Tracey was born and raised in St. Albert, and continues to live and work there, running an independent music studio from her home.  She has been teaching private piano, voice and theory lessons to students of all ages for 35 years.  Tracey has also taught in the St. Albert Public School system at the high school level, where she taught band, choir and also English.  Most recently, Tracey taught for 16 years at the Sturgeon Valley Music School in St. Albert, before re-opening her private studio at home in the spring of 2017.

Tracey holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Alberta.

Tracey studied piano under Mrs. Lois Gardenits, the former President of the Alberta Music Teachers' Association.  Mrs. Gardenits studied under the famed teacher, Mme. Jenny Le Saunier.  Tracey's voice studies were undertaken with Mrs. Liz Pasieka.

Tracey is active in the local music scene in St. Albert, working as the director of the "Littles" Choir of the St. Albert Singers' Guild for many years, occasionally playing in the pit orchestra for the Bellerose Composite High School musical productions, and playing with the Saint City Jazz Band on and off over the years.  She sang with an all-female jazz ensemble called "A Twist of Lime" in the 1990's.  Tracey is available for work as a piano accompanist and wedding performer.  

In high school and university, Tracey played the flute and clarinet and hopes to add guitar and ukulele to her repertoire!  

In her spare time, Tracey is an avid scrapbooker, having worked part time teaching layout classes in a local scrapbooking store.  She also creates scrapbooks for others.  Her love of photography goes hand-in-hand with her scrapbooking.  Tracey also loves reading and owns a large personal library.  During the pandemic, Tracey sewed over 700 fabric face masks and donated hundreds of them to health care workers, students and teachers. Tracey is married to Brian, who is a music teacher in the St. Albert Public School system.  Tracey and Brian have two adult children, Katie and Andy, who are both musicians as well.

In the summer of 2023, we joyfully welcomed a new daughter-in-law to our family, as our son married the love of his life, Caileigh. Caileigh and Andy are both music teachers as well, living and working in Red Deer.

In the summer of 2024, our family will expand again, as our daughter Katie marries her long-time beau, Kelsey. Kelsey is also a professional musician. He and Katie play together in a band called Kaeley Jade. 

  

Katie joined our Music Studio in September of 2018! It is so exciting to share Upbeat Music Studio with Katie and all her students! We are one big, happy, music family!

Katie was born and raised in St. Albert by two music-teacher parents, Tracey and Brian. She began her music studies at the age of 4, showing a keen interest in her group music classes where she sang and danced and played rhythm instruments.  At the age of 8, Katie began private studies on piano. Throughout her school years, she also sang extensively in choir, and learned to play the clarinet and the saxophone. While she was still in high school, Katie accepted a position to begin teaching piano at the Sturgeon Valley Music School.  She taught there for six years before joining Upbeat.

Katie did one year of studies in the Bachelor of Jazz and Contemporary Music program at MacEwan University as well as one year of music studies at the U of A before switching her major, ultimately settling on Honours Psychology, where she found her niche and has really flourished!

Katie has completed her grade 9 piano level with the Royal Conservatory of Music.  In June of 2021, Katie completed her Honours Psychology degree from MacEwan University, graduating with Distinction! She is thrilled to now be working with The Pilgrim's Hospice Day Program, as an assistant in the Recreation Department. As well, she is doing some part time work at the Lux Beauty Bar in Edmonton.  And as if that were not enough, Katie has realized a long-time dream to explore her artistic side, and she has opened an Etsy store AND is vlogging regularly on YouTube. She is absolutely loving her found-again passion for art and drawing! Then, in 2022, she also started gigging regularly with a band called "Kaeley Jade." She is a very busy lady!

In her spare time, Katie loves learning to cook vegan fare, practicing photography, painting and drawing, playing video and board games, and traveling. Katie is a vegetarian who loves animals of all kinds—one of her dreams is to visit an elephant sanctuary!  During the pandemic, she and her long-time partner adopted an adorable pup and named him Parker. Then two years later, they welcomed another pup into their lives: a gorgeous girl named Penny! Katie hopes that one day Penny will be able to work as a therapy dog. 

In the summer of 2024, Katie will marry the love of her life, Kelsey! Kelsey is a professional musician who plays in a number of bands, including the one that Katie plays in as well, called Kaeley Jade! They are real rock stars!