Jennifer Burford
Jennifer Burford
Jennifer joined the faculty of the Oscar Peterson School of Music in 2017. Her teaching style readily adapts to the needs of the individual student. She has experienced all sides of the Suzuki Triangle, beginning as a Suzuki violin student at age 4, continuing to evolve as a Suzuki violin teacher, and adapting into a new role as a Suzuki parent and practice partner to her oldest of three children. She previously held teaching positions at the North York Suzuki School, Claude Watson School for the Arts and Havergal College.
Jennifer has completed teacher training through the Suzuki Association of America in books 1-8, studying with Elayne Ras, Edmund Sprunger, Karen Kimmet, Kathleen Spring, and Allen Lieb. A proponent of ongoing professional development, she recently completed the Suzuki Association of the Americas supplemental course “Teaching from the Balance Point” with Edward Kreitman. Jennifer recently was certified as a Teacher Trainer in the Creative Ability Development, a method of developing divergent thinking and musical artistry through teaching improvisation from an early age.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s of Music Performance from University of Toronto where she studied with Mark Skazinetsky. She received her Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School and her Master’s of Music Performance Degree from University of Toronto under the tutelage of Erika Raum. Jennifer remains an active performer and freelancer in Toronto. She holds the position of Principal Second Violin with the chamber orchestra Canadian Sinfonietta and has performed with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto, and Mirvish Productions. In addition to classical music, Jennifer has developed her versatility as a musician by recording and performing in jazz, funk, folk, pop, and klezmer genres. She is a founding member of the Queer Songbook Orchestra, a professional chamber pop ensemble, creating and performing a living archive of songs that have shaped the LGBTQ2S+ community.
She is a member of the Suzuki Association of America, the Suzuki Association of Ontario, and the American Federation of Musicians.