Sonata Studio is located on the west end of the city. The studio, owned and directed by Dayle Besler, began in Spruce Grove, Alberta, and moved into the city of Edmonton in 1998. Students are offered instruction in both Piano and Classical Guitar, with very young guitar students entering the Suzuki Guitar program. Guitar Ensemble is a specialty, and participation in music festivals and RCM exams is encouraged. All Sonata Studio students receive a well-rounded music education, achieving high levels of performance.

The Suzuki Guitar program is designed for young children (from 4 ½ to 5 years of age) with the motto “every child can”. Parents are an integral part of the learning process, becoming the “at home teacher” during practice sessions. This program has an extremely high rate of success with young children, with students learning by the “mother tongue” method – much like they learn to speak in whatever language their parents speak.

“CONGRATULATIONS for your students. I was really impressed by the solid work and great foundation you have given them, and this is all your doing. Hand positions, sound and musicality – Brava!!! I am really, really impressed by them and even more by you and your work and dedication and guidance. I have seen a lot of youth and they are up there! So WELL DONE, and I would love you have you all in ITALY” Antigoni Goni, Classical Guitarist, Professor of Guitar, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels, Belgium.
"Thank you for the amazing treat of hearing your incredibly well-trained students. You are an extremely gifted teacher! ...........I've never heard such consistent musicianship from guitarists in one place before."
Timothy Phelan, Guitarist, Educator, Composer, Condutor, Adjudicator
Niagara, Ontario

TEACHERS' BIOS


DAYLE BESLER

Dayle Besler is a Classical Guitarist and Pianist calling Edmonton her home. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning piano lessons at four and a half years old. Music has always been a career goal for her, even from a very young age. If asked WHO she is, “a musician” is the answer. If asked WHAT she is, “a musician” is the answer.

Dayle has studied with some of the finest teachers in the world. She teaches up to and including Grade 10 Piano and Grade 8 Classical Guitar, as well as all three Theory levels, and Grades 1, 2 and 3 History. As well, her guitar training has included such teachers as Carl Lotsberg (Edmonton), Christopher Parkening (Montana State University), John Sutherland (Georgia State U), David Brandon (Texas), Virginia Luque (New York), and Rolf LaFleur (Stockholm). Dayle received her Suzuki Classical Guitar training in California in 1998. She was subsequently invited to establish and teach the Suzuki Guitar Program at the Suzuki Elementary School in Edmonton, where she remained for three years. She then left to open her own Suzuki-centered program, and accepted an invitation to establish and teach an identical program at St. Martin’s Ukranian Catholic Bilingual School, where she taught for two years. Dayle was asked to return to Suzuki Charter School in 2012, and is currently on staff there.

After moving to Spruce Grove many years ago, and in addition to running her own private studio, Dayle was on the faculty of Woodhaven Junior High School for 13 years. In addition to her music assignment, she worked with Learning Disabled and Behaviour Disordered teens. While she was at Woodhaven, Dayle was the Assistant Musical Director for 5 shows – “Oklahoma”, “Pirates of Penzance”, “Happy Valley High”, “The Wizard of Oz”, and “The Sound of Music”. Dayle was also associated with Horizon Players, a sermi-professional theater group, for many years, and has done Musical Direction for three of their shows – “Lock Up Your Daughters”, “Hans Christian Anderson”, and “Steppin’ Out” (in which she also acted). She has also accompanied a 100-voice choir, many soloists – both vocal and instrumental, as well as performing in many different venues throughout Edmonton. Dayle plays a Lazar Guitar (see LINKS).

Although Piano is and always will be her first instrument, and she teaches both piano and guitar, Dayle is currently more focused on Classical Guitar. Her students achieve high levels of performance, and to date, 16 of her students have received Gold Medals from The Royal Conservatory of Music. This is an award that is given to the student with the highest mark in their instrument and grade in a calendar year in each Province. Since there are 28 exam centers in Alberta, and three exam sessions throughout the year, this is quite a prestigious award. In addition, her students are consistent scholarship winners at the Kiwanis Music Festival and former students have been accepted to and have graduated from U of T and Acadia U with degrees in Guitar Performance. As well, 2 of her students have won their classes at the Provincial level of the Kiwanis Festival of Alberta. Her Senior Ensemble has performed in many different venues in Edmonton, as well as recording a full length CD called “Taking Time”. All of the proceeds from this CD are directed to Inner City High School, which is a school that takes young people out of the drug culture and off the streets, giving them a future they wouldn’t otherwise have.

Dayle was on the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Classical Guitar Society for 10 years. Even though she is no longer on the Board or actively involved with the Society, she continues to support them and their concert series.

Dayle has recently accepted a seat on the Board of the Volterra Guitar Project in Italy (see LINKS), which is inspired and directed by Antigoni Goni. In addition, Alec Leard has been invited to participate as a full-time student in the Volterra Guitar project during the summer of 2010, and we are very excited to be asked to join such an austere group of musicians. During the workshop, Dayle has also been asked to deliver two lectures on running a successful studio and teaching young children.