ABC Academy of Music

Lessons & Classes

for All Ages

Jennifer Wakefield

Toronto Vocal & Piano Teacher

Jennifer Wakefield2022-09-09T15:10:32-04:00

B.Mus. (U Lethbridge)
B.Ed. (U Calgary)
M.A. (York U)

Jennifer Wakefield has been a vocal coach and music teacher for over fifteen years. A native of Alberta, Jennifer completed a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Lethbridge in 1995 and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary in 2003.

During the final term of her B. Ed. Degree, Jennifer relocated to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for five and a half years, where she held classroom music teaching positions from K-12, conducted an adult community choir, private vocal lessons and participated actively in the local Tanzanian music scene as a soloist. Jennifer’s hands-on exposure to traditional Tanzanian music led her to pursue an MA in Ethnomusicology at York University which she completed in June 2012.

Her recent projects include a vocalist for a Fujiwara piece in the Danceworks 40th Anniversary event, backup vocals for singer-songwriter Melanie Peterson, singer in “Have you seen my sister?” a vocal installation featured at Toronto Nuit Blanche 2017, soprano in “The Christmas Story” pageant a cappella quartet, and arranger/ vocalist and flautist in a Sprig of Rosemary, a Celtic music duo.

Get to know Jennifer…beyond the BIO!

Hobbies: cycling, hiking, choir

Musical influences: Beethoven, Loreena McKennitt, Blackmore’s Night, Karine Polwart

Favourite food: chocolate, cheese

Least favourite food: not enough chocolate, mushrooms

Favourite music: folk rock

Favourite song: Too many to narrow it down! / Both Sides Now (1969) – Joni Mitchell

Favourite movie: Life is Beautiful

Favouirite movie music: Star Wars / Dirty Dancing

Favourite musical theatre/opera: La Boheme – Puccini, Rent

Best quote from your teacher: “Ya gotta love it!”, “Success is 10% talent and 90% hard work.”

Favourite quote: “Life is short, eat dessert first.”, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

Favourite book: The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

Best thing about teaching at ABC: Meeting great students and making great music!

Latest Homework from Jennifer

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Preferred Books for Jennifer’s Students

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My First Piano Adventure

Book A

My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A

Written for ages 5 and 6, My First Piano Adventure captures the child’s playful spirit. Fun-filled songs, rhythm games and technique activities develop beginning keyboard skills.

26 Italian Songs and Arias

for Medium High Voice

26 Italian Songs for Medium High Voice

This authoritative edition of the world’s most loved songs and arias draws on original manuscripts, historical first editions, and recent research by prominent musicologists to meet a high standard of accuracy and authenticity. Includes fascinating background information about the arias and their composers, as well as a singable rhymed translation, a readable prose translation, and a literal translation of every single word. This title is available in SmartMusic.

Folk Songs for Solo Singers

Vol. 1
for Medium High Voice

Cover of Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 1, Medium High Voice

Selected for contests and adjudications around the country, this incredible volume includes 11 favorite folk songs expertly crafted for solo voice and piano. Arranged by Alfred Music’s finest writers, such as Philip Kern, Jay Althouse, Don Besig, Ruth Elaine Schram, and Carl Strommen.

Easy Songs for the Beginning Soprano

Easy Songs for the Beginning Soprano

This series was designed to supplement traditional vocal instruction and works perfectly as preparatory literature for The First Book of Solos and The First Book of Solos Part II . Each piece is in English and has a limited vocal range as well as a piano accompaniment that is playable by a student pianist. The pieces include art songs, folksongs, humorous songs, and suitable vintage popular songs and are all appropriate for contest solos. The audio tracks include professionally-recorded accompaniments.

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