The Leading Note Music teaching staff includes Principal Teacher and owner, Christina Puhacz, other Teachers, and Teacher Apprentices. Principal Teacher Christina Puhacz is an RCM certified music teacher. Teachers operate under the guidance of Principal Teacher Christina Puhacz and conduct lessons on an independent basis from their home studios. PianoTeacher Apprentices are current Leading Note Music students who have achieved a minimum of Level 6 RCM and are 16 years old or more. They have expressed a desire to become music teachers and/or learn more about the business of running a music studio. All teachers and teacher apprentices have participated in local music festivals winning many awards including gold medals, trophies and scholarships. All piano teachers have successfully completed piano exams receiving First Class Honours and most notably, Aidan Lao and Bridget Puhacz have successfully completed a number of RCM examinations receiving First Class Honours with Distinction.
I am Christina Puhacz, the founder of Leading Note Music (a virtual music studio) and a RCM certified piano teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience, who returned to piano teaching in 2009. I left an engineering related career in the business world in late 2006 in order to explore other interests, including some that were entrepreneurial. Prior to acquiring my engineering degree at the University of Waterloo, I was a piano teacher with many students and, during the course of my engineering career, I continued to teach a handful of students, including my own children. By 2009 I had returned to what I loved most -- music, in particular, the piano.
In 2010, I successfully competed in RCM's own music festival winning a bronze. My musical journey has been a continuous one and from there I went on to study with Dr. Michael Esch , a former collaborator with the Canadian Sinfonietta Chamber Players. He is also one of the featured pianists for the 2015 RCM syllabus recordings. Occasionally, I write music and from time-to-time, some of my pieces have been played by my piano students and heard by the attendees at my piano recitals and salons.
My interest in music seems to have always been there. I can’t pinpoint one particular event that turned me on to music but I do know that I have always been surrounded by family members with a strong interest in music whether it be vocal singing or other instruments like the piano. Music has brought nothing but positive things to my life. The most positive of these has been the wonderful students and families I have crossed paths with while teaching piano lessons.
Teacher: Bridget Puhacz
My name is Bridget Puhacz and I am a piano teacher at Leading Note Music with over 5 years of teaching experience. I have studied piano with Christina Puhacz, Dr. Michael Esch, and Dr. Alison Wiebe. While pursuing my music studies, I participated in competitive music festivals such as the Oshawa Kiwanis Music Festival and the North York Music Festival winning numerous awards along the way. One reward that I am particularly proud of is receiving honurable mention for Level 9 piano at the 2022 OMFA provincial finals competition.
I love music of all kinds from classical to rock. I am the lead singer and bass player for an indie rock band called “In Your Walls”. We recently released an EP called “S” which you can find on any of the major streaming services such as spotify and apple music.
Beyond music, I am also a visual artist with an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western University (2024). In early 2024, I had my first solo exhibit of my art work at Gallery 1313 in Toronto.
Junior Teacher: Carter Wega
My name is Carter Wega and I am an active performing and recording musician. I play lead guitar in a band called In Your Walls. We play live shows across Ontario and are consistently in the studio writing and recording new material. I am also an accomplished bassist and drummer. I started teaching myself how to play guitar when I was eight and picked up other instruments as I went. I’ve been playing in bands since I was thirteen and have over five years of gigging experience. While enjoying all types of music I specialize in rock, blues, and funk.
Teacher Apprentice: Kyle McPherson
I am Kyle McPherson, a teacher apprentice at Leading Note Music and I am a big fan of classical music. I began my piano studies at the age of 10 and I am now studying Level 8 RCM at Leading Note Music. I love music and find that it helps me in many aspects of my life. From listening to classical music while I study, to playing for my family and friends, playing piano has really helped me to not only better understand music, but also to better appreciate it. In addition to the piano, I am in the second year of an architecture program at the University of Toronto.