Anna Höstman is a Canadian composer, pianist and educator who has been teaching for over 20 years. She holds a BMus in Theory and Composition and MMus in Composition from the University of Victoria, where she studied piano with Arthur Rowe and composition with Christopher Butterfield. Previous studies at Vancouver Community College focused on jazz theory/ arranging and jazz piano with Alan Matheson. Anna received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Toronto in 2013, where she was a student of Gary Kulesha and James Rolfe. During this time, she also pursued advanced piano studies with Eve Egoyan.
Anna has mentored young composer workshops in Toronto and Victoria, juried festival and composition prizes, and is a Juno-nominated composer actively engaged in the contemporary classical community. She has taught composition at the graduate level and theory and composition at the undergraduate level at UVic, and enjoys teaching musicians of all ages. Currently, she plays with the Victoria improvisation group, Soft Time.
Anna began welcoming students to Camas Studio in downtown Victoria in 2018. Prior to this, she directed Cascadia Music Studio in the Corso Italia neighbourhood of Toronto. She is as an RCM Elementary and Intermediate Theory Specialist, Advanced Harmony Specialist, and Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Piano Specialist.
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that a life filled with music brings a deep sense of meaning and joy. I enjoy sharing a diverse repertoire of music with my students and approach teaching with imagination and enthusiasm.
My piano teaching style focuses on supporting students towards greater clarity, expression and understanding. From the beginning, we work towards creating a full tone at the instrument, shaping phrases and musical interest, and communicating the character and intention behind the music. Consistent practice and working towards weekly improvement is expected. I am genuine in my feedback, and communicate in a kindly and supportive way. I encourage students to focus on what they are doing well, challenge themselves, and celebrate small successes!
I am very passionate about theory and enjoy sharing insights about the language of music with my students. I also have experience playing by ear, improvising, and composing, and introduce activities to explore these skills in lessons.
Overall, my goal is to foster confidence and independence in my students so they can express themselves artistically and grow into lifelong musicians.
Camas Piano Studio - Lessons in Victoria, B.C. 