OUR TEAM
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Kye Andrews, Director
Kye Andrews is the Director of Grove Music School. A multi-instrumentalist and educator, he leads the school in its mission to make high-quality music education accessible, affordable, and community-driven.
He spent nearly a decade at Forest Grove United Church, where he grew as a teacher, developed as a community leader, and served as Director of Music. He is also the bandleader for the Grove Band YouTube channel, which has grown to more than 1,000 subscribers and 320,000 views. His blend of teaching, performance, and production experience gives him a broad perspective on how music can inspire growth and creativity in students of all ages.
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Érika Wood
Vocal: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate
Ukulele: Beginner, IntermediateHello! My name is Érika, and I’m a freelance musician and certified teacher based in Toronto. I hold a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto and have been teaching voice and piano for nearly a decade. Over the years, I’ve worked with private students and children’s choirs in Toronto, Vancouver, and Kingston. I love exploring a wide range of styles—pop, rock, classical, and more! I’m thrilled to be entering my fourth year at Grove Music School and can’t wait to make great music with new and returning students.
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Emmett Watters
Guitar: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate
Ukulele: Beginner, IntermediateI graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Music from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I’ve been playing guitar for over 13 years and also have experience teaching ukulele and piano. In addition to teaching, I perform with my band, The Boo Radley Project, and bartend at Massey Hall—so music is part of my life in more ways than one!
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Natalie Baldocchi
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate
Guitar: Beginner, IntermediateHi! I’m Natalie, a music teacher and University of Toronto student based in Toronto. I’ve been teaching guitar and piano with Grove Music School for over five years. I’ve completed Level 8 RCM training in piano and music theory and have been studying guitar for many years. I also enjoy sharing my playing online—my guitar videos have reached over 80,000 views on Instagram.
I love all kinds of music, from rock and blues to jazz and classical. I’m excited to be teaching at Grove Music School again this year and look forward to learning and growing with new students!
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Fiona Varty
Bass: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate
Guitar: Beginner, IntermediateMy name is Fiona, and I’m currently completing my Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of Toronto, specializing in jazz bass. I have experience playing bass, piano, and guitar, and I’m well-versed in a variety of genres including classical, rock, and jazz. In addition to teaching, I perform with my own musical groups and share some of my original compositions. As a long-time student at Grove Music School, I’m excited to return as a teacher and help inspire other musicians.
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Scott Metcalfe
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Scott Metcalfe is one of the most sought-after piano players on the Toronto music scene. Originally from Winnipeg with a background in classical and jazz, he moved to Toronto in 2002 to study jazz at Humber College. Since then, his musical palette has continued to grow—performing across Toronto, the GTA, and Canada.
Scott leads his own contemporary jazz trio and collaborates with a wide range of singers and artists in various styles. He has recorded on numerous albums and worked as an arranger and producer for jazz-R&B artists. Passionate about teaching, Scott enjoys working with students of all ages and frequently accompanies dance performances, from flamenco to ballet. He’s always exploring new ways to grow as a musician, whether as an accompanist, bandleader, producer, or music lover.
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Christopher Tufaro
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Composition: Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedChristopher Tufaro is a Toronto-based musician, composer, and teacher specializing in piano. With a Bachelor of Music from Humber College (Honours) and First-Class Honours in ARCT Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory, Christopher has excelled in a range of styles, including Classical, Jazz, Rock, and R&B/Funk. He has performed in events like the TD Jazz Festival and with artists such as Christian McBride and Emile-Claire Barlow, earning accolades in competitions like the Canadian Music League. Holding a Master’s in Music Composition from York University, his compositions, featured in prominent Toronto film festivals, blend traditional techniques with modern influences from film, television, and video games.
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Slav Kuprijanov
Guitar: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Ukulele: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Drums: Beginner, IntermediateSlav Kuprijanov is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and lyricist with over 20 years of teaching experience. He graduated from the Taganrog School of Arts and Music, Trebas Institute, and the Michael Pokrovsky Guitar Academy. Slav specializes in teaching guitar, bass, and drums, and brings a wealth of knowledge across styles—from classical, jazz, and blues to rock, pop, R&B, and EDM. In addition to teaching, he performs in a wide range of musical projects and continues to write and produce original music.
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Matthew Coons
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Organ: Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedMatthew Coons is an award-winning pianist and organist with extensive experience as a performer and accompanist. He has been the Principal Accompanist for the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir since 2014 and was previously the accompanist for Counterpoint Chorale. During his studies at the University of Toronto, he served as Organ Scholar at Metropolitan United Church. Matthew has also held organist positions at several Toronto churches, including Grace Church on-the-Hill, Runnymede United, and Dewi Sant Welsh United Church.
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Ena Iizuka
Piano: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Ena has been playing piano since the age of three and began composing and arranging music early in childhood. Her professional career started at 18, performing in dinner shows and live concerts while also teaching piano. After graduating from a university of music in Japan, she continued working professionally as a composer and arranger, and also served as a radio host for a jazz program.
With years of stage experience in both Japan and Toronto, Ena has composed numerous pieces for local musicians and recording projects. She is also a passionate chorus teacher who loves working with children. Comfortable in many styles—classical, pop, jazz, and more—Ena encourages her students to sing or play whatever brings them joy and helps them connect with music.
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Reina Takashita
Having grown up with a musician mother, I have been surrounded by the piano from the moment I was born. Blessed with perfect pitch and a solid musical foundation, I have received numerous awards in competitions from an early age. I also gained teaching experience in Australia, where I worked as a piano instructor.
In addition to playing the piano, I enjoy singing, classical ballet, and dance. Through my lessons, I hope to share the joy of music and inspire my students to love it for a lifetime.