Halifax

allie bennett (Fiddle, Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Monday

Allie has been in the Canadian Music Industry since 1975. He has toured Canada, the U.S., Britain, Sweden, Australia, and Germany and has over 125 album credits as a studio musician. In 2003 he was Musical Director of The Rise And Follies Of Cape Breton - The Second Coming. In 2005 he was presented with the East Coast Music Association’s Musicians Achievement Award. Nominated for 2 Music Nova Scotia Awards – Educator of the Year and Traditional / Roots Recording of the Year for his CD “Full Circle.” Allie has been teaching music since 1992 and his rate for a half hour private lesson is $26.00.

avery dakin (Piano, Voice, Ukulele, Songwriting, Composition)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Style: pop

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Avery Dakin is a ECMA nominated composer, singer-songwriter, band leader, and multi-instrumentalist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Acadia University, and has been teaching since graduating in 2018. Her passions lie in finding the elements of music-making that interest each individual student across genres and styles, and supporting young musicians in their musical journeys with fun and exploration at the forefront. In 2021 Avery won bronze in The Coast’s Best-Of Halifax Awards for Best New Artist, and this year has been nominated for Best Songwriter and Best R&B Artist after releasing her debut album, "Bloom". Avery also works as a supporting keyboard player and vocalist for other local artists and bands. Her lesson rate is $25/30 minutes.

behrooz mihankhah (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday, Friday

Behrooz Mihankhah is a Canadian-Iranian composer, piano player and songwriter born in Tehran, Iran. He started his musical career after moving to India in 2007, touring across the country as a singer-songwriter and keyboard player for various projects. Behrooz holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from StFX University and his exposure to various Iranian and Indian cultural and musical traditions combined with his love of Jazz has informed his compositional style and song writing approach. Since moving to Halifax, Nova Scotian in 2015 he has been involved in multiple projects including Open Borders, LaZeez and Superfluid. Lessons with Behrooz are $26 per 30 minute lesson.

brad conrad (Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday

Brad has a music degree from Dalhousie University and has been playing in local and national bands for the last 17 years. He has appeared on stage with a number of acts such as Nathan Wiley, Blue Rodeo, Sam Roberts, Dutch Mason, Matt Mays, and Jill Barber, received a Juno during his tenure with “Johnny Favourite” and currently he plays regularly with “The Mellotones”, “The Metric System”, “Joe Murphy”, “The Hopping Penguins”, and hosts a long standing weekly blues jam at Bearly’s. He’s been teaching for the last 16 years and is a regular coach at Summer Rock. His rate for a 1/2 hour private lesson is $26.00.

cristina kindl (Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Wednesday, Thursday

Cristina studied music at the University of Ottawa, and has been teaching piano, acting and movement since 2004 to both children and adults. She recently completed a Master’s degree in Theatre and Performance Studies. Cristina specializes in creating individually tailored lessons for pianists and performers, and her passion lies in creating a safe, fun, and supportive environment to help students play and sing with ease and confidence. Lessons are available in English, French and Italian, and are $27 per 30 minutes.

fiona ryan (Piano, Composition, Clarinet, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Fiona has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Toronto, a Master of Music from Newcastle University, where she studied composition and improvisation, and a Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University, specializing in clarinet performance. Fiona also studied piano and voice privately. Fiona has taught music in various settings including private music lessons, workshops, and University music courses. In addition to teaching music, Fiona also works as a music director, performs music in a variety of styles, and is an award-winning composer whose song cycle “Lady of the Lake” was nominated for an ECMA for Classical Composition of the Year in 2018. Her rate is $26.00 per 30 minute lesson.

karlene francis (Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday, Thursday

A Halifax native, Karlene began teaching privately not long after graduating from Western University with a BA Music degree. Alongside her private teaching studio, she was a Music Itinerant Specialist with the Toronto District School Board for three years, where she taught classroom music to children using Orff pedagogy methods. She is also a certified music therapist which informs her teaching approach for individuals of all abiilities. Karlene also performs in the local scene as a solo vocalist and a cover artist on vocals and keyboards. Karlene has prepared students successfully for Royal Conservatory of Music exams and the Kiwanis Festival for solo and group competitive classes. She instructs students in classical and/or contemporary genres and encourages in her students a love of learning music, and her rate for a 30 minute lesson is $27.

natasha sider (Voice)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Natasha has a Bachelor of Arts in Music [voice] from Dalhousie University. She has sung opera at Dal, is currently the soprano soloist at First Baptist Church, and has put out a contemporary CD called Johari Window. Natasha is comfortable with classical, musical theatre, pop and rock styles, and has been teaching music since 1995. Her rate for a half hour private lesson is $25.00.

rik martell (Guitar, Ukulele)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday

Rick studied guitar and graduated from the United Conservatory of Music in Calgary. He has toured as a lead guitarist, produced, and written professionally with Trooper, David Wilcox, Long John Baldry, Barney Bentall, Nazareth, Kim Mitchell, Frank McKay, Blue Rodeo, Matt Minglewood, Men of the Deeps, Motorhead, and numerous other groups. Rick has been teaching guitar for all ages, levels, and styles, since 1990 and also teaches ukulele. His rate for a half hour private lesson is $26.00