Our Team

Louise opened her very own Kindermusik Studio in the Fall of 2005, right in her basement! Kindermusik with Louise offered classes at all levels for parents and children from all over to participate in a program that has become known as the world’s leader in musical and developmental learning for children. In June of 2007, Kindermusik with Louise received the prestigious Maestro award for achieving such a fast-growing program. Louise’s studio has been recognized as one of the Top 1% in the World! Her team has continued to grow over the past few years, and she feels very fortunate to have such exceptional educators working with her.

In June of 2011, Kindermusik with Louise changed its name to Joyful Sounds Music Studio, offering Kindermusik classes and private music lessons in piano, guitar, and much more. Louise and her team have maintained Kindermusik Maestro Status every year since 2007, thanks to the tremendous support of the surrounding communities.

Hometown: Truro, Nova Scotia

Education: St FX: B. Mus in Classical Piano, 1st Class Honours, 2000

MUN: B Mus Ed., 2001

Kindermusik International: Licensed Educator, 2003; Maestro Status since 2007

Favourite Pastimes: Camping & campfires, going to the beach, making music, spending time with family

Instruments I Play: Piano, guitar, ukulele, clarinet, saxophone, bagpipes, and many others at a more beginner level

Favourite Band/Artist: Do I have to pick? Piano Instrumental: Haydn & Debussy Rock: BEATLES! Folk: anything East Coast Country: Shania Twain, Zac Brown Band, Eli Young Band, and much more!

Best Advice I ever received or Favourite Quote: Never go to bed angry; “worries are like bedcrumbs – the more you wiggle, the more they scratch!”

Andrea Schofield began her musical career as a very young ABBA lip-syncer in her parents’ living room in Lower Sackville. After years of singing in choirs, and playing clarinet and piano, she headed to Acadia University where she earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees in 1997. That same year, she moved to Ontario for her first teaching position and, over the course of five years, taught elementary school music and high school band, English, choir, history, Bible and drama.

Hometown: Lr Sackville, Nova Scotia

Education: BMus, BMusEd, Acadia University (1997)

Favourite Pastimes: reading, singing, camping, playing with my family

Instruments I Play: mainly clarinet, some piano, and various concert band instruments

Favourite Band/Artist: Chris Tomlin, Tenth Avenue North, Norah Jones, Brahms and Beethoven

Best Advice I ever received: In marriage, it is better to have an ounce of commitment than a pound of love

Favourite Quote: Albus Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, describes love as “a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study…”

Ashley Cates – Piano Instructor, Kindermusik Instructor, Choir Accompanist

Ashley is a musician, piano teacher and Kindermusik educator from Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. Ashley grew up playing piano, taking classical lessons as well as performing in musicals and bands throughout high school. In 2014 she graduated with a Music Arts diploma from the NSCC Music Arts program and has been teaching at Joyful Sounds ever since. Ashley was licensed as a Kindermusik educator in July 2016. She is currently an active member of the Kindermusik SOUNDBOARD. She has also worked as Musical Director at the Grafton Street Dinner Theatre in Halifax, NS. 

Hometown: Stewiacke, NS

Education: NSCC Music Arts 2014, RCM Grade 6.

Favourite Pastimes: Going to see live music, gardening, farmers markets, video games, painting, cooking.

Instruments I Play: Piano, guitar.

Favourite Band/Artist: Chick Corea, Supertramp, Michael Jackson, 

Favourite Quote: “When words fail music speaks” “It’s good to be loved, it’s profound to be understood”

Miss Heather graduated from Acadia University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music Therapy. Since then has had experience working as a Music Therapist and music teacher throughout Southern Ontario working with clients in geriatrics, mental health and clients living with developmental and psychiatric disabilities. She is a certified Music Therapist through the Canadian Association of Music Therapists.

Hometown: Cole Harbour, NS

Education: Bachelor of Music Therapy, Royal Conservatory of Music Level 10 Piano, History and Harmony

Kindermusik International: Licensed Educator, 2017

Favourite Pastimes:  Playing music, being outdoors (kayaking and hiking)

Instruments I Play: Piano, Guitar, Ukelele, Alto Saxophone

Favourite Band/Artist: Great Big Sea

Favourite Quote: “Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” – Van Morrison

Kim is your friendly neighbourhood piano teacher! Her kind demeanor and spark of joy is contagious, and she brings a wealth of experience to every lesson.

Hometown: Middle Sackville, Nova Scotia

Education: Grade 10 Piano, Toronto Conservatory
Diploma in Jazz Studies, St.F.X. (1982)

Favourite Pastimes: Sudoku puzzles, coloring, cross stitch, playing bridge, hosting dinner parties

Instruments I Play: Piano, Organ, Flute, Fiddle

Favourite Band/Artist: Chopin, Debussey, Manhattan Transfer, The Eagles

Favourite Quote: ” If you’re too busy to laugh, you are too busy!” – Proverbs

 Hometown: Marystown, NL

Dana was born into a very musical family in Marystown, NL. She grew up taking piano from her aunt and most of her childhood memories include gatherings of family and friends sitting around the piano singing, strumming, and enjoying the music. Dana is featured with an original song on Marystown Come Home Year CD. 

Hi, my name is Sarah Sani. I graduated with my level 2 ECE Diploma from Jane Norman College in Truro, NS. I have been working as a casual in the Pre Primary program ever since and love working with children. In my spare time I enjoy being active outdoors, spending time with my nine year old daughter, as well as practicing yoga and pilates. I am passionate about inclusive education and providing equal opportunities for all children.

Hometown: Nine Mile River, NS

Education: Digital Graphic Design Diploma, Success Business College

Level 2 Early Childhood Education Diploma, Jane Norman College 

Favourite Pastimes: Yoga, pilates, cross country skiing, reading, spending time with my daughter.

Instruments I Play: Guitar

Favourite Band/Artist: Jewel, Greenday

Best Advice I ever received: 

Character isn’t built from doing everything right the first time. If you fail, get up and try again.

Favourite Quote: 

Practice makes perfect.

Chelsey is a Kindermusik educator and full time teacher with HRCE from the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Music was an immense part of her childhood; From choir, musicals, dance and everything in-between. She graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Child and Youth Study and a minor in Psychology.  She continued her education at the Mount by completing the Bachelor of Elementary Education program in 2019. She is thrilled to be returning to her musical roots by being apart of the talented Kindermusik team at Joyful Sounds. 

Hometown: New Minas, Nova Scotia

Instruments I play: Guitar, clarinet.

Favorite Pastimes: Fitness classes, watching The Golden Girls, seeing musicals on stage, spending time with friends and family.

Favorite Music: Broadway, Judy Garland, Lizzo, ABBA – many more!

Favorite quote: A dancer’s spine defines the line between heaven and earth

Hailey is a second year music major at Dalhousie University, studying flute performance. She has been playing flute since 2015 and is currently studying with Christine Feierabend from Symphony Nova Scotia. Hailey is in her fourth year in the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra as principal flute.

Since she started playing flute in 2015, she has picked up many more instruments and has joined many ensembles such as women’s choir, marching band, jazz band, flute choir, drumline, and now a wind quintet! Hailey loves music and will play or pick up a new instrument any time she has the opportunity.

Hailey has just started teaching private lessons for piano, flute, and music theory, which she enjoys and is excited to do more of. 

Hailey hopes to move to Europe one day to join an orchestra and to establish herself as a soloist. Wish her luck!

Hometown: 

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Education: 

I am currently in my 2nd year of Music at Dalhousie University

Favourite Pastimes: 

Learning! Languages, philosophy, the history of philosophy, etc. I also like to think about things- I like to do thought experiments and apply what I learn from philosophy into real life.

Instruments I Play: 

My main instruments are flute/piccolo and piano, but I have also played oboe, saxophone(all, but Bari sax is my favorite!), mellophone, trumpet, trombone, bass drum, voice, guitar, and miscellaneous auxiliary percussion in different ensembles over the years, or on my own.

Favourite Band/Artist:

 It’s always changing! I really love rock music so here are some that are at the top of my list:

The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Ben Folds, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Growlers, Neutral milk Hotel, etc etc. 

Favourite Quote: 

The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived. (Kierkegaard)

Take a chance and you may lose. Take not a chance and you have lost already. (Kierkegaard)

Sarah graduated from Acadia University in 2021 with a Bachelor in Music Therapy and was awarded the University Medal in music for academic success. She has since become a certified Music Therapist through the Canadian Association of Music Therapists, and is delighted to be kick-starting her career!

With the natural ability to connect with people, Sarah has explored working in a variety of establishments, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and school learning centres.  She is a strong mental health advocate, and strives to be a change in the lives of youth. 

Kind and compassionate, Sarah’s desire to bring joy to others’ is shown in her work.  She also teaches traditional and adaptive music lessons, and is always looking for ways to incorporate client-preferred elements whenever possible.  

Sarah loves coffee, jigsaw puzzles, and will never turn down a game of Guitar Hero!

Alex grew up in a musical family, in rural PEI. He moved to Nova Scotia, to study music at St. F.X. and Acadia University. He has performed and recorded as a bassist with several groups/artists. Alex is passionate about helping students explore their own musicality to set and achieve growth-based goals that are motivating.  

Hometown: 

Stratford, PEI

Education: 

Bachelor of Arts in Music – Jazz Studies – St. F.X. University

Certificate in Music Therapy – Acadia University

Favourite Pastimes: 

Cooking, learning new instruments, and playing with my cat!

Instruments I Play: 

Electric and upright bass, guitar, ukulele.

Favourite Band/Artist:

Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Scary Pockets

Favourite Quote: 

“I’ll play it, and tell you what it is later.” – Miles Davis