Meet Lora Wentworth
Piano, Saxophone & Music Theory Teacher in Kelowna
With more than 25 years of private teaching experience, Lora Wentworth brings a unique combination of formal music education, professional performance experience, and a genuine passion for helping students become confident musicians.
Lora teaches piano, saxophone, music theory, composition and songwriting at Upbeat Music Academy in Kelowna. She works with students from age 5 through adulthood, including beginners, experienced musicians, retirees, and advanced students preparing for exams or other musical goals.
Her approach is simple: music should be challenging, rewarding and fun. Lora adapts her lessons to each student’s interests, abilities and goals while building strong musical foundations. Her lessons are focused and purposeful, but they are also relaxed and often filled with plenty of laughter.
Over 25 Years of Piano Teaching Experience
Lora began taking piano lessons at the age of 12 and has continued developing her musicianship ever since. She holds her Grade 8 Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Piano and has been teaching piano privately for more than 25 years.
Today, Lora teaches piano lessons in Kelowna to students from beginner through advanced levels.
Depending on their interests and goals, students may work on:
- Piano technique and fundamentals
- Reading music and sight-reading
- Music theory and ear training
- Classical piano
- Pop and contemporary music
- Chords and accompaniment
- Improvisation
- Composition and songwriting
- RCM exam preparation up to Grade 10
- Rockschool Piano and Keys
- Performance preparation
Whether a student is sitting at a piano for the first time or preparing for an advanced exam, Lora builds lessons around the individual student.
Experienced Saxophone Teacher & Performer
Lora has been playing saxophone since the age of 14 and has extensive experience performing in a wide range of musical settings.
She teaches alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, working with students from beginner through advanced levels. Her experience includes jazz, concert band, rock and pop, improvisation and performance.
Lora has performed in many bands and has backed professional artists including Paul Janz, Prism, Andrew Johns of Boulevard, and Darby Mills, former lead singer of The Headpins and current singer with the Darby Mills Project.
Her performance experience also includes restaurants, nightclubs and touring.
This real-world performance experience gives Lora a practical understanding of what musicians need beyond simply learning the notes. She brings that knowledge directly into her saxophone lessons in Kelowna, helping students develop both musical skills and confidence.
Music Theory, Composition & Songwriting
Lora has a particularly strong background in music theory and composition.
She earned two diplomas in Music Performance and Composition from Selkirk College, as well as her Licentiate in Music Education from RSL Awards.
Lora also taught Music Theory at the Centre for Arts and Technology for four years. During her time there, she revised the course and developed new teaching methods that resulted in the course achieving its highest passing success rate in the school’s history.
Her experience includes teaching:
- Music theory
- Harmony
- Ear training
- Music notation
- Musical analysis
- Composition
- Songwriting
Lora believes music theory should be more than memorizing rules. She helps students understand how music works and, most importantly, how they can use that knowledge in their own playing, writing and creating.
RCM & Rockschool Preparation
Lora can prepare piano students for RCM examinations through Grade 10, helping students develop the technical skills, musical understanding and performance preparation required for their chosen level.
She also teaches Rockschool Piano and Keys, giving students another option for structured musical development and performance-based learning.
A Professional Musician & Musical Director
Lora’s experience extends well beyond private teaching.
Over the years, she has played in numerous bands and musical groups and has performed in restaurants, nightclubs, special events and touring situations. She has also directed bands with as many as 35 musicians, developing extensive experience in rehearsal direction, ensemble performance and musical leadership.
In 1995–96, Lora served as Choir Director for the Trail Community Choir.
These experiences have helped Lora develop a broad understanding of musicianship—from learning an instrument and understanding theory to rehearsing with other musicians and performing for an audience.
Lora is also an experienced wedding pianist, church organist and event pianist.
She has provided music for weddings, receptions, churches, special events and other occasions. Performing in these settings requires more than technical ability. It requires an understanding of the atmosphere, the audience and the role music plays in creating the right experience.
Her extensive performance background allows her to adapt her playing to a wide range of events and musical settings.
Formal Music Education
Lora’s formal musical education includes:
- Two Diplomas in Music Performance and Composition — Selkirk College
- Licentiate in Music Education — RSL Awards
- Grade 8 Piano — Royal Conservatory of Music
Combined with more than 25 years of private teaching experience and decades of performing, directing and studying music, this education gives Lora a strong foundation for teaching students at every stage of their musical journey.
A Teacher Who Makes Music Fun
Lora believes that students learn best when they enjoy the process.
Her lessons are structured and purposeful, but they are also encouraging, relaxed and fun. She takes the time to understand what motivates each student and uses their interests to make learning more engaging.
For a young beginner, that might mean making the first piano lessons exciting and achievable.
For a teenager, it might mean learning songs they actually want to play.
For an adult or retiree, it could mean finally learning an instrument they’ve always wanted to play.
And for an advanced student, it might mean preparing for an RCM exam, developing stronger theory skills, improving performance technique or exploring composition.
Whatever brings a student to music, Lora’s goal is to help them enjoy the process while becoming a better musician.
Meet the Team at Upbeat Music Academy
Lora co-founded Upbeat Music Academy with her husband, Noel Wentworth, in 2022. Together, they have created a welcoming music school in Glenmore, Kelowna, where students can develop their musical skills in a supportive and personalized environment.
Noel teaches guitar, bass and ukulele, bringing more than 25 years of teaching experience to the academy.
Learn from an Experienced Kelowna Music Teacher
Whether you’re looking for piano lessons for your child, saxophone lessons for a teenager, music theory instruction, RCM exam preparation, or a teacher to help you develop your skills as an adult musician, Lora brings decades of experience to every lesson.
Her combination of formal music education, professional performance experience, college-level theory teaching and more than 25 years of private teaching allows her to work with students at virtually every stage of their musical journey.
Lora teaches at Upbeat Music Academy in Glenmore, Kelowna, serving students from Kelowna and surrounding communities.
Ready to start your musical journey? Contact Upbeat Music Academy to learn more about lessons with Lora.
