Manitoba Trophy and bursary awarded to the most oustanding Grade 6 instrumentalist of the Festival. She earned the right to compete for this trophy by placing first in the Grade 6 Romantic, Canadian composers, and Baroque classes of the Festival. And congratulations again to both Seanne and Victoria who placed first in the Senior (Grades 9 & 10) and Junior (Grades 5 & 6) categories of the 2019 Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association scholarship competition. Both were presented with cash scholarships at the gala concert Sunday evening, February 4 at Sterling Mennonite Fellowship church in which they both performed. Lauren was runner up in the Senior category.

Local radio station Classic 107 interviewed Seanne and also interviewed Victoria about their success in this competition. Seanne is featured in the first video on a Classic 107 webpage about the MRMTA competition, starting at 4 minutes, 55 seconds; Victoria is featured in the first video of another Classic 107 webpage about the competition, starting at 6 minutes, 20 seconds.

NB Spring Recital will be Thursday evening, May 23 at River East Mennonite Brethren Church, 755 McLeod Avenue.

January exam results

Congratulations also to Hannah, Emily and Chloe who earned first class honours with distinction for their respective Grade 7, Grade 5 and Grade 4 Royal Conservatory of Music exams, as well as to Lauren who completed her Grade 10 RCM exam with first class honours.

Overall 2017-2018 results

Congratulations to Victoria and to Caitlin, who received gold medals for earning the highest marks in the province for their respective Grade 5 and Grade 2 Royal Conservatory of Music exams in a ceremony at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on November 25. Seanne was also invited to perform at the ceremony.

Front, left to right: Caitlin and Victoria with their gold medals; Seanne standing at back.

August exam results

Congratulations to Raymond, who completed his Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music exam to earn first class honours with distinction, as well as to Micah and Alexus, who earned first class honours for their Grade 3 RCM exams, as did Chloe for her Grade 1 RCM exam. Well done everyone!

International Competition success!

Congratulations to Seanne who earned Honourable Mention for a fourth place finish in his age category at the Aloha International Piano Festival and Competition! First place went to a student from Japan; second and third places went to students from California.

Here's the video of Seanne's performance at the competition.

June exam results

Congratulations again to Seanne, and also to Vicki and to Caitlin, who earned first class honours with distinction for their respective Grade 9, Grade 5 and Grade 2 Royal Conservatory of Music exams in the June session. And congratulations as well to Nika and to Christine, who earned first class honours for their respective Grade 10 and Grade 7 exams.

Provincial scholarships

Congratulations again to Nika who was awarded two scholarships at the recent Provincial Music Festival competitions in Brandon. She received the Lions Club of Winnipeg Scholarship for winning the Advanced Canadian Composers class playing a composition by my former teacher, John Melnyk Sr. and was also awarded the S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatté Manitoba Composers Scholarship for the best performance of a work by a Manitoba composer.

Five Thousand Dollars of MRMTA Scholarships!

Congratulations to Raymond and Lauren, who both received $2,000 Holtby scholarships towards their upcoming A.R.C.T studies and Grade 10 studies, and to Nika who received a $1,000 Nita Eamer scholarship, all from the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association. This is the second year in a row students from my studio have been recognized with these prestigious awards. Nika, Raymond standing at back; Lauren seated at right.

MRMTA Masterclass with Janina Fialkowska

Nika recently had the opportunity to play for internationally renowned Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska in a masterclass sponsored by the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association.

The masterclass was held in Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall at The University of Winnipeg, April 6, 2017.

Ms. Fialkowska was in Winnipeg to play an all-Chopin program on the Virtuosi Concerts series.

Nika and Janina Fialkowska
on the stage of Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall.

Jacqueline Ryz is a gifted pianist and teacher whose passion for music inspires audiences and students alike. Her professionalism, skilled teaching and approachability allows for her to develop pianists of a very high standard. I highly recommend her as a teacher for beginners as well as students who are already established pianists. Jacqueline's motivational teaching style has inspired my sons to practice and develop an excellent work ethic; they quickly developed into fine young pianists. - Carol L Ridd Arts Consultant, River East Transcona School Division

Noteworthy Links

Here's a link to a charming reflection by Jeremy Denk in the New Yorker Magazine on the sometimes humourous trials and tribulations of piano lessons and the impact of two special teachers on his musical development.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/04/video-jeremy-denks-piano-lessons.html?mobify=0

Here's a link to a new digital resource for music study Dream Music Tool (http://www.dreammusictool.ca/) which came to my attention through the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association conference in Vancouver, summer of 2015. In particular, check out the ABRSM Aural Trainer app at http://www.dreammusictool.ca/abrsm-aural-trainer which can very helpful for ear training.