About
The Space
Harmonium was conceived as a safe and supportive space for people of all ages to explore and express their innate musicality. All are Welcome.
Anne Schaefer
Music has always been my first language and most natural way of being. I was formally trained in my home province of Saskatchewan in Kodalay Method, voice, piano, violin, French horn. I was invited at age 12 to begin teaching the Kodalay Method to younger children and since then, have never stopped. Through self directed study I have added guitar, ukulele and percussion to my instrument repertoire as well as attending McGill University in Montreal as part of the Jazz Performance Program. I have had the pleasure of presenting and sharing music in public since I was a wee one and my personal music path has led to the production of several studio albums, many collaborations, tours, workshops, classes and performances in many beautiful places with many beautiful people spanning three continents and almost five decades. Music is my lifeline, my joy, my passion, my pleasure and my greatest gift whether creating, performing, collaborating, facilitating or receiving.
What people are saying
“Singing with Anne, and in the community choir that she has created, has been one of the most unexpectedly meaningful experiences of my mid-life! Anne is a gifted musician, but also a natural mentor, who inspires me to bring much more than 'voice' to my singing. With Anne's thoughtful guidance, my approach to making music and sharing it with others is now layered with gratitude, humour, compassion, confidence and generosity. I feel so lucky to have rediscovered music with Anne and recommend her gentle instruction to anyone who wants to study music and grow through it.”
— Kyla Jardin
The Mission
My teaching philosophy is that we are all innately musical. It is our birthright. We have been expressing through music and dance since time immemorial as part of all of our ancient cultures no matter our lineage. It is a built in desire in times of happiness, in times of sorrow, in times of scarcity and in times of abundance.
I believe we all have the capacity and longing to sing, to play music, to write, to create, and to express ourselves. This is not exclusive to anyone. Creation fills everyone. Music moves through everyone. Creative expression is a right for everyone.
I love the diversity of Nature and all of us within it! We express and learn so differently and I am always filled with wonder at the multitude of paths that can lead to the same goal of musical expression and creativity. Some students learn visually, some learn aurally, some learn through improvisation, some through theory and more concrete concepts. All are valid, valuable and are dimensions that can be joyfully explored.
