Tina Tate

Tina has been teaching violin, piano, theory, and guitar with a passion since 1998. Having had a difficult time learning music as a child, Tina understands the struggles, trials and tribulations that a learning musician can encounter. “Some concepts simply didn’t ‘click’ until much later in life. If it weren’t for the great teachers I had growing up along the way who implored extreme tolerance, patience and innovate ways of teaching music, I wouldn’t be a musician or music teacher today.” Many musicians who had an easy time learning their instrument find it difficult to understand why a student can’t get it right the first or second time. A lot of teachers are only concerned with the outcome and results of the student but don’t spend a lot of time helping during the process. Fear tactics and emotion driven lessons are often found in an average session conducted by many other teachers who aren’t part of the Music for Life team. This can have a detrimental effect on a student’s relationship to their instrument and music in general. During each lesson, Tina finds a way to draw out results while acknowledging the difficulties along the way. The process is just as important as the product. Each and every emotion, struggle, and button that is pushed while learning an instrument, is valid. Becoming a true musician begins with identifying all of one’s human self. The music we make is only a reflection of our soul and it is learning to express and explore this in a safe environment that gives Tina an edge above other teachers. As a music therapist, Tina is most interested in music being a source of encouragement, expression, confidence, challenge, and support throughout one’s life. The high marks, ability to perform, and results are simply by-products of this philosophy. Not only is Tina concerned with musicality and emotional health but also has a keen awareness of the physiology that is affected from being a musician. She has her fitness theory certification and is well versed in the physical problems to which musicians are prone. Taking all this into mind, Tina will target certain areas as necessary depending on each particular student’s strengths and weaknesses while striving to encourage optimum learning, expression, and health. As a professional musician, Tina Tate has been playing the violin for over 30 years and has performed for private functions (solo and ensemble) since 1997. She has played with the BC Chamber orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony and was the founding player of the Brio String Quartet. Ms. Tate has studied under the direction of Nancy DiNovo (VSO), Dr. Calvin Dyck (Vancouver Island Symphony), and Caroline Cole (VSO) among others. Since receiving her Diploma in Music at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2002, Tina went on to complete a Certificate in Arts and Entertainment Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy at Capilano College. Ms. Tate’s musical style is not limited to the classics, however. Known for her ability to improvise to almost anything, she’s played back-up for bands outside the Western classical music realm including: the great Motown ledgend, Smokey Robinson, AR Rahman (composer for the sound track to Slum Dog Millionaire); the rock group Windows ’78 required Tina’s harmonic tone on their debut cd and at their cd release performance; Various Celtic, Folk, and Electronic bands have welcomed her to share their stage at venues all over the Lower Mainland. Going into her 25th year of teaching music in the Fall of 2023, Tina currently owns and operates the growing Music for Life Music School serving White Rock and South Surrey students of all ages studying a wide variety of instruments.