Winnipeg (Pembina) - Composition Lessons

Kevin Curtis (Composition, Guitar, Piano, Theory)

Online Lessons:

Kevin has a 30 year history as a professional musician and composer, and has been a dedicated teacher for over 15 years. He has also appeared broadly as a clinician and as a guest lecturer. Kevin was recently honoured (in 2023) by The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning at the University of Manitoba, “For Significant Contribution To Excellence In Teaching”.

Kevin is highly adaptable to the individual needs and interests of his many students, beginner to advanced, and welcomes students of all ages and abilities. Lessons are focused, not just on technique and the learning of pieces, but also on the psychology of performance. Consequently, his students tend to perform at a high level, and some have gone on to pursue careers in music themselves. For those students interested in composing, improvising, or songwriting, Kevin is particularly adept at stoking individual creativity. (Some of his students have performed their own original pieces on recitals, even at very young ages.) He also takes a rigorous approach with students wishing to pursue a course involving theory and practical examinations through the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Prior to becoming a teacher Kevin spent many years touring as a professional musician, and is known locally for performing with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Papa Mambo, Marco Castillo’s Brazilian Beats, and many, many other ensembles. He regularly performs as a soloist, with his own trio and quartet, and with his 7-member classic jazz ensemble Sunny Roseland.

Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from the University of Manitoba and a certificate in Teacher Professional Development from the Royal Conservatory. Kevin teaches at our Winnipeg (Pembina) lesson centre. His rate is $32 per half hour.