Lisa Amini, Brain Boosters
Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Certificate of Liberal Arts from Simon Fraser University. She went on to complete her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law where she also served as an Associate Editor of the UBC Law Review. After graduating from law school, Lisa spent 10 years working as a multi-jurisdictional corporate, business and real estate attorney in the United States. She remains a U.S.-licensed attorney with licenses to practice law in the states of New York, California and Arizona. After returning back to Vancouver, Lisa became a Certified Instructor of JELIC and MPM math. She teaches preschool to elementary-aged children, including children with special needs, and has been trained in ABA-based intervention methods. Inspired by her own daughter’s developmental challenges, Lisa created the Brain Boosters program to help instill in children confidence and skills that will help them both inside and outside the classroom. In 2011, Lisa joined the Vancouver Academy of Music as a faculty member to teach JELIC, MPM math, and the math segments of all Brain Boosters classes at VAM.
Tonia Allen, Orff/Brain Boosters
Tonia Allen has been teaching Orff and Kodaly methods since 1981. Tonia joined the faculty at VAM in 1981 as an Orff teacher. Tonia has worked in many private schools and community centers in the lower mainland and is currently teaching Orff at the Vancouver Academy of Music, Dunbar Community Centre, Roundhouse Community Centre, as well as the Sunflower Academy Montessori Preschool. Tonia teaches private lessons to all ages on guitar, flute and recorder as well as teaching “Guitar for Kids” classes at Dunbar community center. Tonia is also teaching the “Head Start Music” classes as part of the Vancouver Academy’s new Brain Boosters program. She has a Level 3 Orff certification and holds a B.C. Teaching Certificate as an Elementary Music Specialist. Tonia trained for Orff with notable Orff specialists Birthe Kulich, Jos Wytuck,Doug Goodkin and Jane Frazee. She studied flute with Kathryn Cernauskas, and is an alumni herself of the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Tonia is the Orff Department Head, and the Head Start Music Instructor with the Brain Booster program. She has a B.A. from UBC; Teaching Certification, Music Specialist, from Western Washington University, and Level 3 Orff certification.
