Three decades of Music, Mentorship, and Growth at DeGazon Music School

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

DeGazon Music School spends each day ensuring its students are both learning and enjoying the deeper value of music education.

They've carried this philosophy with them for decades, celebrating 30 years of serving the community this year.

DeGazon Music School serves Caledon, Mississauga, and Kleinburg, with more than 30 dedicated teachers and structured mentorship. They use their music education not only to teach and inspire, but also to focus on “shaping who your child is becoming.”

When former educator Rachel DeGazon took the leap to start her music school full-time, it wasn't something she ever had in the cards.

After pursuing and obtaining degrees in Biochemistry and music, she attended teachers' college and soon after began teaching with the York Region District School Board.

It began on the side, with her taking a few of her current students and offering music lessons, but it soon became her full-time passion, leading her to open her first music school location.

“Through time and through working through life, you will find where your place is, and I love teaching in the school system, but…finding that passion to offer wonderful, wonderful teaching to kids who are loving music, I found that to be such an important role,” she says.

Growing up, DeGazon says she had very traditional music lessons and loved music all her life, but in her own studio, she came to understand the importance of strong teaching.

“I'm passionate about music, but I'm a lot more passionate about good teaching,” says DeGazon. “Being able to see a gap and see where there are kids who are so interested in music, and so many kids take music lessons, and they quit because they hate it – I'm like, there's something wrong here, because music is so awesome.”

“Our philosophy is we will stand on our heads, we will do anything to keep kids loving music and interested in music lessons.”

She adds she often tells their teachers that they play an important role in these students' lives.

Fifteen years later, DeGazon's husband, Anthony, joined her as the school began to grow and they opened their second location.

They now operate out of three locations in Bolton, Kleinburg, and Mississauga, and their youngest daughter, Elliah, has graduated with a business degree and joined the family business, helping it grow for years to come.

“Knowing that the family business is going to continue, that's really sweet as a legacy,” says DeGazon.

But it's not just their own family that has come full circle.

After having their doors open for decades, DeGazon says they see students they once taught bringing back their own children for lessons.

“Just knowing that we have a place in the world and we're being of influence, and my teachers are being of influence, and what a great job to… be able to be the facilitators of introducing wonderful teaching to these kids,” says DeGazon.

At their school, they offer private lessons for various instruments, as well as lessons for students seeking Royal Conservatory of Music standards for post-secondary schools, taught by qualified teachers.

It is all about meeting the students' needs.

“It's our job as educators to make this experience with music as great as it can be,” says DeGazon. “And we do our absolute best.”

Looking back on 30 years of teaching, she says they've learned that what they offer is “so much more than music lessons.”

She says not only will they teach your child how to play an instrument, but also, through music lessons, “teaching them life skills,” which she says can range from sticking with things when things get hard to a growth mindset and more.

“I would honestly say that's probably the biggest benefit of music lessons,” says DeGazon. “Stick-to-itiveness.”

“You can do hard things knowing that there's that growth mindset…You can do things that are difficult. After 30 years reflecting, I think that's one of the biggest a-has.”

To the DeGazon Music Studios, music lessons are so much more than just learning an instrument, she adds, and they look forward to continuing teaching that for decades to come.