Hello!
My name is Melissa Ryz. I'm happy and grateful to be your child's music teacher. Students call my Ms. Ryz. You can call me Mel.
My background is Ukrainian, Polish and French and I grew up on a farm in Dauphin, Manitoba. Thanks to my upbringing, I can speak French, Ukrainain dance and drive a combine! I taught in the Inner City for 15 years and was gifted with Indigenous teachings that I'm honoured to share with my students as we walk the path towards Reconicilliation. I took music lessons in piano and saxophone and am self-taught on many other instruments. I played in a variety of bands and solo music projects the years, includingchoirs, a bell choir, jazz bands and combos, rock bands, folk bands and ensembles.
I am a mother, a sister, a daughter, an auntie, a cousin, a friend and a life-long learner. I'm currently a student, enrolled in my second year of a Post Bach in Inquiry Education at the University of Winnipeg. In my spare time, I enjoy permaculture gardening, stargazing, reading , writing, playing music and making art. My son also attends Meadows and at day's end, we commute home to an acreage filled with fruit trees to see our dog Floyd and our cats, Coyote and Laz.
I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to connect with me at mryz@wsd1.org.