Time Music Studios founders David Severson (left) and Craig Johnson.

Time Music Studios Inc. offers high-quality, personalized, and private musical instruction for students of all ages and skill levels. The school was founded by David Severson and Craig Johnson on January 9, 2006. Driven by their love for music and passion to impart their knowledge to others, they opened their first studio in Discovery Ridge. Their overwhelming success allowed them to open a second location in West Springs (2009), and a third in Evanston (2014). Discovery Ridge has since closed to allow further development of the In-Home program in select South-West Calgary communities.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to set a precedent for music education in Alberta with our unique and exciting learning environment. We provide musical education unlike any other: new and innovative curriculum tailored to the student’s personal learning styles and preferences. We encourage our students to make their own choices about their musical development.

Owner Profile: David Severson

Born and raised in Calgary, an extremely rare event, music has been and continues to be David’s ultimate passion, although listening to Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze was his catalyst to playing guitar. Little did he know that his passion would become his life’s career. A local musician since age 13, he evolved from a bedroom guitar player to playing on stages and venues across Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

A graduate from the Mount Royal Jazz Performance Program, David has honed his musical versatility and creativity ever since. His love for music and desire to impart his knowledge to others led David to begin teaching at various studios around the city before he opened Time Music Studios alongside Craig Johnson.

Though he has taught for 20 years, David continues to be a part of the vibrant Calgary music scene. He is currently a member of the acoustic trio Scotch On Sunday, as well as a corporate six-member band, Wildcard. David is also involved with recording and producing artists through Man Cave Audio.

To book Scotch On Sunday or Wildcard, click below:

wildcardband

Interview with David

What inspired you to open Time Music Studios?

The Community was lacking in music education and convenience. It was the perfect opportunity to offer quality music lessons from educated musicians that cared about what they did.

I know both you and Craig did the constructing and designing of both locations. What were those first days like?

First days…hmmm well using a tape measure was a new experience and we never killed each other in the building process. We put our sweat equity in both locations and I am very proud of that. Seriously though, I was very excited to open a new chapter in my life.

In your own words, why is musical education important?

Music is a multiple layer cake of route memory, creativity, independence, confidence, satisfaction and even disappointment. These layers are vital in developing life skills.

What have been your personal highlights at Time Music Studios?

To be embraced by the communities around us! I thank you! I’m also very proud to have former students working for us and let me tell you they are no slouches.

What are your dreams for the studio?

To always evolve, excite, and promote music within the community.

Owner Profile: Craig Johnson

Craig was born in Ottawa, Ontario to a musical father, the head arranger of the RCMP Musical Ride. His family then settled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Craig began what would turn out to be a lifelong pursuit of professionally performing and teaching music. At the age of eight, Craig started private lessons in both trumpet and piano from some of the top musicians of the time. Before turning his playing interests to jazz studies, he achieved his Grade 8 level through the Royal Conservatory of Music program, and went on to continue his studies at the University of Manitoba. He then advanced his musical skills in the studies of Jazz Arranging, Writing for Orchestra, and Woodwinds and Composing for Film & TV at The Berklee College of Music in Boston.

To date, Craig has been teaching professionally as a clinician in the Calgary and Catholic Board of Education school music programs for 15 years. Some of Craig’s past performances include: The Chai Folk Ensemble (Winnipeg), University of Calgary Jazz Ensemble, The Prime Time Big Band, The Wednesday Night Big Band, and The Fox Big Band. For the past 12 years, Craig has been the Musical Director for the Calgary-based Razzama Jazz Big Band, a 19-piece big band that performs frequently around Calgary. He leads his own jazz trio; he also founded, directs and performs with his nine-piece R&B band, The Eleventh Hour. Some of Craig’s recent projects include composing and arranging music for performance by the aforementioned groups as well as local independent Calgary artists.

For more information on Craig or to inquire about event bookings, please click below:

Interview with Craig

What inspired you to open Time Music Studios?

I saw an opportunity to provide a place for people of all ages and musical skill levels to learn music and enjoy the self-satisfaction that one feels when doing so.

I know both you and Dave did the constructing and designing of both locations. What were those first days like?

It was a long process of careful planning and designing in order to create a place effective as a learning environment while at the same time being welcoming and comfortable for all.

In your own words, why is musical education important?

The pursuit of musical studies whether extensive or not helps to develop an individual’s life skills. Music education increases the brain’s capacity to make quick decisions, studies have shown that it is associated with higher development of math and science skills and it creates opportunity through performing to build social and public speaking skills.

What have been your personal highlights at Time Music Studios?

The greatest highlight for me is witnessing students who have attended the studio for some years grow and become musicians and performers in their own right.

What are your dreams for the studio?

I hope to see it become a recognized institution where one can receive a similar music education comparable to that of a Post-Secondary Institute.

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