Live outdoor cello studio class, summer 2021. Featuring some of Sybil’s private and group class students.
Group cello Class
fall 2025
“Best teacher I've had! Great at giving instructions on technique and fun at the same time!”
-Virtual class participant, 2021
Virtual Group Lessons for Adult Cellists Fall 2025
Recognizing the need for adult amateur cellists to have an opportunity to practice their skills without the pressure of playing in front of others, Sybil offers virtual group lessons. Modelled after the idea of a group fitness class, let Sybil take you through a guided cello workout to keep your fingers moving and your musical mind active. Maybe you’re an adult beginner trying to learn on your own and tired of YouTube videos where you can’t just ask a question. Perhaps you’re a more experienced player but you need something to keep you motivated and improving your technique throughout the winter. Virtual group lessons for intermediate level adult cellists will be held weekly for 8 sessions on Wednesdays at 6pm EST. Each class is 30 minutes, and are held and recorded on Zoom so you can access them at your convenience if the time isn’t right to attend “live”. 8 classes cost $108 CDN. Please email me to sign up - you must be enrolled in my online studio via My Music Staff to attend.
VIRTUAL GROUP featured repertoire: L. Mendelssohn’s Minuet & Trio from the Student Concerto, Op. 213 plus warm ups and accompanying exercises to focus on bow and left hand technique.
WHO : You must be able to read sheet music, and be comfortable in the lower neck positions of the cello. Previous cello lessons, or orchestra/ensemble experience is an asset.
WHEN: Wednesdays, 6:00pm EST. Starting Oct 1, 2025.
COST : $108 for 8 sessions. Payment can be made by e-transfer for those holding a Canadian bank account, or credit card is accepted through this website
“Sybil is a very engaging teacher. She is organized, punctual and passionate about all things cello and her group classes are both fun and informative. I will definitely sign up for another.”
Bach Workshop with Coenraad Bloemendal, 2023.
“Sybil has been a fantastic teacher for me, an adult cello student. Her group lessons are structured yet very collaborative and a lot of fun. After only a short number of months, I feel I’ve really improved my technical playing ability. I definitely recommend Sybil’s classes.”
Private Cello Lessons
Sybil offers private lessons to adult cellists of all stages of their musical development. With teaching experience stretching back to her high school years, she started her private studio in earnest in 2009. Sybil is an approachable and dedicated cello teacher, who believes in teaching through positive reinforcement. With a passion for explaining the details and how to get the result you want to hear, Sybil is happy to guide students through beginner to advanced repertoire, the only requirement is a love of the cello. Her teaching studio ranges from beginner students up to those performing Bach’s Suites, Haydn’s Cello Concertos and Brahms’ gorgeous Sonatas. Students are encouraged to follow a basic curriculum including Piatti’s Cello School and the repertoire of the Suzuki Cello School, and can branch out into the world of folk, popular and tango repertoire. Lessons normally happen at Sybil’s home in east Toronto, however she also offers virtual lessons and lesson scheduling through My Music Staff. Sybil has served as an adjudicator for the Toronto Kiwanis Festival and the Ontario Provincial Music Festival. She is also on faculty at Lake Field Music Camp, (scroll down for details) and has appeared as a guest clinician in Northern Ontario (Thunder Bay, 2024, Sudbury, 2025) as well as giving educational performances in junior, middle and high schools across the GTA. Please contact me for lesson inquiries. Private lessons typically take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, between the hours of 10am-8pm. In most cases, I advise renting an instrument for 6 months to a year before deciding on making a purchase. Please contact me for a list of trusted vendors.
Cello lesson 2025 rates: $75/hour. $54/45 minutes. $40/half hour.
Next class recital will be in late-November, 2025.
Cello lunch before seeing “Jacqueline” at Tapestry Opera, 2025.
My home studio cello cats - Tache (Calico) and Cornflake (Ginger.)
Sybil has students in the Toronto Community Orchestra, The Rose Orchestra, Orchestra Toronto (among others) and she schedules cello community concert outings and class recitals and events throughout the year.
Cello Class Trip - We enjoyed seeing soloist Kian Soltani performing Saint-Saens Cello Concerto with the TSO, 2025.
In recent years, Sybil has been organizing cello class trips to see cello featured concerts happening in the GTA. We often organize a meal, or coffee meeting before or after the concert for a chance to socialize with your cello pals. This year’s trips include: Elinor Frey at Chamber Music Mississauga on Oct. 17, Steven Isserlis in recital on April 23, and Dvorak’s might Cello Concerto performed by Pablo Ferrandez at the TSO in March. Friends and family are welcome to join us.
“I’ve heard my husband’s playing for 40 years and in 2 months, I can hear a positive change after studying with you. Thank you!”
Watch a short teaching sample from Sybil’s Cello Lovers - intermediate level group class below.
Please click the link below to hear the full YouTube playlist of student and teacher videos recorded during lockdown in December 2020, or you can watch the entire current cello class in action playing Troika by Prokofiev. Many of those players started from the beginning with Sybil as their teacher.
Click the link to see Sybil’s student playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiCfrSnhkb7-vrnCKsA4HFfcxOR7DZpY9
“I really enjoyed learning and playing the music you have taught. I really enjoyed the way you teach and the passion you have. I want that passion to fulfill my cello as well. Thank you Sybil for showing me joy in cello. Thanks for the great memories and enjoyment.”
Lake Field Music Camp
Sybil is returning faculty at Lake Field Music Camp where she teaches cello technique, coaches chamber music and is concert coordinator and MC throughout the week. One of Ontario’s only music camps solely for adults, it’s always a great time. For more info, check the camp website at www.lakefieldmusic.ca
Lake Field Music - Cello Choir 2025 with coach Sybil, goofing around.
Watch “Sant Marti del Canigo”. Composition by Pau Casals performed by the Cello Choir of Lake Field Music Camp, August, 2018. Performed with coach Sybil Shanahan. From left-right: Sybil Shanahan, Evelyn Newbould, Wendy Reimer, Grace Shum, Claire Nunes-Vaz, John Gillies, Robyn Penny. www.lakefieldmusic.ca
Watch the video below of the 13 person cello technique class performing the Game of Thrones theme live after only 3 days at camp.
“Sybil was well prepared, giving us information before the course and a schedule at the first meeting on what we would be doing for the week. She is very supportive of all her students, encouraging each of us to do our best.”
Coaching & Masterclass & Adjudications
Music is universal language, and making chamber music or orchestral playing are some of the most rewarding musical experiences a person can have. As with any other language, full comprehension only comes through hard work and study. It is often necessary to have an outside ear to help guide an ensemble through the intricacies of a piece of music or to unify the expression, sound or musical ideas on a work. Sybil has provided coaching, masterclasses and adjudications for CAMMAC, Brock University, York University, Lake Field Music Camp and others. She has adjudicated for the Toronto Kiwanis Festival and the Ontario Music Festivals Association Provincials and given educational performances at junior, middle and high schools across Southern Ontario. She has given tuition-free workshops under the auspices of Axis Music and Euterpe, Music Is The Key and has performed for seniors and long-term care residents through Concerts In Care. To request more information, please use the contact form.
“Sybil is very approachable and patient. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from her. ”
Faculty of City of Lakes Music Society Summer Retreat Faculty 2025 in Sudbury, ON. L to R, Sybil Shanahan, cello. Beth Illan Gould, violin, Geoff McCausland, violin/viola.
““I have come home on a music high and can’t wait til next year...Thanks for all your great coaching - I really felt that my playing improved.””
Lake Field Music Cello Choir 2024 - “The Margaritas”.