Gary Forbes

Piano

Q. Why do you teach music?

“We are constantly surrounded by music. We hear music while we work, shop, drive, and watch tv or movies, not to mention all the opportunities we directly engage with music like attending a concert. Yet, so many of us don't understand what we are listening to. It is my genuine belief that everyone deserves a basic understanding of music, a basic understanding of something that is so present and integral to our lives. Being a small part of the opportunity to offer music literacy to as many people as are interested in understanding is of great importance to me and the reason why I teach music.”

Originally from the Niagara Region, Gary Forbes is a Toronto based freelance pianist, vocal coach, and music teacher, with a passion for the performance of Chamber music and Art song.

As a music educator, Gary has experience as a private lesson’s instructor, elementary school music teacher, and as a vocal and chamber music coach at universities throughout Southern Ontario at the Graduate and Doctoral levels. My students routinely score First Class Honours on RCM examinations and have been accepted into music performance programs at universities across Canada in the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Music from Brock University, and a Master’s in Music Performance (Collaborative Piano) from the University of Toronto. Principle instructors have included Peter Longworth and Steven Philcox. Gary has performed in master classes for pianists such as Jon Kimura Parker, James Parker, Catharine Wilson, Warren Jones, and Michael McMahon.

Gary works actively as a freelance pianist and coach throughout the Greater Toronto Area, is Collaborative pianist to the Canadian Men's Chorus, and Director of Music and Organist at St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church (Toronto).