As music is a holistic education, Little Heart Beats'
Music Programs are growth-oriented, enhancing lives
on all levels.
Contact us so we can bring music into your
life and change your world forever!
Lessons are offered in your home, in-studio, or on-line. Ask us for more details.
Privileged to have been educating communities in the greater Toronto area since 1988, Little Heart Beats' highly accomplished, qualified, personable & talented teachers offer programs to adults & children that focus not only on music education but also on personal, intellectual, & emotional growth through fun, flexible and progressive methods of music education.
In addition to offering Preschool Preparatory music & movement classes, Little Heart Beats' educators provide Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Voice, Violin, Viola, and Music Theory are offered in the ease of the students' own homes either in-person or on-line.
Music is also more than just learning to play an instrument.
Little Heart Beats' Certified Music Therapist adapts this
power of music, based on neuroscience, to aid & promote
healing of the brain.
Meet Our Educators
Elizabeth Spiteri holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto and
an ARCT in Music Education from the Royal Conservatory of Music
where she formerly held status as a member of the
College of Examiners for 15 years. She is a member of the
Ontario Registered Teacher's Association (ORMTA) and the
Canadian Federation of Music Teachers (CFMTA).
Elizabeth has been a music educator for over 38 years and
is the founder of Little Heart Beats. She has instilled the love of
music to thousands of children through her own Preschool Music
& Movement Program, the Kindermusik Program, and all levels of
piano and music theory. Her belief is that music education is about
the possibilities it brings to a person's world.
Little Heart Beats was created to further the mission of honoring
the unique needs of every student and their families and continue
to bring music into their lives. Elizabeth has thus invited talented
and experienced musicians who have impressive biographies,
reputations, attributes, and personalities to achieve this passion.
Founder & Director
Piano, Theory,
Ukulele, Vocal,
Music Therapy & Wellness
Elizabeth Beckman
Peter Bull
Richard Kahl
Violin, Viola, Voice, &
Piano
Elizabeth Beckman began her teaching career at the Victoria Conservatory of Music where she earned Diplomas in Violin Performance (AVCM), Education and Arts. She completed Orchestral Studies at the RCM, earned a B.A. in Philosophy & Psychology from the Univsersity of Toronto.
She has participated in International Choral workshops. Her violin teachers include Sydney Humphreys & Denes Zsigmondy.
Elizabeth has taught violin, viola, & voice for over 20 years in Conservatory, in-home, & in school settings including Toronto French School, Forte Music, & Holy Rosary Catholic School.
Her students have been accepted into St. Michael's Choir School and won scholarships for University studies in Music Performance.
Her students have also performed at Holy Rosary Church, Ryerson Musical Theatre summer camps and at Banbury Community Centre. Elizabeth coaches & directs her students in innovative Musical Theatre productions & prepares students for RCM exams, auditions, recitals and talent shows.
On-Line Guitar, Piano, Drums & Theory
Peter Bull is a graduate of
St. Francis Xavier University with a First Class Honours Bachelor of Music. His past & present performing portfolio is extensive. To name a few, he has performed with the
St. Francis Xavier Latin Band & Guitar Ensemble, The United Nations Trio, Mina Yu Quartet, & the PEI Symphony Orchestra.
Peter is also an accomplished vocalist, composer, & recording artist. His distinctions are many. Besides being on the Dean's List at
St. Francis Xavier, he was the recipient of the Joseph Antonick Memorial Scholarship, the O. Rex Memorial Award, the Count Bassie Jazz Award, & the
Fred Sherratt Award.
Peter's electric jazz quartet, Dog Leg Dilemma-
1st place winner of the Jazz Sudbury Emerging Artist Showcase-has been performing a wide variety of styles including Heavy Metal, Disco, Reggae, Rock, Funk, Fusion, world music & movie soundtracks. This wealth of musical knowledge & performance experience is reflected in his diversified pedagogical approach to teaching students.
Guitar, Ukulele &
Theory
Richard Kahl has played & taught guitar for over 45 years. He holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of New York.
Richard has graced Song Circle Ave Elementary School, Golden Lark School of the Arts, & Forte Music with his teaching talents. His teaching experience includes adults, children, & individual's with special needs such as ADHD, ADD & Autism Spectrum. In turn, he recognizes that students can be unique in many ways & structures their lessons accordingly. He also maintains that setting a student up for success is achievable with positive reinforcement & by allowing the student to learn music they enjoy.
Richard has an outstanding performance career. Between 1985 & 2008, he played over 2,000 shows with the well-known Canadian Rolling Stones Tribute Band-"The Blushing Brides". He has also recorded over 15 albums for "Classic Albums Live" Organization and plays with "The Dylan Tree, a Celebration of the Bob Dylan Song Book".
Helen Mei Chan
Preschool Music, Voice, Developmental Music,
Meditation & Sound Healing
Helen Mei Chan is a Toronto District School Board Teacher who has taught music for over 20 years. She attended Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and became certified as a teacher in 2005 at which time she began her teaching career. Her passion of teaching music expanded as she creatively conducted school musical productions and bands.
In 2020, Helen furthered her music career by integrating music and wellness. She became certified by Tao Academy as a Tao Song Healer. Helen's quest to help more people with her music brought her to explore how the higher frequency of the singing voice can help to heal on an emotional, physical, and cognitive level.
Ms. Chan is a Community Engagement Coordinator for the Love Peace Harmony Foundation and has led many free meditations online to the elderly from BGC East Scarborough, children in Toronto and adults all around the world and in person-working with all ages (from children, youth, adults and elderly). In 2022, she was the Music Choir Director for the Love Peace Harmony' music video that has over 87000 views and continues to grow daily. In her spare time, she spends time composing songs on the piano. Currently, she is working on her Spotify Single, launching in December 2024, to help heal more people all around the world.