Saint John

amber zhao (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Friday, Saturday

Amber Zhao studied at Hebei Institute of Communication in China earning her Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Technology. Since graduating from university in 2021, she has been teaching classical piano, music theory and electronic organ in China Nine Pai Music School. As a membership of HEBEI New Music Group Association and experienced teacher, Amber helped students won award in lots of music competitions. Her teaching style balance technique and performance, and pay attention to the fundamental piano skills, ensuring her students are experienced and competitive whether they are choosing RCM curriculum or any music style they want. Amber's rate is $25 for a half hour.

andrew mott (Drums, Percussion)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Style: rock

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

Andrew studied at Acadia University in Wolfville Nova Scotia earning his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion. He has been very active in the music scene around Saint John and in the Maritimes, playing with various bands such as Math Class who was nominated for electronic artist of the year by Music New Brunswick in 2018. He has also worked with well known artists such as Jaclyn Reinheart, Apryll Alieen, Kylie Fox and No Name Road. Andrew has participated in various festivals and concerts such as Evolve, Future Forest, Folly Fest and performed at the Canadian Music Week in Toronto. He has also taught drum lessons for a time, before focusing on his performance career. Andrew's rate per half hour is $25.00.

daniel zhao (Piano, Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Saturday

Daniel, a graduate of East China Normal University, is an RCM Grade 10 woodwind instrumentalist. He has been a clarinetist & saxophonist in Shanghai City Orchestra for 10 years and a teaching artist in TOMLEE Global Music for 15 years. After moving to New Brunswick in 2019, he dedicated in teaching students in various instruments including Piano, Clarinet, Saxophone & Flute. To be a New Brunswick Associated Music Teacher in NBRMTA, Daniel is very active in helping local students pursuing RCM exams and NB music competitive festival and lots of his student won awards. To be a certificated and experienced music teacher, he is good at using unique approach to inspire students through instruments by keeping their interests on playing and practicing. Daniel’s rate for half-hour lessons is $25.00

dmitry myzdrikov (Violin)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Thursday

Dmitry came to Saint John via Russia, Mexico, and Alberta. From age 6 to 17 Dmitry studied violin in the USSR. While in Moscow he performed with Ensemble XXI. In Mexico, Dmitry was Principal 2nd violin of Torreon's Camerata de Coahuila Chambre Orchestra. There he met and married Melissa. Their family grew to four and they moved to Alberta, where Dmitry performed with the Calgary Philharmonic & Red Deer orchestras. In 2016 Sistema hired Dmitry to teach violin here in Saint John. At this time Dmitry teaches and in addition to being an accomplished violinist, he is an author. His first book is now available "Amazing Violinist" was published and distributed worldwide in January of 2020. His rate is $26.00 per half hour.

emily shute (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Style: classical

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday

Emily, an RCM Grade 9 classical pianist and voice teacher from Halifax has been teaching for over a decade. Since graduating from Dalhousie University in 2005, Emily has been teaching classical piano and musical theater privately. Her teaching style balances technique and performance, ensuring her students are skilled and expressive whether they are learning RCM curriculum or pop songs. As well as teaching, Emily has worked as an accompanist (Halifax Dance, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Kiwansis Music Festival), performer (IDOW Festival , Grafton Street Dinner Theater, Two Planks and a Passion), and composer, releasing her debut album “Jump with Me,” in 2015. Emily has recently moved to Saint John after spending a year teaching musical theater in South Korea. She is excited to join the Saint John Long & McQuade team and is looking forward to teaching here for many years to come. Emily's rate per half hour is $25.00

jeremiah charlton (Guitar, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Ukulele, Piano, Saxophone)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Wednesday, Thursday

Jeremiah brings over 15 years of music performance and teaching experience to the table. He can provide fun informative lessons for students from beginner to advanced. He is well versed in many different styles of music such as jazz, blues, rock, and popular piano. Jeremiah has taught as a music teacher at serval stores in Orlando, Florida, as well as The Crenshaw School. In between all of his private teaching, he has also performed in orchestras, aboard cruise ships, and with wedding bands. Whether you are just starting out, wanting to expand your repertoire and skills, or in need of theory lessons, Jeremiah is a great fit for any student. Jeremiah's rate for half-hour lessons is $26.00

jeremy mcleod (Voice, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Piano)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Saturday

Jeremy is an energetic and imaginative singer-songwriter based out of Edmonton, Alberta. Moving from Saint John NB at the age of 15, he has been actively performing and writing in the Edmonton music scene for 17 years. His current projects include Indie pop trio MILQ and a punk rock band called Nicolas Rage who recently signed a record deal with Revival Recordings in the fall of 2022. Jeremy attended MacEwan University and received his Music diploma where he specializes in voice, performance, and songwriting. Jeremy's rate per half hour is $26.00

jonathan kipping (Drums, Percussion)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

After music camps, drumset lessons, youth orchestra, & years of performing and recording rock, Jonathan set out to study with world-acclaimed drummer Jerry Granelli (“A Charlie Brown Christmas”) in Nova Scotia, then Pete Magadini and Nasyr Al-Khabyyr (of Dizzy Gillespie, & the film “A Drummer’s Dream”) at Montreal's Concordia University--earning an Interdisciplinary degree focusing on Jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban styles along with electroacoustic music and video composition. Since then, Jonathan continues performing, recording & giving drumset lessons (7 years with Long & McQuade), musical theatre gigs, hand drum group performances, workshops, clinics, accompanying choirs, dancers & many others. Jonathan’s primary focus is drumset education developing his “G.R.A.C.E. Notes” approach, rhythm stories & unique drumming programs. He just completed a 2-year Child & Youth Care diploma integrating his learning while continuing with lessons. Jonathan’s rate is $26.00 per half hour.

magnus labillois (Guitar, Bass Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Magnus LaBillois is a graduate of St Francis Xavier's Music Department in jazz guitar. With a background in jazz, classical, and rock music, Magnus pulls from a diverse set of traditional and modern influences. Magnus has experience with solo performances, rock and pop bands, large ensembles, and small jazz combos. Magnus has a love for all things experimental and enjoys finding new and creative ways to approach playing music. Magnus's rate per half hour is $25.00.

nick gay (Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Ukulele, Drums)

Online Lessons:

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

A multi-instrumentalist, Nick started making music on the drums at the age of 8 years old, eventually picking up the guitar and began learning finger picking and classical. By age of 14, Nick landed his first gig and by 19 was playing gigs across NB, as well as teaching full time. In 2012 Nick met, was mentored, and managed by CCMA award winning guitarist and co-founder of Tom Cochrane & Red Rider Kenny Greer. In 2014, Nick recorded Tom Cochranes' new album “Take it Home” and the following year set out on a Canadian wide tour with them. Nick teaches a variety of styles, including blues, rock, pop, jazz, funk, and classical. Nick's rate per half hour is $25.00

sam patterson (Guitar, , Voice, Ukulele, Mandolin)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Style: rock, pop

Sam began playing guitar in 1987 and shortly after high school enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program at St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish NS. He earned a Music Ed degree in 1996 and moved back to Saint John to pursue playing in various local bands as well as writing and recording original music. Sam has played extensively with the Steve Waylon Band, Sidekick and The Mix. He's also been fortunate to back Canadian country recording artists Chris Cummings, Julian Austin and Joan Kennedy. Sam has produced two albums for Chipman native Steve Waylon and the two have enjoyed serveral trips to Switzerland promoting these recordings. Sam's rate per half hour is $25.00

scott macdonald (Brass, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone, Theory, Woodwinds)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Tuesday, Saturday

With over 25 years of teaching experience, multi-instrumentalist Scott A. MacDonald is a highly experienced and passionate musician and pedagogue. Born and raised in Liverpool, NS, Scott began his musical life as a member of the Mersey Band. While still in secondary school, and after gaining musical and technical proficiency on his chosen instruments, Scott became a member of many musical organizations along Nova Scotia’s South Shore. After completing a Bachelor of Music at Acadia University, Scott returned to his roots and worked as the music director/conductor and training officer of the Mersey Band where his duties included teaching all new members of the band, regardless of age or skill level on all band instruments. It was during this time he became a proficient brass player performing as a euphonium player and trombonist with various brass groups in Nova Scotia. After studying at Western University in London, ON, earning a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance and Pedagogy, Scott worked as a soloist, chamber musician and conductor in southern Ontario for several years before returning to the Maritimes in 2023 to work as the Clarinet Teaching Artist at the Saint John Centre for SistemaNB. Scott teaches all single-reed woodwinds, flute, and brass. Scott's rate per half hour is $26.

sebastian fleet (Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Style: classical

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Tuesday

Sebastian is a local musician and songwriter committed to ongoing musical studies, seeking to encourage a similar inquisitive musical spirit in his students. After discovering his father’s Yamaha guitar as a teenager, Sebastian studied locally with Dave Kindred and Mark Hill. He then began gigging and tutoring, before going on to perform at festivals in Ontario, and studying jazz guitar at Humber College with David Occhipinti, Ted Quinlan and Geoff Young. Sebastian recently completed a graduate certificate in music composition with Nancy Walker, from Humber College. Sebastian is open to all contemporary and classical styles on guitar, bass and ukulele. His rate for a half hour lesson is $25.

serenna chapman (Piano, Violin)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Tuesday

Serenna is an RCM certified violinist and classically trained pianist with a background in performance and music education. She took private lessons throughout her younger years and played with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra in high school. She then went on to complete an internship with El Sistema where she gained experience teaching orchestral violin to elementary students. Following this experience, she completed various post-secondary music courses including composition, improvisation, theory, and songwriting while studying in Kansas City, MO. After returning to Saint John, she played and toured the east coast region in former local band, The Backstays. She’s a proud supporter of the SJ music community and has had the absolute pleasure of assisting with the Saint John Rock Camp for the past two summers.
Serenna has previous teaching experience with Long & McQuade having worked at both Saint John (2018-2021) and Halifax (2024) locations. She offers piano and violin lessons to students of varying ages and skill levels. She enjoys adapting to the unique learning styles and interests of each student and hopes to ultimately inspire a shared love of creative expression through music. Her rate is $25 for half hour lessons.

tony boyce (Saxophone, Clarinet, Voice, Piano, Guitar, Flute, Theory)

Online Lessons:

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

Tony, a graduate of UNB, is a multi- instrumentalist with 52 years of music experience and education, with certifications from the RCM and Berklee College of Music. Tony has studied guitar, piano, voice, saxophone, flute and clarinet under many renowned instrumentalists. Ongoing professional music development is important to Tony and thus he has completed music courses from the California Institute of the Arts, Duke University and University of Rochester NY. Tony offers a unique teaching style which accommodates a variety of music learners, from beginners to advanced; children, youth and adults. Tony's rate per half hour is $26.00