MEET OUR MUSIC TEACHERS IN OKOTOKS
Friendly, skilled instructors offering private piano, guitar and voice lessons for kids, teens and adults in Okotoks.
Meet Teacher Brooke – Piano
Brooke’s musical journey began with piano, voice, music theory, and musical theatre, nurturing a lifelong passion for the arts. Over the years, she has gained performance experience through recitals and music festivals, developing both her technical ability and expressive style.
With two years of teaching experience, Brooke works with students of all ages, focusing on building a solid foundation in piano and music theory while encouraging creativity and confidence. She is currently pursuing her Royal Conservatory Level 9 in Piano and is committed to continuing her musical education and growth as an instructor.
Beyond teaching, Brooke enjoys playing in a band, writing and creating music, reading, crafting, and spending time with family and friends. Her enthusiasm, patience, and love of music make her a valued member of the Cochrane Music Academy team.
Meet Teacher Cole - Piano
Cole has been playing piano for over two decades and brings a few years of teaching experience to his lessons. His musical journey began at the age of six through group music programs for young children, where he developed foundational skills in piano playing, music reading, and writing. As his passion grew, Cole transitioned into private instruction and continued his studies through the Royal Conservatory of Music, completing both practical and theory examinations.
Cole holds a degree from the University of Alberta, with a minor in Music, where he studied under the guidance of Inna Luzanac and Roger Admiral. He is now dedicated to helping students of all ages and experience levels discover their creativity and confidence at the piano.
Committed to making learning approachable and engaging, Cole emphasizes clarity, encouragement, and enjoyment in his teaching. He brings creativity, enthusiasm, and a strong foundation in piano performance and music theory to every lesson. Above all, Cole strives to ensure that students leave each lesson feeling accomplished and motivated, whether they are learning for enjoyment, pursuing formal examinations, or building music literacy skills.
Meet Teacher Deklan – Guitar
Deklan is an emerging guitarist in the Calgary jazz scene and a student at the University of Calgary, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Music. His musical journey began with inspiration from iconic bands such as The Beatles and Metallica, leading him to pick up the guitar at age 16. He later developed a strong passion for jazz, influenced by artists like Masayoshi Takanaka, and has since studied with some of Calgary’s leading jazz musicians.
In addition to his studies, Deklan has gained valuable performance experience by forming his own band and playing live regularly. His diverse musical background includes self-directed learning, private instruction, ensemble playing, and formal academic training, giving him a well-rounded understanding of music across multiple genres.
Deklan’s teaching philosophy centers on aligning lessons with each student’s individual goals while emphasizing the importance of enjoying the learning process. He is passionate about helping students build confidence, develop their skills, and discover the joy of making music.
Meet Teacher Dezree - Voice
Dezree is a vocal instructor with a background in music and ministry, and a strong passion for helping students develop both confidence and technical skill. She specializes in voice and brings an encouragement-based, structured, and student-centered approach to her teaching, creating a safe and supportive environment where singers can explore their sound and build healthy vocal habits.
Dezree focuses on establishing strong foundational technique while guiding students to apply those skills directly to music they enjoy. She believes meaningful progress happens when students feel comfortable taking risks, experimenting, and allowing themselves to learn through play and exploration.
Dedicated to helping each student discover and embrace their unique voice, Dezree strives to make the learning process both effective and enjoyable, fostering growth, self-expression, and confidence at every stage of a student’s vocal journey.
Meet Teacher Jerome - Piano
Jerome Henry Jayaraj is a dedicated piano and keyboard instructor with a passion for working with students of all ages, particularly children. He brings a friendly, patient, and highly interactive approach to his teaching, creating a supportive environment where students feel comfortable exploring and expressing themselves through music.
Jerome’s teaching style emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, incorporating illustration-based techniques to make concepts clear, engaging, and accessible. By keeping students actively involved in each lesson, he helps them build both confidence and musical ability. He thoughtfully adapts his instruction to suit each student’s pace and interests, fostering a positive learning experience and encouraging a lifelong appreciation for music.
Owner & Founder
Carol Cowie - Owner & Founder
Okotoks Music Academy is led by founder and master educator Carol Cowie, whose lifelong passion for music and teaching has shaped thousands of students across Canada and abroad. With a commitment to excellence and a warm, encouraging teaching philosophy, Carol brings experienced leadership to every academy she helps create — including our Okotoks location.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Carol began her musical journey at just four years old and later studied at the College of Music in Dublin, where she graduated at the top of her class in piano performance and pedagogy. She earned multiple distinctions, including the prestigious Frank O’Reilly Cup for Perpetual Excellence, and later became a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, London.
With nearly three decades of teaching experience, Carol has taught students of all ages and abilities, served as a professional accompanist, and built a reputation for patient, encouraging and highly effective music instruction. Her expertise extends beyond piano — she is an accomplished clarinetist and music educator whose background enriches the musical experience of every student she mentors.
Carol’s enthusiasm for music and teaching is central to the mission of Okotoks Music Academy. She is excited to bring private piano, guitar and voice lessons to families in Okotoks, helping students feel welcomed, supported and inspired from their very first lesson.
Carol Cowie is at the heart of our mission — building confident musicians, supportive communities and a lifelong love of music.
Owner & Operations Manager
Joe Cowie - Owner & Operations Manager
JJoe Cowie is the Owner and Operations Manager of Okotoks Music Academy, bringing a strong operational backbone to every part of the student and teacher experience. With a focus on systems, communication, scheduling and smooth day-to-day operations, Joe helps ensure that every academy location delivers a consistent, organized and high-quality music lesson experience for families.
Driven by innovation and efficiency, Joe develops the programs, processes and support systems that help instructors teach at their best. From scheduling tools to studio operations to new location development, his work helps students access reliable, well-run and inspiring private music lessons from their very first visit.
Behind the scenes, Joe works to create a learning environment where creativity can thrive and families feel supported. His goal is simple: to build a music academy where teachers love to teach, students love to learn and families feel welcomed, valued and confident in their choice.
Joe is excited to help bring private piano, guitar and voice lessons to Okotoks, serving families across Okotoks, Foothills and South Calgary.
General Manager
Amber Cowie - General Manager
As General Manager of Okotoks Music Academy, Amber is the friendly, organized, and reliable force behind the daily experience of our students, families, and teachers. She oversees scheduling, onboarding, billing, and student support—ensuring every detail is handled with care and every interaction feels smooth, professional, and stress-free.
Amber works closely with new and returning families to make sure students are placed in the right program and supported throughout their musical journey. She’s also a key resource for our teaching team, helping create a positive, well-organized environment where instructors can focus on what they do best: teaching and inspiring.
With a warm, approachable style and a sharp eye for detail, Amber helps make the Music Academy a place where everything runs efficiently—and where students and teachers alike feel supported, valued, and encouraged every step of the way.
Student Support Associate
Nadia Cowie - Student Support Associate
Nadia is a friendly and attentive member of our support team who assists with weekend student services and communication at the studio. Having grown up around music her whole life, she understands the positive impact music education can have and enjoys being part of a creative and encouraging learning environment.
She loves seeing students grow in confidence while developing a lifelong skill through music lessons. Nadia is passionate about helping create a positive experience for families and takes care in ensuring students are paired with the best fit from our amazing team of teachers to support their individual goals and learning styles.
With a helpful and caring approach, Nadia assists with day-to-day communication, scheduling regular lesson sessions, and helping existing students adjust lesson times to better fit their schedules when needed. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming experience for both students and teachers and strives to ensure everyone feels supported, comfortable, and well taken care of throughout their time at the studio.
Checkout Our Other Locations & Reviews!
Serving over 800 Happy Students!
We proudly serve families across Okotoks, including Cimarron, Drake Landing, D’Arcy, Wedderburn, MountainView, Air Ranch, Crystal Shores and Sandstone. Our studio is also convenient for families coming from South Calgary communities such as Mahogany, Auburn Bay, Seton, Cranston, Legacy and Walden.
Private music lessons in piano, guitar, ukulele and voice
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