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 is an extremely talented musician and teacher who is as comfortable behind a keyboard as he is with a guitar, bass, mandolin, or even an accordion in hand.
His musical journey has taken him across North America, performing at numerous festivals and touring extensively. His acclaimed album, Alfalfa Honey, held the top spot on the East Coast Countdown for four weeks, and his act Flat Fifth earned two ECMA nominations and a debut on the main stage. When he isn't teaching, you can find Paul performing across the South Shore either solo on the keyboards or with Paul Buchanan and His So-Called Friends or the The Woolly Jumpers.
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.
Luke Letourneau Piano, Guitar, Vocals With a Bachelors Degree in Music and an undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies, Luke is a versatile and very talented instructor here at Buchanans! Luke offers one-on-one lessons in: Voice, Piano, Guitar, and Ukulele.
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.
