THEORY, MUSICIANSHIP AND SONGWRITING
Rudiments, Keyboard Theory, Harmony, Counterpoint, Analysis, History, Musicianship, Contemporary Theory, Solfege
​
Learn musicianship skills in a one-stop shop as applicable singing or to your instrument of study.
​
-
sight reading
-
ear training
-
keyboard harmony
-
contemporary music theory
-
improvisation
-
performance opportunities
Musicianship:
​
-
a new outlook on music training
Contemporary Theory:
​
-
exploring contemporary styles including jazz, R&B
-
a great tool for singers/songwriters
Ben MacDonald
​
Ben MacDonald is a talented multi-instrumentalist, performer, and educator, an alumni of the Humber College Jazz and Contemporary Music program and has undergone MA studies in Community Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. He has played with
many groups as a saxophonist, clarinetist, flautist, and singer in a variety of different musical genres from contemporary music, klezmer, jazz, and African (Sudanese, Swahili) styles. Performances have included Nhapi-Tapi, The Human Rights Reggae Band, and Yuka Funk which he was co-founder of. Artists and groups performed with include Walleed Abdullahamid, Joe Sealey, Deserée, Jully Black, and the The Nathaniel Dett Chorale. He most recently performed with the Canadian Opera Company in Aportia Cryptych, a new work created by Haui and Sean Mayes,playing clarinet, bass clarinet, and saxophone.
As an educator, he has taught individual students privately for over 15 years with Elite Music Academy, Classical Music Conservatory, and Community Music Schools of Toronto, where he has lead and developed a choir program for at-risk-youth in the Jane and Finch area.
​
He has also co-founded Safe Spaceship Music, a collective of contemporary recording artists, producers and songwriters in a professional recording studio developing aspiring and emerging artists.
​
Darryl Joseph Dennie
Darryl started as a group piano student at Merriam when he was 4 years old and continued for 5 years before being streamed to private lessons with Ben Jokela. Darryl has had first hand experience with the curriculum and is continued through the Enriched Program. He achieved the Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT classical diploma with Mary Ficzere, his Artist jazz diploma with Brian de Lima.He spent years studying classical, jazz and theory at the Merriam School of Music, where he is now currently functioning as a music education specialist. After attending Humber College for Jazz and Contemporary music in Toronto, Darryl then further pursued his musical development by joining the music ministry at his home church, Praise Cathedral Worship Centre. It was there that he learned how to fuse the precision of classical, the harmony of jazz and the functionality of gospel music to create his own unique voice on the piano. In addition to serving as the music coordinator for Kingdom Covenant Centre, Darryl also operates as the music director and arranger for multiple groups within the GTA including Juno award winner, Carlos Morgan. In the summer of 2016, Darryl composed; scored and conducted the music for the acclaimed musical ‘Dario et la diabless.’ Darryl also leads his own group, TAP (the audition project) in which he produces and arranges the music for live shows and tours.
Darryl has a relaxed teaching style, and is willing to incorporate his students’ music and song styles into lessons as long as it fits into the curriculum. He joined the Merriam School of Music faculty in 2006.
​
​