Jeannie Niokos holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts specializing in Piano Performance (York University). Additional studies include: jazz master classes with Oscar Peterson, jazz vocals with Rita Di Gent, 20th century piano improvisation with Casey Sokol, Orff and Kodály (levels 1 and 2) with Edith Lantos, ballet accompanist with Margaritte Gibbs, Greek folk music with Nick Kutsukos, vocal training with Bill Perry, and piano yoga with Ariana Chris. To learn more visit www.jeannieniokos.com & www.yiamasmusic.com.
Ms. Niokos has been a member of the RCM Piano Faculty since 1996, and has been actively teaching piano since 1987. Over the last 24 years, Jeannie has been teaching beginner, intermediate, and advanced students of all ages. She also has had extensive experience with international students who have come from abroad to study the piano. A good portion of her students work through the RCM examination curriclum. They take exams, often participate in music festivals, and enter competitions. Other students, such as adult beginners, take a less competitive and structured approach and so Ms. Niokos works with their goals which may include working towards learning to play the piano with music outside of the RCM curriculum (i.e. classical, beginner jazz and folk).
Ms. Niokos accepts students who express a genuine interest in learning or improving their piano skills. Students must have access to a piano or electronic keyboard and must be willing to commit to a regular practice regime. Ms. Niokos believes in a well-rounded musical education and therefore creates a curriculum that is effective and suitable for each individual students' needs. Her sucess with her students can be attributed to her innovative teaching techniques which include goal setting, and audio and video recording to beautifully monitor a student's progress. Recently, Jeannie has founded a body awareness program on DVD, "Yoga for Pianists" that help keeps her students injury free and reduce performance anxiety.
Before joining the RCM team, Ms. Niokos operated her own music school for 12 years in Toronto’s west-end, the High Park area. She co-authored the digital piano curriculum at The Royal Conservatory. She is the owner and operator of Zaga Records Canada, whose debut instrumental CD, Evolution, contains tracks that appeared in the film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Her performance tours include Venezuela, Greece, Canada’s west coast, and music festivals in and around southern Ontario. She was formerly the owner of the Jeannie Niokos School of Music, a conductor and pianist for the Orpheus Greek Community Choir, and a director of an after-school music program for Stylecroft Public School.
ARCT Preparation: Yes
Instruments / Subjects Taught:
- Piano
- Theory - Ear Training/Musicianship
- Theory - Rudiments
Languages Spoken in Addition to English: Greek
Minimum Age of Student: 5
Musical Styles: Classical, Contemporary, Jazz
Professional Designations / Associations: SOCAN Toronto Music Association.
RCM Examination Preparation (Beginner - Grade 10): Yes