"Jacqueline is an amazing teacher! She is kind, patient, and very encouraging and supportive. ...  "

"Her encouragement of discipline and hard work has laid the foundation for many of my successes in life. ... "

"Not only has my daughter developed as a pianist and has a passion for music, more importantly she grew as a person with confidence and with poise."

"Our son is soaring ahead in his understanding, appreciation and passion for music and Jacqueline is a primary reason. ... "

" ... after many recitals and performances in the Winnipeg Music Festival, I no longer become nervous or agitated when performing or doing presentations on projects or science fairs. ..."

"Her knowledge of the instrument, its technical requirements and music genre is far-reaching ... "

"She has been one of my biggest influences as a performer and it would have been impossible for me to reach this high level without her. ... "

"Piano is a joy and learning it with Ms. Ryz makes it even better. ... "

"In her, we not only find a talented, accomplished pianist, but an inspiring teacher and mentor. ..."

"Over the past eight years, I have been mentored by the most significant educational influence of my life, Jacqueline Ryz."

"She really brought my playing to a new level. ... I got into and was offered scholarships from both schools ... "

"Jacqueline will definitely be someone that I will remember as a teacher who has given me something that I will carry on for the rest of my life: the beautiful gift of playing the piano."

" ... her belief in me has given me the inspiration to continue and to strive to be the best I can be."

"Throughout our journey of ups and downs, you’ve always demonstrated kindness, patience, understanding, reasonableness, and above all, been an unwavering source of motivation for me."

Welcome to my website, presenting my piano studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I maintain a busy schedule giving one-on-one piano lessons to students of all levels throughout the year, but I can always find time for new students who are enthusiastic about music and sincerely committed to learning to play the piano well.

Current students and parents, please continue to check this website weekly for updates and periodically review my Studio Health Protocols page. As always, if you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

Spring Recital, Tuesday, May 21 at River East church, 755 McLeod Avenue.
Recital 1 - 7:15 p.m. / Recital 2 - 8:00 p.m.

Noteworthy News

Congratulations to Seanne, Marek, Alexus and Navindu who were all recommended to represent the Winnipeg Music Festival at the Manitoba Provincial Music Festival to be held at the University of Manitoba at the end of May.

Winnipeg Music Festival results - 2024

I'm very proud of the students of my studio who participated in the competitive classes of the 2024 Winnipeg Music Festival. Everyone performed at their best, and each was recognized as the winner or runner up of at least one class. Congratulations to everyone!

Aurora with her good luck charm and the Swedish Musical Club trophy

In Grade 7, Aurora won the Baroque and Sonatina classes, and went on to win the Swedish Musical Club trophy for the best performance by a Grade 7 instrumentalist in the Festival! In Grade 10, Marek won the Canadian, 20th/21st Century and French composers classes, and was runner up in the Early Romantic composers class won by Victoria. Victoria was also runner up in the Canadian composers and Sonata classes, and joint runner up with Andy in the Late Romantic composers class. Marek and Victoria subsequently competed for the Beryl Ferguson trophy awarded for the most outstanding performance by a Grade 10 instrumentalist in the Festival.

In Grade 9, Alexus won 20th/21st Century composers and the Sonata classes and thus competed for the Junior Musical Club trophy awarded for the best performance by a Grade 9 instrumentalist at the Festival. As well, Chloe was runner up in the Canadian class, and Micah was runner up in the Sonata class.

In Grade 6, Chathuli was runner up in the Canadian composers class.

In the Concerto classes, Marek won for Grade 10 and Victoria was runner up; Alexus won for Grade 9. In a different category, Alexus and Victoria were awarded the Clare C. Leckie trophy for best piano group for their Grade 9/10 duet performance. And Navindu received a Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association scholarship as a promising pianist in Grades Beginner to 4.

Congratulations to Aurora who was runner up in a field of over 20 competitors in the Intermediate Piano Performance scholarship competition of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association.

Congratulations to Marek who earned the highest mark in Canada for his Grade 9 Royal Conservatory of Music exam last academic year, and to Alexus (Grade 8) and Chathuli (Grade 5) who earned the highest marks in Manitoba for their respective exams. All three received gold medals at a ceremony at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, November 19. As well Micah earned first class honours with distinction, Chloe and Pengda earned first class honours, and Emily earned honours for Grade 8 exams; Aurora earned first class honours with distinction for her Grade 6 exam; Ethan and Noor both earned first class honours with distinction for Grade 5 exams; and Ella and Remy earned first class honours with distinction for Grade 1 exams.

L-R: Alexus, Marek, Chathuli; Inset - Marek's National Medal

Well done everyone!

Significant Scholarship awards

Congratulations to Victoria and Marek who were both awarded significant scholarships by the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association. Victoria was awarded the Phyllis Holtby Scholarship ($3,000) in support of her completion of the Grade 10 and Associate practical and theoretical requirements of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Marek received a Nita Eamer Memorial Scholarship ($1,200) awarded based on success in Royal Conservatory of Music examinations and the Winnipeg Music Festival as well as volunteer work.

Significant successes for long-time student Seanne

Seanne Buenafe with me on stage of the Salle Henri-Gagnon in the Faculty of Music at Laval University, Quebec

Congratulations to long-time student Seanne who placed first is his age category (17-and-under) at the Canadian Music Competition national finals held in Quebec City in June, 2022. Seanne and I performed Rachmaninoff''s Rhapsodie on a theme of Paganini on two nine-foot concert grand pianos in the Salle Henri Gagnon in the Faculty of Music at Laval University. Seanne began the piano performance program at McGill University in Montreal in Fall, 2022, with a significant entrance scholarship. Seanne also received scholarship offers from the piano performance programs at the Universities of British Columbia and Manitoba, and was accepted to the piano performance program at University of Toronto as well.

Congratulations to longtime student Nika who earned her Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) diploma with first class honours with distinction in August 2020.
Nika's mark for her ARCT exam was the highest in Manitoba for the 2020-21 academic year! She was presented with a gold medal to recognize this achievement in an online ceremony, Fall, 2021.
Here are links to Nika performing two elements of her ARCT program: Chopin Nocturne in D flat major, Op.27, No.2, and Oiseaux Tristes from Miroirs by Maurice Ravel.

Jacqueline Ryz is a gifted pianist and teacher whose passion for music inspires audiences and students alike. Her professionalism, skilled teaching and approachability allows for her to develop pianists of a very high standard. I highly recommend her as a teacher for beginners as well as students who are already established pianists. Jacqueline's motivational teaching style has inspired my sons to practice and develop an excellent work ethic; they quickly developed into fine young pianists. - Carol L Ridd Arts Consultant, River East Transcona School Division

I was thrilled and honoured to receive a "Teacher of Distinction" award from the Royal Conservatory for 2019. Thank you very much to everyone who supported my nomination.

Noteworthy Links

Here's a link to a charming reflection by Jeremy Denk in the New Yorker Magazine on the sometimes humourous trials and tribulations of piano lessons and the impact of two special teachers on his musical development.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/04/video-jeremy-denks-piano-lessons.html?mobify=0

Here's a link to a new digital resource for music study which came to my attention through the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association conference in Vancouver, summer of 2015 - the ABRSM Aural Trainer app at http://www.dreammusictool.ca/abrsm-aural-trainer which can very helpful for ear training.