Matthew Rait

With approximately 15 years of professional teaching experience, I have been fortunate to support a range of students at varying stages in their development. For the past four years I have taught in the Community Music and Bachelor of Music programs at Wilfrid Laurier University. I have been involved with two private music programs in Kitchener-Waterloo (Jazz in the Schools and Jazz for Adults) as well as several jazz performance and theory courses at York University as a graduate student. During this time, I have developed the ability to adapt to the unique needs of the learner while motivating students towards excellence.

In 2019, I completed a PhD in musicology at York University with a focus on the music of Sting. My dissertation helped me develop an in-depth knowledge of jazz repertoire and popular music conventions as well as maintain an eclectic involvement in jazz, folk, classical, pop, Caribbean and Brazilian music and liturgical music. My experience throughout my education (BFA and MA in music) has led me on a journey where I was able to have meaningful conversations with excellent mentors, and dialogue with world-famous artists. This was highlighted with my very personal and intimate conversation with Sting in 2019 while he was working in Toronto during his production of The Last Ship musical.

As a music professional I have repeatedly involved myself in various settings. I have direct experience with music performance (jazz, folk, rock, blues, and liturgical music), composition, and music and sound production. This includes: performing with well-known musicians in the Canadian jazz scene, studying composition and arranging during my graduate work at York University, group composition and arranging with The Treeline band (folk group), work as the sound technician at the Gibson Centre (Alliston, ON), sound mixing and video editing. Additionally, I have provided support to the Student Achievement Consultant for the Arts with the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, and transcribed a music score for a new Canadian musical production (Tip of the Iceberg) at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre. I can be found performing live across K/W and around southern Ontario. This has included playing at several festivals in Ontario including: the Orillia Jazz Festival, the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, the Orangeville Jazz and Blues Festival and The Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music.

I feel privileged to teach at the Beckett School at Laurier and am excited to help students of all ages and all abilities achieve their goals and build their musicianship. I look forward to meeting you.