Lessons: online and in studio
Everyone deserves the opportunity to make music and to understand the language of music. When I was 16 years old, I taught my first piano student, and from that moment on, I knew what I wanted – “to be the best piano teacher that I could be!” I wanted to become a master teacher, and on my way to becoming one my musical journey has taken me through many different turns. I discovered that my early training was not strong, and had to make up for it in my twenties. Because of this, I dedicated my life to help as many students and teachers as I could, to improve the quality of musical training, in general – to give students the opportunity to excel in performance, to give them the best possible start, and to help them grow from where they are now. My teaching diplomas, performance degrees, continued pedagogical study, along with performance and lots of experience teaching over time, have given me what I wanted. Please join me in this journey, either with private lessons online and/or in-person, or with a mock exam, a master class, a talk, or at Cassa Musical Arts.
What is it like to study with me? In two words, “intense and exciting.” With your help, I will get your child through the early stages of learning as fast as possible – without skipping steps. I will help you, or your child, to prepare for performance in my studio classes, recitals, festivals and exams. I have the experience to take you as a beginner and to take you through your ARCT and LRCM, and I can prepare you for University auditions. I can teach you how to create a repertoire list and how to keep your pieces up after the performance is over. I will give you the opportunity to compose music and the opportunity to play by ear. I will teach you about style and how to play freely and easily. I believe that motivation comes from successful performance. However, sometimes the work needs to be done first and then the motivation will come. In my class, the person comes first and the product comes second. Contact me today, and let me kick-start your musical journey.
Sincerely, Linda
Reviews
“Speaking from my own experience as a pianist who grew up in the Prairies, I can say with full sincerity that it is piano teachers like yourself who impact the lives of young aspiring musicians and play a huge role in shaping us as people. Definitely the cherry on top of it all was hearing about the RCM examination connection with you from my own early piano days.” Meagan Milatz
"Thanks for believing in Kaslyn and for the extra lesson. Kaslyn has so much confidence in your instruction and she just blossoms so much under your care. Thank you for inviting us into your home and spending so much time nurturing her talent. She's practicing the technique that you showed her earlier right now!!
Thanks so much for everything! You inspire so much music in our house!” Regina Chan
“Linda has influenced many, many people, young and old, to love music. She has contributed to the Musical Life of Calgary….Cassa has been a very meaningful part of my life. The growth musically, friendships plus watching Linda - giving us strong leadership year after year in her cheerful way is a legacy I will always treasure - truly an inspiration!” The late Dorothea Johanson
"Hi Linda - lovely to hear you play this morning - I love to watch your technique, as well as to hear the tone, the subtle changes in articulation and dynamics - they came out over Zoom despite the fuzzing that comes with our inadequate microphones and speakers. And thank you for introducing me to two great pieces of music that I hadn’t heard before!" Eleanor May
“It has been my good fortune to have known Linda since her pre-University days as a piano student in my classes in the Banff Centre Summer Session, then as a University of Calgary Music Major at the undergrad and graduate levels. Since that time, she has made her mark as a performer with much success, and especially as a much sought after teacher of piano, having students who received honours at provincial and national levels. As an adjudicator of piano events of all kinds, she is well known and admired in Canada as well as in the U.S. Her work and achievements in the Calgary community are without doubt most commendable and extensive, most importantly her creation of the Calgary Arts Summer School which plays an important role in the advancement of the arts, an important addition to the fabric of life in the Calgary regions. As a former Calgarian, I am proud to have played a role in her development as a musician and as a human being.” Willard Schultz
“She is esteemed as one of Calgary’s top piano teachers, having students who regularly win prizes and awards, and some of whom go on at university level to become professional musicians….It has been my pleasure to have been her colleague and co-worker since 1989. Linda has enhanced the lives of many arts inspired students and most certainly has acted as an enthusiastic ambassador for the City of Calgary.” Janice Dahlberg
“During these years, her work has affected the lives of hundreds of students by providing a positive environment in which to grow artistically during the summer months….Linda’ stamina, integrity and positive attitude have transformed her dreams for Calgary’s art scene into a reality, and the city’s community has been all the richer for it.” Rebecca Leshures
“As a young student, Linda and Cassa helped me to find a love for performing that I had never realized. Through their summer programs, I not only gained in musical and artistic confidence, but also discovered a passion for my craft that went far beyond achievement in examination or local festivals. Whereas many educational centres have a tendency to p students towards competition - of which there is plenty in the world of solo performing - Linda ensures that every student that gets up on that stage is doing so for the love of music and pushing their own limits in terms of interpretational excellence….I can honestly say that I am surprised and proud every year of what Linda and Cassa manage to achieve despite all of the obstacles of being a non-profit artistic organization. I can only hope that she can continue for many years to come, as there are countless artists of every age out there who could benefit from her amazing love, support, and commitment to their excellence.” Erika Gundesen
“I understand that Linda Kundert-Stoll has been nominated for the Calgary Achievement Awards as an individual Calgarian whose artistic accomplishments have brought recognition to Calgary or whose volunteer or professional involvement has contributed to developing a stronger arts community….I have experience as a musician and teacher in private classes and public school music in Calgary for over four decades and in my experience, Linda is one of the few people in the city who I would consider nominating for this award.” Rob Whitworth
“Ms. Kundert is a superb mentor, full of original and helpful ideas. With her guidance, I felt that my peers and myself have grown exponentially as musicians within a very short amount of time. Cassa has provided me with an invaluable opportunity to refine my playing, practise performing, and explore ensemble playing. Nowhere else have I been able to work with so many amazing teachers in the space of a week, and be so deeply immersed in the world of piano. On top of that, I was also able to meet new friends who shared my passion for music.” Cindy Zhang
“Linda is a passionate and compassionate leader who has created a non-profit organization which serves children and adults in Calgary. She has overseen, programmed, developed and maintained a top quality fine arts organization which provides exceptionally high quality learning opportunities for students. Linda had a vision, a drive, a passion and an ability to instill with her dreams as she developed and sustains the Calgary Arts Summer School Association (operating as Cassa Musical Arts). She has been the foundation on which this amazing organization has been built and she has consistently done this work year after year with no accolades, no standing ovations and no acknowledgment. She has done this work because of her love of people and her resounding commitment to sharing great music and art with people. Linda, a talented artist herself, has used her talents to enrich the lives of hundreds of Calgarians over the years. She has given us a better appreciation of high quality art and has created a venue where the passion for the aesthetic can be passed down from generation to generation.” Darren Dyck
“I have known Linda for over twenty years, through my work with Honens, the Alberta Piano Teachers Association, Alberta Registered Music teacher’s Association, Contemporary Showcase Festival, Canadina Federation of Music Teachers, and at countless other arts events. She has worn many hats - as a dedicated teacher, festival adjudicator, examiner, workshop clinic, conference presenter, performing artists and tireless supporter of the arts in Calgary. She brings intelligence, integrity, thoughtfulness, insight, passion, energy and compassion to her work, and has mentored, inspired and furthered the careers of many young Calgarians.” Po Yeh
“Having been a teacher and clinician at Cassa, I have long admired Linda’s professional, musical and leadership skills, her dedication to the high standards in musical performance and her flexibility and positive attitude towards her colleagues and students. It seems she can solve any problem that inevitably arises during the process of teaching. She is a “dream boss” and a friend for those who work with her. Linda has brought to Calgary many brilliant teachers, who have influenced hundreds of local students and teachers. Linda has the talent to involve and connect people in pursuing the noble goal to help children and adults enter the world of music and theatre, and reach the top of their potential….Her interpersonal qualities, organizational skills, energy, warmth and versatile interests make Linda a role model for those who know her, give them a boost of self-confidence, determination, hope and vision.” Joseph Fridman
“When Linda is not teaching or running Cassa, she is volunteering her time in a huge variety of settings: from working casinos in support of other non-profit and community groups, to attending recitals of students of other teachers and offering support to the network of music teachers through the city; Linda’s schedule of volunteerism regularly runs seven days a week. In my relationship with Linda, she has offered me more volunteer time than I dare count. As an adult student who showed up at her studio with a dream of achieving concert pianism, Linda has extended her efforts to me again and again. She has served as my performance partner in early efforts in collaborative music, volunteering her time as a performer, and offering me advice on my playing in these sessions without charge. When I had my first opportunity to play with an orchestra, she attended rehearsals and offer advice, again gratis, provided she wasn’t working or volunteering somewhere else….I would like to say that I have received these gifts from Linda because I am her prodigy, but this is not true, as she has students with much more talent than I possess. Linda extends herself in this way for any of her students who display work ethic and who risk doing difficult things. In this way she leads the process of community building by example and inhabits that glorious truth that surrounds the best teachers: she can never know where her influence may end.” Eric Nyland
“Through the past 11 years, Linda Kundert has been instrumental in the music education that my children have received. My eldest received her ARCT in Piano Performance at the age of 15, and her ARCT in Piano Pedagogy at the age of 18. My 15 year old has received her ARCT in Piano Performance. (She received her LRCM at the age of 17.) My 13 year old has his Grade 10 piano, and is working on his ARCT in Piano Performance….Linda Kundert has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of students throughout her career as a music educator. She has done this through teaching, examining, running the Cassa camps, as an adjudicator in countless festivals, as a public speaker on music matters, and as an editor for the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has had a huge impact on the lives of my three children. It is likely that music will play a significant part of their lives forever, and this is due in large part to the efforts of Linda Kundert.” Susan Savage
“Linda is completely dedicated to the promotion of musical opportunities for students and pursues her ideas relentlessly, regardless of the logistical and financial barriers that may be present. Her tireless determination has inspired many of her students to pursue a career in music.” Tara Alldred-Gundesen
“Because of your total dedication to your students and to Cassa, you have changed for the better the lives of so many people in the Calgary community, as well as mine. Although you have sacrificed so much time that could have been used toward developing your own musicianship in order to help others develop their artistry, you have gained so much more than being recognized as one of Calgary’s finest piano teachers. In my eyes and in the eyes of many, you are life-mentor, a prime example of leadership, and a dear friend…. You have influenced me, most obviously, as a musician. It seemed that when I first began piano lessons, I would go nowhere. After you became my teacher, you guided me and developed my musicianship to an extent that I had never intended or even thought of. This progress happened so naturally - a sign of excellent pedagogy on your part, which countless others can testify to. The artistry I have gained because of you is a gift that I will carry on to the priesthood…Thank you for all you have done for me. I have no doubt that Providence placed me in your hands, and placed you on earth for all of us.” Quinn Gomez