Nicole Payie, MMus
Nicole (Nikki) began studying guitar at the age of five and started lessons at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at seven. After completing the VCM/Camosun Diploma in Music, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Victoria. In 2014, she completed her Master of Music in Performance at the University of Ottawa, studying under Patrick Roux.
With over 15 years of teaching experience, Nicole enjoys working with dedicated students of all ages and abilities. In addition to her classical guitar background, she spent five years teaching Early Childhood Music, specializing in musical exploration for children from six months to preschool age. Since 2016, she has been a faculty member at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and also teaches privately from her home studio, Rosette Music Studio, in Victoria, BC. The studio is named after the decorative and creative design surrounding the sound hole of the guitar, known as the rosette.
Nicole shares her home with a small young dog named Wintrow, who loves meeting students and is always happy to welcome visitors. For lessons with younger children, Wintrow relaxes in his crate to ensure a calm and focused learning environment.
Active in the community, Nicole regularly teaches masterclasses and participates in Open Mic nights hosted by the Victoria Guitar Society.
In her spare time, she enjoys playing music, studying flamenco guitar, hiking with her dog, ocean swimming, and reading as many fantasy novels as she can.