“Well there may be 8 million guitarists in the world, but Kerilie McDowall is certainly one of the best. Guitar Player magazine calls her playing 'smooth and elegant,' to which I would add, intelligent and original.” —Paul Grant, Host, CBC Hot Air, Vancouver, BC. ( June 12, 1999) The Kerilie McDowall Sextet as recorded/produced by Neil Ritchie
"Kerilie McDowall fronts a first-rate jazz quintet...Labels listen up...a very talented musician." “…an appealing Blue Note ambience.” “Smooth, elegant playing...warm relaxing tones.” “…impressive are her composing skills.”
—Guitar Player Magazine
"Kerilie is one of those rare people who really understands music and art while also understanding how to share it in a way that is efficient and beneficial to both the artist and the artform. With her contagious passion and energy, she reminded me of the importance and meaning of this fascinating career path and the importance and value of hard work. Kerilie is deeply passionate about art and people, she is generous, inspiring and supportive and is a great source of knowledge, which are all qualities that contribute to her being an outstanding teacher."
—2022, Gentiane Michaud-Gagnon (2024 JUNO nominee)
Kerilie McDowall has been an active Shaw Spotlight volunteer learning from 2015-2022 with Todd Jones, Jocelyn Matwe, Stas Bobkov, John McKenzie, Kelly Adam, and Annette Lucas. Thanks to her work with the innovative Shaw Spotlight team and volunteer cameraman, Doug Tombe, McDowall became a 13x award-winning jazz short documentary TV Director of In the Zone: Rick Kilburn (2020). McDowall’s short movie reached 13 million ++ hits on the movie site IMDB Pro by November 2023.
A guitarist-jazz bandleader and instructor in Vancouver for over a decade, Kerilie came to Vancouver Island in 2000. Her passions are for music composing, organic gardening, and writing. For 35 years, McDowall has been tremendously inspired working with gifted guitar students and creatives, and in recent years has been coaching award-winning JUNO/Polaris musicians and new film directors.
Kerilie McDowall's 13x award-winning documentary short In the Zone: Rick Kilburn documents the life of Canadian jazz bassist and producer Rick Kilburn. A former New York City resident, Rick has formerly shortlisted for a Grammy, and has received numerous awards for his extensive work with musicians as a jazz record producer. As a bassist, he has worked with the elite of the jazz world including Dave Brubeck, Dan Brubeck, Chet Baker, Diana Krall, Paul Desmond, Lionel Hampton, Joe Lovano, Mose Allison, and countless others. Kilburn as a bassist-composer, spent over a decade in NYC learning the craft of production while recording/performing. He became a four-time JUNO-winning producer and West Coast Music Award, and East Coast Music Award winner. TV Director Kerilie McDowall released her film through Shaw Spotlight television volunteer hosting, directing/producing (2015-22) with Todd Jones and Nanaimo's TV team.
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What made the film unique was that it was designed for social media, YouTube, and TV simultaneously with royalty-free photos, artists with extra photos/films, music and live shooting additionally thanks to the Kilburn estate.
McDowall has played music since age 4/5, performing professionally at age 16/17, and was a jazz guitarist-bandleader in Vancouver, BC, from 1989-2000, is a freelance writer (DownBeat 2016-20), All About Jazz since 2021, INSPIRED 55+ since 2018, and more. She began writing and illustrating intuitively at age 7/8.
McDowall was a jazz radio host, producer and live engineer of the #1 Google-ranked (2013-15) Rhythm'a'ning from 1989-90, and 2000-2016. McDowall enjoys assisting others and passing along knowledge. She is savvy in the areas of film and guitar, and events publicity/the press assisting non-profits and recording artists with savings and expertise.
She enjoys assisting new film directors and filmmakers as a coach and instructor. She recently spoke live to women at the Women's Spirit Festival about the Joy of Music & Improvisation, Sound Centering/Meditation, and Positive Manifestation. McDowall started as a professional guitarist 40 years ago and is still working as a Nanaimo guitar, film, and music industry instructor/Polaris Music Prize and DownBeat music judge. She’s the owner of the In the Zen blog and Canadian Online Guitar Lessons.
A guitarist-jazz bandleader and instructor in Vancouver, BC for over a decade, Kerilie came to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island in 2000. Her passions are music composing, teaching, organic gardening, and writing.
For 35 years, McDowall has been tremendously inspired working with gifted students, creatives, and then with award-winning JUNO/Polaris musicians. She is proud of her students and the excellence that they have achieved. One of McDowall's students was most recently nominated for a 2024 JUNO Awards, (Canada's music prize awards gala). McDowall continues to enjoy passing along knowledge to emerging creatives, musicians, and new filmmakers.
MUSIC BIO:
A jazz guitarist, instructor and music composer from 1990-2000 in Vancouver, McDowall is a York University Bachelor of Fine Arts music graduate. Her area of study was New Music Composition and Classical and Jazz Guitar Performance.
A current guitar instructor, McDowall has 35 years of guitar instruction experience and 40 years of music industry expertise and currently instructs privately at Canadian Online Guitar Lessons (& Creative Services).
Established in October 2015 as Oceanview Guitar Studio by jazz guitarist and short filmmaker, former DownBeat writer and current Polaris Music Prize juror Kerilie McDowall, Canadian Online Guitar Lessons went online in 2020. Kerilie offers guitar, music, songwriting, composing and theory lessons, music publicity services, media liaison contact and writing services for musicians. Kerilie assists you to develop your own unique artistic voice. Shape, develop and compose ideas. Explore the music that you love.
GUITAR: A supportive, patient approach that encourages students to learn at their own pace. Ages 8 and up. Pop, country, blues, classical, jazz, folk, rock, includes guitar soloing, rhythm guitar, TAB, music reading and improvisation. Creativity is encouraged. From pop, rock, country, folk, classical and jazz, more, Kerilie can help you get underway with your favourite style(s) of music on your favourite type of guitar from electric to acoustic. Learn, discover and explore your choice of fun ear playing, TAB, charts, music reading, soloing, chord voicing, songwriting, composition, orchestration and performance training.
Creativity is encouraged.
Intensified accelerated learning for fast learners and professionals. Modified paces as needed for ADHD and others with disabilities with a focus on enhancing ability.
Supportive guitar, music, music industry, film/ film industry instruction according to your specified level at your own pace. Guitar, music industry, writing and film workshop bootcamps. We take it step-by-step with novice beginners offering services at your own pace with quality and thorough instruction.
Inclusivity: She works with diverse genders and taught guitar at the Canadian Mental Health Association and has instructed other disabled students with ADHD, the guitar, film, and songwriting.
MORE SHORT BIO:
Current DownBeat Critics Poll judge, Former DownBeat writer. Polaris Music Prize juror, Past JUNO Awards judging and talent judge for the Canadian Musicians Coop, 13x award-winning jazz short documentary maker and TV Movie Director of In the Zone: Rick Kilburn (2020-22). Black Women In the Arts Stiletto Award (2016, radio), past writing for Polaris Music Prize, DownBeat, Canadian Musician, Canadian Antique Phonograph Society, Musicworks, and Nanaimo Magazine, more. Currently writng for All About Jazz, and Inspired 55+.
Guitar instructor/owner of Canadian Online Guitar Lessons. Jazz guitarist and jazz bandleader in Vancouver (1990-2000), music and arts events publicist/media contact, #1 globally on google Player FM jazz radio podcaster from 2013-15 (7 year jazz radio podcast). Past jazz radio host/producer, volunteer (17 years), TV Hosting/co-hosting, volunteer, Shaw Spotlight (7 years) TV Director, Shaw Spotlight volunteer (5 years 2015-20). In 2024, McDowall won her 13 th film award as the 2024 Women of Influence WIN Creative Innovator Award-winner for her film work and TV Directing. Altogether she has won 16 awards (film, radio, jazz guitar, music/composition),including three awards for Best Web and New Media from Hollywood, USA.
Workshops and coaching are available for non-profits, creatives, musicians, writers, tv/radio artists, new filmmakers, film festing, and new or established indie performers.
Our Ideal Customer:
Guitar instruction to all ages, film directors, writers, recording artists who want to develop new skills.
Student guitar instruction, performance, technique, theory, repertoire. Guitar lessons, music industry coaching. Pop, rock, classical, jazz, blues, country, folk. Beginners are welcome. Children 9 and up, teens, adults, seniors. Learn to read music, TAB, ear-training, explore songwriting and your most loved and favourite music styles. McDowall is a music (guitar/composition) graduate from York University with 40 years industry experience.
Learn indie recording artist self-promotion with the media, album-planning, free organic social media, radio/TV/magazine-ins, and opportunities to access the international jazz scene through self-publicity strategy.
As a 13x award winning filmmaker, Kerilie teaches filmmaking to business, new directors/ film festing workshops.
Freelance writing/mentoring: Kerilie is now back to her first love of guitar playing, teaching others about the music industry, assisting non-profits/business with events and self-publicity, and music writing for various publications. She has 35 years guitar teaching experience and 40 years in the music industry.
Images by Dirk Heydemann of HA Photography.
Awards
2024 - Creative Innovator Award Win Women of Influence Awards
2020-2022 - In the Zone: Rick Kilburn, 12 film awards, 10 nominations https://filmfreeway.com/KerilieMcDowall
2016 - Stiletto Award, Black Women In Jazz & The Arts Awards, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (jazz podcast/radio)
"Kerilie fully understands her creative role in radio. She has consistently illustrated her dedication and commitment in this capacity over time. Many have benefited greatly from her inviting radio show in the United States and internationally... As Founder of Stiletto Awards, I commend you for your commitment and capability to successfully embrace the many colors of the music genre while maintaining your place in the media landscape using your God-given gifts.”
— Chairperson, Cynthia Brown Wilson, Founder of the Stiletto Awards (Black Women In Jazz & The Arts Awards, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 2016.)
Gear
2 Fender Stratocasters, 1 humbucker, 1 single coil, (Jimi Hendrix reissues), off white/cream.
1 Fender Squier for (private student use) only in studio, candy apple red.
1 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, black.
Roland JC Chorus & Fender amps
Yamaha acoustic guitar and a Yamaha keyboard.
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