Our staff and teachers are professional musicians passionate about music and who enjoy sharing their experience. With four private instruction rooms, we offer lessons in fiddle, violin, piano, brass and woodwinds, guitar, bass, mandolin, accordion, percussion, voice, music theory, performance and songwriting. Contact us to match up with the right instructor to fit your personal and musical needs. We welcome all ages and abilities!
All-Ages Classes
From babies to 80s or anywhere in between and beyond, come to the music house for voice, strings (guitar, ukulele, mandolin, bass guitar, violin/fiddle, viola), percussion (hand percussion, bongos, djembe, drum kit), piano, accordion, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, music theory, or songwriting lessons.
Rock Camp
Our summertime Rock Camp is a fun, confidence-building intensive for 8-18 year-olds. Aspiring young musicians of all levels will form a band and jam with pros, learning the ins and outs of live performance. We'll entertain family and friends with a rock show—one of the highlights of the year!
"I love your friendly, happening, hip shop! I always have a great time in my lessons, and I've learned lots!" —Alison Phillips, guitar student
Meet our Teachers
Paul Buchanan
Piano, Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Accordion
Paul has played festivals and toured throughout North America. His album Alfalfa Honey topped the East Coast Countdown for four weeks, and his act Flat Fifth debuted at the ECMA main stage & garnered two nominations. He has accompanied songwriter Laura Smith, and performs in Eilidh and The Woolly Jumpers, The Flaming Jays, and Flat Fifth.
Mikey Smith
Drums
Mikey's father and oldest brother played drums, and he first played his brother’s kit at 8 years old. From that moment he wanted to be a musician. At the age of 12, his parents bought him his first drum kit and he has been playing ever since. He performs independently and in the bands Dockyard Boxer and The Dead Minutes, and competes and teaches.
Paula Phillips
Voice, Tiny Tunes, Piano
For more than 30 years, Paula has performed, taught, conducted, and arranged oratorio, opera, musical theatre and jazz with many ensembles, from Canada’s National Youth Choir to the award-winning Halifax Camerata Singers. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and teaches at the Maritime Conservatory.
Tara Ehler Harp & Piano Tara is the newest addition to our talented teaching family at Buchanans House of Music and she'd love for you to discover the magic of the harp too! Tara is currently accepting new students for both Classical & Traditional Irish/Scottish Harp lessons.
Alex Hamilton Guitar With over 15 years of experience playing, Alex brings a fun, supportive and flexible approach to lessons. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your technique, he's passionate about helping students reach their musical goals at their own pace. Alex also focuses on songwriting and performance to help students understand music on a deeper level.
Miranda Lever
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
Miranda learned piano from her grandmother, a teacher, and began formal lessons at age 5. She has taught for 10 years. She performed with an orchestra pit band and with Grafton Street Dinner Theatre, has played keys and sang for with a few bands, and performs for weddings and receptions. She fronts the neo-classical pagan folk metal band River Moss.
If you’re curious, read more about The Suzuki Method of music education practiced by several of our staff.
