Online music teacher and working singer-songwriter
I'm Jessica Benini, a Canadian folk singer-songwriter and music teacher based in Victoria, British Columbia. I teach private lessons in voice, guitar, ukulele, harmonica and songwriting, for all ages and all skill levels, live online with students anywhere in Canada, and in person in Victoria. I've taught for more than 16 years, privately since 2009, and I'm still performing. If you'd like to start, tell me which instrument you'd like to begin with.
Voice, guitar, ukulele, harmonica and songwriting
Each lesson with me is private, at your pace, on the songs you actually want to play. Voice, guitar, ukulele and harmonica each have their own page, where you'll find what you'll learn and how the lessons run.
Voice and singing lessons, for the one instrument you already own.
Guitar lessons, on acoustic or electric guitar.
Ukulele lessons. I was Artistic Director of the Victoria Ukulele Festival in 2017.
Harmonica lessons, on the diatonic harmonica.
Songwriting, as private lessons, on songs of your own.
Across all five, the styles are pop, folk, rock, country, soul, blues and gospel. Beginner and intermediate students are my favourite to teach, and my lessons are welcoming to 2SLGBTQI+ and neurodivergent students.
Online anywhere in Canada, or in person in Victoria
Online lessons with me are live and one-to-one, on Zoom (or FaceTime, if you ask), with students anywhere in Canada and in the US as well. Lessons run Tuesday to Friday, Pacific time, in 30, 45 or 60-minute sessions. Afternoons in Victoria are evenings in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. If you've never had a lesson through a screen, there's a page on how online lessons work.
If you live nearby, I also teach in person in Victoria, and it's the same lesson you'd get on Zoom. I run group classes in ukulele and guitar there too.
“Jess is a really great musician and an extremely talented vocalist. If you want a kind and caring voice coach / music teacher try Jess and you’ll be amazed with the results!”
You can read what other students say on my testimonials page.
My albums, bands and shows
I've released two albums, Express Yourself (2010) and No Regrets (2014). Both are on Bandcamp. I perform with two touring bands based in Vancouver, The Broken Islands and Roundelays. I also play shows around Victoria and Langford, and I've toured across Canada. I was nominated for Best Live Act at the Vancouver Island Music Awards in 2012. The longer story is on my about page. If you're booking music for a venue or an event, upcoming shows and booking details are on my shows page, or you can write to me through the contact page.
What a lesson costs
Thirty minutes costs $50, 45 minutes costs $75 and a full hour costs $100, all prices in Canadian dollars. My online lessons are the same price as in person, wherever you are in Canada. You'll find semi-private lessons and the rest of my rates on the rates page.
To start, send me a note through the contact page with the instrument, the lesson length you'd like, and whether you'd rather learn online or in person. I'll write back to set up your first lesson.