because it allows a student to hear what they've done and gives them a chance to analyze where improvements could be made." And, Ken suys, "It's doing music for real. It's not just learning a song and then going on to the next one." Ken knows firsthand the importance of performance in musical development. "Hopefully we can give our students a total musical experience. Besides the recordings, our students will play in recitals as well." The 10 qualified instructors at the Pinnacle Music Studio follow the Royal Conservatory route, but an unstructured musical experience is offered to students as well. "Although all of the lessons are private, in the summer we encourage guitar, drum, bass and piano/keyboard students to get together and form combos." Using the newly-released FastTrack Music Series books, which contain the same songs for each instrument and a CD with recordings of the whole band, as well as with the band minus each particular instrument, students are given the opportunity to practice for a band experience before they actually meet the other members face-to-face. "And when they do, hopefully it won't sound like a trainwreck," Ken says with a laugh. "The most fun I ever had was when I was with a group, just getting out there and playing. We'll be offering that experience through a summer camp with a concert in the end. and each student going home wuh a L U of then band." Besides students, writers and musicians will take advantage of the top-of-the-line recording studio as well. "Our new gear will be compatible with all the major recording studios. Recording and mixing can be done here, or if the artist wants, the project can be taken to a major recording facility for mixing and mastering." Whether you're recording your favourite pieces thus far or are part of a high school band landing gigs in coffee houses, anyone with a sound worth remembering can take advantage of the recording studio. As well as the studio and lessons, the spacious, well-lit Pinnacle Music Studios also houses a retail store. With acoustic and digital pianos, guitars and a wide variety of music books. Ken offers a balance of old-fashioned quality and high-tech excitement. The only acoustic piano I carry is the Yamaha -- not only is it my first choice, it's also the first choice of the Royal Conservatory and is now becoming the piano of choice for concert artists worldwide." And, he says, the Yamaha makes "killer' digital pianos. Now with mechanical actions built-in that make them feel like the real mccoy, digital pianos use recordings of real piano keys to create incredibly realistic sound. Soon, Ken will be offering the first of many workshops on using your digital piano with your computer and software programs. And, famous Canadian concert pianist John Arpin -- who will be at the grand opening on Nov. 7 - will be offering periodic master classes in performance. With lessons in piano, organ, accordion, guitar, voice, drums, violin, fiddle and theory, recording studio opportunities, regular performance dates and specialized workshops, the Pinnacle Music Studios seeks to and succeeds in offering a total musical experience. Tune up your vocal chords, wiggle yomr fingers, visit the studio and experience it for yourself. I P.*