Bedford

alison enriquez (Violin)

Online Lessons:

Cuban-Canadian Ali Enriquez (23) is a multi-talented instrumentalist, singer, composer, and educator. Originating from Havana, she began her musical journey at the early age of five. Relocating to Halifax with the backing of the Los Primos Project, she focused on a music education in classical and jazz. She’s graced venues worldwide, from the Halifax Jazz Festival to the Ravello Music Festival in Italy. Working with various ensembles including orchestras, big bands and small format groups, Ali’s genre-spanning performances captivate diverse audiences. She attended Dalhousie University for two years, later transitioning to NSCC’s Music program, she’s embarked on a solo career, releasing her debut single, “Se Vale Llorar,” in March 2023.
She has found a love for teaching violin, piano, theory, ear training, composing and songwriting, in various styles such as classical, jazz, pop, R&B, latin and fiddle music.

allie bennett (Fiddle)

Online Lessons:

Allie has been in the Canadian Music Industry since 1975. He has toured extensively in Canada and internationally, and has played on over 150 album projects as a studio bass player. His name appears on over 1,000,000 units sold in Canada. Allie has worked with John Allan Cameron, Rita MacNeil, Stan Rogers, Murray McLauchlan, The Rankin Family, The Barra MacNeils, Jimmy Rankin, Raylene Rankin, Mary Jane Lamond, Natalie MacMaster, Ron Hynes, Bruce Guthro, Dave Gunning, Howie MacDonald, Ashley MacIsaac, and many more. He was Musical Director for the 1995 East Coast Music Awards and also Band Leader for the 1997 and 1998 editions of The Cape Breton Summertime Review. In 2003 he was Musical Director of The Rise and Follies of Cape Breton - The Second Coming. Allie released a fiddle album in 2004, his first solo project aptly titled It’s About Time; and in 2005 he was presented with the East Coast Music Association's Musicians Achievement Award. In 2013 he released his second CD, Full Circle, which received nominations for both Music Nova Scotia and East Cost Music Awards. He has also been nominated twice for Music Nova Scotia Educator of the Year. Allie has been teaching music since 1992, and his rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

amy ewer (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Amy has a Bachelors of Music from Dalhousie University with a major in piano. She has played Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Prokofiev, etc., in recitals at Dalhousie and other venues. Amy has been teaching music since 2009 and has years of experience working with children. Her rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

anthony rissesco (Violin, Fiddle, Viola)

Online Lessons:

Anthony is a versatile violin player and teacher who has toured with award-winning singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant and with roots-rock band Pogey. As a member of the neo-traditional trio Papilio, Anthony garnered ECMA and Nova Scotia Music Awards nominations. He is also a member of the popular Halifax band The Gig Dogs and has played with Symphony Nova Scotia, Anne Murray, and Peggy Seeger. As a music student at Dalhousie University, Anthony studied classical violin under Phillippe Djokic. He has won fiddle competitions throughout Canada, including the Maritime Fiddle Championship. In 1990 Anthony came third in the Canadian Open in Ontario, and he was chosen to represent Nova Scotia at the Grand Masters Competition in Ottawa for six consecutive years. He has been an adjudicator at the Kiwanis Festival and has been teaching since 1989. Anthony's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

apryll aileen (Guitar, Voice, Piano, Ukulele)

Online Lessons:

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

Apryll Aileen is a pianist, guitarist, and singer-songwriter from Atlantic Canada. Her recent album, “Bad Things,” fuses alt-pop and electronic styles reminiscent of the 2000s: her vocal style influenced by Adele and Stevie Nicks, her cadence and performance art influenced by Madonna.

Trained as a classical musician from the age of five, Apryll works this foundation into pop music that is both sophisticated and catchy. Her lyrical storytelling and stage presence have made her a favourite at music festivals from Halifax to Los Angeles and London.

charles myra (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Charles was the Winner of the 2007 Kiwanis Festival Rose Bowl. He studied piano at Dalhousie University with Tietje Zonneveld and Peter Allen. Charles has been teaching classical piano since 2006, and teaching with Long & McQuade since 2007. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

charles urich (Drums)

Online Lessons:

Charles Urich is a drummer originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia. He has a Bachelor of Music degree from St. FX. Charles has extensive playing experience with various local acts, and has been teaching privately since 2011. Charles is comfortable playing different styles of music and enjoys teaching rock, funk, jazz and world styles to students of all ages and levels of experience on the drum kit. His rate per 30 minute private lesson is $26.

colin matthews (Cello)

Online Lessons:

Colin studied music at Dalhousie and McGill Universities. In his career as chamber musician and orchestral cellist, Colin has played with L'Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, the Thunder Bay Symphony, the Kingston Symphony as acting principal cellist and soloist, at the Ottawa Valley Chamber Music Festival and 'New Music in New Places', and as guest performer for the Scotia Festival of Music. Colin has recorded for film scores, CBC radio broadcasts, and two CDs produced by New Music North and Gatto Dolce. He was cellist for the critically-acclaimed stage production The Satchmo Suite and is cellist for the duo Gatto Dolce. Colin's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $28.

dorian baker (Clarinet, Saxophone)

Online Lessons:

Dorian was born and raised in Halifax, NS. Dorian completed his Undergraduate Degree in Music from Mount Allison University, while simultaneously studying Clarinet Performance at The Boston Conservatory. Dorian later moved to Toronto where he completed his Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Toronto. As an artist, Dorian has participated in masterclasses across North America and throughout Europe. He has worked with world-renowned artists from leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Dorian has performed at numerous prestigious venues including Sanders Theatre at Harvard, CBC Studios, and Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto. At present, Dorian is engaged with the local music scene, where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors with the Chebucto Symphony Orchestra. Dorian is also the principal Clarinetist with the Chebucto Symphony Orchestra, and an on-call musician with Symphony Nova Scotia. Above all, Dorian remains passionately dedicated to his clarinet and saxophone students. His students are members of provincial ensembles, community orchestras, and are leaders within their own school music programs. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $28.

doug cameron (Drums, Guitar, Ukulele)

Online Lessons:

Doug has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music from St. Francis Xavier University. He has been playing in various groups in Halifax for many years, has toured the continent with Aide de Camp and played in the ECMA-nominated band Doctor Dfunkt. Doug teaches rock, jazz, and other styles of drumming, and his rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

greg myra (Piano, Theory)

Online Lessons:

Halifax pianist Gregory Myra received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance in 2009 from Dalhousie University. Upon graduation he accompanied the students of Professor Lucy Hayes-Davis at Dalhousie for two years. In 2011 he began studies at the University of Manitoba under Dr. Laura Loewen and graduated in 2013 with a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano. Greg has played for the Halifax Summer Opera Festival for many years and has also performed with Opera Nova Scotia and the Dalhousie Chamber Series. He has over a decade of teaching experience and is thrilled to be working with Long & McQuade. He teaches all levels and ages. Greg's teaching rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

jesse macpherson (Drums)

Online Lessons:

Jesse MacPherson is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. He has studied music at NSCC and Bishop’s University, and is currently studying Composition at Dalhousie University.
Since the mid-2000s Jesse has been performing in a diverse range of styles including rock, pop, jazz, hip hop, R&B and latin. Open to working with students of all ages and levels, he has been teaching in various individual and group settings since 2011. Jesse's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

katie graham (Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Katie has studied a variety of genres in both piano and voice, as well as music theory, composition, and performance. After working her way through the Royal Conservatory of Music, she attended Mount Allison University as a Piano Major in the Bachelor of Music Program. She later transferred to Nova Scotia Community College and completed the Music Arts Program as a Vocal Major, specializing in jazz, blues, folk and pop music. She has had the opportunity to perform on various stages, including The Marquee Ballroom, The Fredericton Play House, Saint John City Boardwalk, and CBC Radio. Her lessons are a happy blend of fundamental theory and feel-good music, which promise to be creative, entertaining and educational at all times! Katie's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

kayleigh james (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Kayleigh James is an experienced piano teacher and musician. Having reached level nine in her classical studies, and graduated from Nova Scotia Community College’s Music Arts program, she continues to work in a variety of musical styles. She is particularly interested in collaborating with students to create a personalized lesson plan that helps them achieve their own musical goals, including classical piano, improvisation, composition, songwriting, and music theory. Whether you’re preparing for an audition or sitting down at the piano for the very first time, Kayleigh is excited to help you grow as a musician and perform at your very best. Kayleigh's rate for a 30-minute lesson is $26.

mackenzie rodgerson (Voice)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Thursday, Friday

Mackenzie is a recent bachelor of music in voice graduate from the Fountain School of Performing Arts. She began singing in various choirs throughout Halifax at age 9, and voice lessons at 11, where she started studying the RCM voice program. She has had the chance to participate in provincial honour choirs since elementary school, as well as the Dalhousie Chorus, where she held a section lead position, and sang many featured solos. She has performed in the Royal International Nova Scotia Tattoo, and for King Charles! Her experience ranges from jazz, to classical, to modern works. While at Dalhousie she studied classical voice and Musical Theatre/contemporary music. She had the opportunity to portray Tracy Turnblad in a production of Hairspray, as well as Annie in Annie! Her rate for a 30-minute lesson is $27.

matt gallant (Drums)

Online Lessons:

What do you want to play? Rock n roll, blues, country, soul, jazz, hip hop, latin, metal, world, folk, pop? Just ask Matt, he's played it all! With a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Performance from Dalhousie University under his belt, Matt Gallant has been involved in the music industry for 25 years. He has worked with professional artists including Amelia Curran, Erin Costelo, Ben Caplan, Dave Sampson, Adam Baldwin, Roxy and the Underground Soul Sound, Willie Stratton and has toured internationally with The Brood.
Whether engaging in community and professional theatre projects, workshops or working with bands, he brings a vast musical experience, eagerness and passion. Matt plays with people across cultures, most notably the Open Borders International Music Group that assembles 20+ musicians from different cultures to create extremely unique and vibrant shows.
Matt has been teaching with Long & McQuade since 2018. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

meaghan mckay (Piano, Voice)

Online Lessons:

Meaghan has cultivated within herself a passion for pedagogy in various forms for over 15
years, and has since collected a few university degrees that have helped develop her
teaching abilities. She has a Master of Music in Voice Literature and Performance from
Western University, an Artist Diploma in Voice Performance from Western University, a
Master of Arts in Musicology with a Specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies, and a
Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Acadia University. Meaghan has a particular
proclivity for the research of Music Performance Anxiety in singers. She has presented this
research at the 2022 University of Guelph Feminist Theory and Music Conference and has
been published in the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations journal.
Carefully toeing the line between academe and goofiness, Meaghan has a penchant for
meeting the individual needs of her students with a mix of cheer, encouragement and
technical prowess. Meaghan has performed on stage in opera, musical theatre, and solo
recitals, behind the scenes as a stage manager and stagehand, and under the stage as a pit
orchestra musician. Some of her favourite roles that she has sung include the mechanical
doll Olympia in The Tales of Hoffman, the energetic Lucy van Pelt in You’re a Good Man,
Charlie Brown, and the role of Evangeline in the Canadian Premiere of Gwyneth Walker’s
opera Evangeline. Meaghan's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

mike farrington (Guitar, Bass Guitar)

Online Lessons:

A founding member of Halifax funk and soul legends The Mellotones, Mike has over 25 years of live and recording experience in the music industry. He’s performed with a diverse list of Maritime artists including Garrett Mason, Dutch Mason, Matt Mays, Matt Andersen, Jill Barber, Erin Costello and of course The Mellotones. Mike studied bass with Pat Riley, and has been teaching guitar and bass alongside Pat at Long & McQuade since 2016. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $28.00.

mike miller (Guitar, , Ukulele, Bass Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Mike has a Bachelor of Education from Acadia University and has been teaching guitar, bass and ukulele at Long & McQuade since 2016. He has played guitar and bass in various bands and worked as a sound tech for other groups. Mike teaches all styles, loves classic rock, and welcomes students at all levels of experience. He has also conducted beginner classes for students of all ages. Mike's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $29.

nicholas maclean (Guitar, Ukulele, Lap Steel)

Online Lessons:

Nicholas received a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Jazz Studies, First Class Honours) from St. Francis Xavier University. He has studied privately with internationally renowned jazz musicians Howard Alden, Oz Noy, Wayne Krantz, Jerry Granelli and Ari Hoenig. Nick has toured across Canada and internationally and is active in the local music scene, playing with Juno-nominee Kim Barlow, ECMA-nominee Alana Yorke, award-winning songwriter Carmel Mikol to name a few. Nick teaches rock, jazz, blues, country, R&B, folk, pop and heavy metal to students of all ages and levels of experience. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

nicole anaka - teaching exclusively online (Voice)

Online Lessons:

Nicole has a Bachelor of Music degree from Mount Allison University and a Masters in Musicology from the University of Victoria. She has trained in Dalcroze Eurythmics at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass., and has her Grade 8 piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities, and teaches a wide variety of styles, including classical, musical theatre, rock, and pop. Her rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

omar ashour (Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Omar Ashour is a guitar player and instructor who has spent years teaching students of all ages in both Canada and the Middle East. After graduating from the music program at Dalhousie University in 2008, Omar has been actively teaching private one-on-one lessons, as well as leading group sessions and workshops at schools and private centres. By helping his students establish a solid musical foundation, many of them have gone on to join professional bands, pursue deeper musical training, and even work as instructors themselves. While his main focus has been electric guitar, Ashour has also played bass with many independent rock artists, and has more recently taken an interest in Middle Eastern music by picking up the oud. Omar's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

pat riley (Guitar, , Songwriting)

Online Lessons:

Father of five musicians, Pat has a Certificate in Arranging and Composition from the Berklee College of Music, has gigged with many of the top names in the musical universe, and is mentor to some of the best musicians in Atlantic Canada. He was the main host of the CBC Rock Camp series and also sings, writes, produces, and is a top session player. He is one of the founders and the current director of Summer Rock Camp. Pat has been teaching award winning students since 1991. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

paulina hernandez (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Style: jazz

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

Paulina Hernandez is a pianist, arranger, and composer from Mexico. She studied piano performance at Holland College in PEI, and has a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from StFX University.
Paulina has experience playing many genres of music such as Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, and has played in many different venues around the East Coast. Paulina has been teaching students of all ages since 2018 and is eager to teach anyone who is interested in developing their musical skills! Paulina's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

peter davison (Guitar, , Ukulele, Harmonica, Mandolin, Looping, Songwriting)

Online Lessons:

Peter has a Bachelor of Arts with Music from St. Francis Xavier. For five years he was a solo and ensemble guitarist on Norwegian and Princess Cruise lines playing everything from rock ‘n roll through jazz, country, R&B, various finger styles, and classical music. Pete has played drums, bass, guitar and keyboards in a variety of local bands. He won the 2010 Canadian Boss Loop Station championship as "The Duke of Loops". Pete has been teaching music since 1996 to students of all age and level of experience. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

rheo rochon (Guitar, Bass Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Rhéo Rochon is a Galaxie Rising Star award-winning professional bassist / guitarist / drummer who attended the jazz program at Humber College of Music in Etobicoke, Ontario. He has appeared on many acclaimed studio recordings and has toured extensively in Canada as well as in Scotland and The U.S.A. with several acts including Garrett Mason & Keith Hallett, The Chronos Band, Cyndi Cain, Alan Jeffries, Tim Chaisson (East Pointers), Modern Grass and Carleton Stone (Port Cities).
Rhéo has shared the stage opening for many great artists such as Buddy Guy, Lauren Hill, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Charles Bradley, John Scofield, Junior Watson, Miles Goodwin (April Wine), Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, and The Trews.
He currently enjoys working in concert and in the studio with Keith Hallett, Wharf Rats, The Ordeals, The Living Walls, and The Chronos Band.
Rhéo is also busy as a sub filling in with many artists including The Mellotones, Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound, Jimmy Rankin and Canadian icon Jann Arden.
Rhéo's rate is $27 per half hour lesson

skip holmes (Guitar, Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Ukulele)

Online Lessons:

Skip played in rock and blues bands before getting into traditional music. He was a member of the house band on the iconic Up Home Tonight show on ATV. He's performed with The Ladies Choice Bluegrass Band, The Gordon Stobbe Trio, and The Richard Wood Band, and has toured and recorded with a wide range of musicians such as Graham and Eleanor Townsend, Calvin Vollrath, and Peter Dawson. Skip has transcribed a number of books of fiddle tunes for Mel Bay and has been teaching for over 35 years. His rate per 30-minute private lesson is $27.

songhan li (Piano)

Online Lessons:

Songhan is a classical trained pianist, accompanist and piano teacher based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Songhan was born in Nanchang, Jiangxi, in southeast China. Her earliest musical steps were guided by her mother and she started learning piano at the age of 4. She received her first piano prize at age 10 and achieved excellent grades in piano examinations. She came to Canada in 2014 and finished her Bachelor of Music degree at Dalhousie University in 2019. Songhan teaches students ranging from 4 to 60 years of age. She loves teaching young children and very passionate about classical music. She can provide lesson in both English and Mandarin. She is a patient and outgoing piano professional who wants to bring joy of music to others’ lives. Songhan's rate per 30-minute private lesson is $26.

trevor wentzell (Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Piano, Composition)

Online Lessons:

Trevor is a multi-instrumental player, teacher and composer. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from St. FX University with a Major in Jazz Studies. Playing and studying music from the age of 5, Trevor is no stranger to the local music scene and is a first call sideman performing and recording on saxophone, flute, piano and organ. He has been a member of the Back Alley Big Band, The Chronos Band and Scott and The Rocks, and has opened for such musical greats as Charles Bradley, John Scofield and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival. He enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels of experience. Trevor's rate per 30-minute private music lesson is $26.

zach maclean (Guitar)

Online Lessons:

Teaching Day(s): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Zach MacLean is a Cape Breton-born guitarist now based out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Having grown up in a musical family, he started out strumming guitar along with relatives who played everything from fiddles to bodhrans. For several years he studied bagpipes and briefly played with the Gaelic College Pipeband, but his instrument of choice remained the guitar. After deciding to make guitar his primary instrument, he enrolled in St Francis Xavier University and graduated 2007 with a Bachelor of Music. He was a regular member of The Tom Fun Orchestra, Rock Ranger (bass), and Carleton Stone before moving from Cape Breton to Halifax. He started writing and releasing with Halifax-based band, Young River, and eventually became a steady guitarist for Adam Baldwin, Mo Kenney, and the Town Heroes. He currently resides in Dartmouth, NS and, when time allows, is a guitarist-for-hire. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with artists such as
Gordie Sampson, Matt Mays, Willie Nile, Dwight Twilley, Elliot Murphy, Alejandro Escovedo,
David Lowery, and Art Bergman.