Cosmo School of Music Guitar Teachers

A graduate from Humber College for Jazz in 1994, Johnny Nixon also studied classical guitar under Eli Kassner. Most of his music career has been spent working as a studio guitarist. He has performed/produced over 300 full length recordings, including five CDs under his own name. His albums are a mix of instrumental jazz/rock fusion and solo acoustic music and can be found on any streaming platform. Some of the artists that he has performed with include The Toronto Mass Choir, Pat & Debbie Boone, Kathy Troccoli, Mark Masri (The Tenors), Robin Mark, Dan Macaulay, Andy Timmons, Gary Hoey, For The Master, The Tonettes, Ben Heppner, and Kevin Pauls. He has also performed/produced many themes/commercials for film, television, and radio (Michael Coren Show, Huntley Street and CTS themes, Energizer, Canadian Tire, Hard Music Library, and YouTube Fireplace Channel Christmas themed). In addition to those credentials, he is also a clinician/house band at various workshops like Guitar Workshop Plus and Power Up which focuses on Gospel music.

Johnny is comfortable performing and teaching in most guitar styles: jazz, rock, metal, gospel, R&B, neo soul, progressive, flamenco, worship, blues, country, new age acoustic, and pop. Let Johnny help you connect the dots faster with your music goals.

Wayne is a passionate musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist with a deep love for music. He creates and performs across various styles, blending creativity with technical skill. Whether composing original works or mastering new instruments, Wayne is always exploring new sonic possibilities. In addition to his personal musical pursuits, Wayne is an experienced elementary music teacher, sharing his enthusiasm and expertise with diverse students of all ages. His engaging lessons foster a love for music in children, teaching them not just to play instruments but to appreciate the art form in all its forms.

Wayne has performed in various musicals, bands, and conducted concert bands and choirs, showcasing his versatility. These experiences make him a well-rounded artist who excels in collaborative, high-energy environments. Whether in the classroom, on stage, or composing in the studio, Wayne continues to inspire through his passion and dedication to music.

Brice Wesingi is a retired public school teacher with over 30 years of experience teaching instrumental music to intermediate students and musicianship to primary and junior grades. His extensive career reflects a lifelong dedication to nurturing musical talent and inspiring a love for music in students of all ages.

Brice began his musical journey studying classical and jazz guitar at the esteemed Eli Kassner Guitar Academy of Toronto in his early twenties. During this time, he was an active performer in Toronto’s vibrant coffee house scene, showcasing his talents in folk, blues, and contemporary music. His passion for music has extended into a deep appreciation for guitars, leading him to build an impressive collection and gain expertise in guitar repair and maintenance.

In recent years, Brice has continued his teaching journey, working with both beginners and advanced students to help them explore and refine their musical abilities. He believes that every student has untapped potential and emphasizes the importance of perseverance, often reminding his students that while great players make music seem effortless, it is dedication and consistent practice that unlock natural talents and rhythm.

To support his teaching, Brice incorporates cutting-edge tools such as Guitar Pro 8, enabling him to create customized songs and exercises tailored to each student’s needs. His approach combines formal method books, technical exercises, and personalized materials to provide a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

Brice’s greatest motivation lies in connecting with his students and sharing in their musical discoveries. He takes pride in understanding what styles of music excite his students, fostering an environment where they feel encouraged to explore their passions. A lifelong learner himself, Brice continues to hone his skills and expand his repertoire through ongoing studies with Bruno Di Bartolomeo at Crossroads Guitar Centre in Woodbridge.

Brice brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a wealth of knowledge to his teaching, and he is committed to helping each student develop confidence and joy in their musical journey.

Justin Poon is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied guitar performance and electronic production and design. He also holds a master’s degree from the University of Toronto in music technology and digital media.

His musical background spans rock ‘n’ roll, pop, jazz, blues, electronic music, and everything in between, having performed across Canada and the United States. His artistic endeavours include DJing, producing, audio engineering, working as a sound designer for video games and film, and running a record label.

Justin’s approach to teaching involves tapping into what the student is most passionate about musically and what inspires and motivates them in learning their instrument. From there, he explores the most relevant fundamentals—whether it be technical ability, reading, ear training, composition, or musical theory—to help students achieve their goals and improve as efficiently as possible.

Mike Smith has been teaching music to all age groups for over 30 years. He is fluent in a wide variety of styles, including rock, blues, jazz, country, and bluegrass. He strives to present well-rounded lessons that link music theory and performance. Mike has helped many secondary school graduates prepare for and transition into postsecondary music education. He has also assisted many adults who struggle to “break out of the box” on guitar.

Mike has earned a BFA in music from York University and a master’s degree in jazz performance from the University of Toronto. He has performed across Canada, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom, with a wide array of musical acts.

You want to participate in the musical experience from the very beginning of your studies. Give yourself permission not to let what you can’t do get in the way of what you can do. See yourself as a musician from the very start. Explore, discover, and enjoy your unique musical personality with a “make the most of what you’ve got” attitude. Randy Finney believes that his job as your teacher is to understand, respect, and embrace your unique musical personality while guiding you on your journey of discovering how physical technique, ear training, theory, sight reading, and rhythmic articulation can best serve you as a musician.

As a young child, Randy grew up with classic country (Porter Wagoner, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, et al.). In his teens, he embraced classic rock (The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, et al.). Later, he became enamoured with the big band era, which led him to study music at Humber College. Randy graduated from Humber with honours in 1991 and was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award for Guitar. While at Humber, he discovered guitarist Lenny Breau, which introduced him to Chet Atkins and many great guitar players inspired by Chet. In 2004, he founded the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association, which has brought many of these players to Toronto for concerts and clinics.

Randy’s teaching career began in his second year at Humber when one of his teachers recommended him to Humber College Continuing Education to teach a guitar course. This inspired him to take a pedagogy course in his final year, leading to a lifelong love of teaching and exploring teaching methodologies. His dedication to learning how to teach allows him to adapt to and accommodate a wide variety of student learning personalities.

Elliott Chung has been playing guitar for over 15 years. He currently holds a Level 8 certification in classical guitar with the Royal Conservatory of Music, having passed all his playing and theory exams, including Level 9 history and harmony, with first-class honours or higher. Elliott has been teaching in various settings for over five years and has experience working with students of all ages.

With his dedication to the art of guitar instruction and his Bachelor of Education, Elliott strives to instill a solid command of the instrument in his students while also building their artistic confidence. He has studied with various teachers in Toronto, including Michael Kolk of the Henderson-Kolk guitar duo. When not teaching, Elliott performs live and has experience at weddings, dinner parties, and other special events. In addition to classical guitar, he also enjoys and teaches rock and pop styles.

Andrea Casciato has been teaching guitar, music theory, and musicianship at Cosmo School of Music since 2005. He never misses a lesson and has an excellent student retention rate. He teaches popular music and classical music, effectively preparing students for Cosmo School of Music recitals, Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams, and university auditions. Andrea believes in comprehensive music education, and his lessons include technical work, rhythmic training, and music theory. Above all, he strives to teach students how to practice so they can work independently from a teacher during the week between lessons.

He studied classical guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he completed exams in guitar performance, music history, and music theory. He is an RCM Silver Medal recipient in classical guitar performance (2009, Level 10 guitar) and a three-time recipient of the Royal Conservatory's Teacher Certificate of Recognition for student achievement in Level 6, Level 7, and Level 8 guitar exams. When he is not busy teaching, he writes music for solo guitar. His music has been published in the 2011 Royal Conservatory of Music guitar series and is listed in the 2011 and 2018 RCM guitar syllabus. Over the years, Andrea has been involved in many genres of music and has performed in various venues across the Greater Toronto Area. He was a guest performer with the Vesuvius Ensemble in 2022.

Andrea Casciato is an RCM-certified teacher.

Teaching has always been an important part of Dan Sargeant's life, as he has been a music teacher for 35 years. Since 1981, Dan has taught in various music schools throughout Toronto and in public and private schools, including Bayview Glen Private School, Toronto District School Board, Dixon Hall School, and Royal Orchard Public School. He also has experience in music therapy.

Steve Gotlib's lesson focus is on theory, technique, and ear training to provide students with a strong foundational understanding of their instrument. At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of learning simple songs, melodies, and pieces that help inspire and motivate students to practice.

Steve is a busy sideman in the Toronto area and often plays with his own Brazilian jazz trio, Que Isso.