Louise opened her very own Kindermusik & Piano studio in the Fall of 2005, right in her home basement! Louise taught music in the public school system and had dreams of bringing a higher level of music education to families in her community. Kindermusik with Louise offered classes for parents and children to participate in the award-winning curricula program known as the world’s leader in musical and developmental learning for children. 

In June of 2011, Kindermusik with Louise changed its name to Joyful Sounds Music Studio. The studio has continued to grow year after year, offering Kindermusik classes, private lessons in many instruments, group classes for rock bands, songwriters, theory, glee club, and more. Louise and her team have maintained Kindermusik Top Program status every year since 2007, thanks to the tremendous support of the surrounding communities.

Louise currently does contract work with Kindermusik International as part of the Kindermusik University Training Team. She enjoys spending time with her husband V.J., and their three children Cormac, Breton and Flora. 

Hometown: Truro, Nova Scotia

Education: 

St F.X. University: B. Mus in Classical Piano, 1st Class Honours

Memorial University of Newfoundland: B. Music Education

Kindermusik International: Licensed Educator; Top Program status since 2007; currently ranked 2nd in Canada!

Favourite Pastimes: Camping & campfires, going to the beach, making music, reading, 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 – Bruce Guthro, Bois Jolis… 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”

Private Lesson Instructor, Kindermusik Instructor, Certified Music Therapist. Heather grew up playing piano, as well as performing in school bands, and community bands on the alto saxophone. She graduated from Acadia University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music Therapy, completed an internship in Saint John, New Brunswick, then went on to Southern Ontario working as a Music Therapist and music teacher with clients in geriatrics, mental health and clients living with developmental and psychiatric disabilities. 

Since 2017 she has been joyfully teaching piano/guitar/ukulele, Kindermusik, summer camps and offering Music Therapy throughout the halls of Joyful Sounds!

Hometown: Cole Harbour, NS

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

Certified Music Therapist through the Canadian Association of Music Therapy

Kindermusik International: Licensed Educator, 2017

Favourite Pastimes:  Playing music, outdoor adventuring with her 2 dogs

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. 

Izra is an alt-pop musician who teaches vocals and keys at Joyful Sounds Music Studio. She also takes part in Pop Academy, helping lead the rock bands, theory and songwriting groups.

 Izra graduated from the NSCC Music Arts Program with honors in 2017, and since has been recording and touring with bands based out of Halifax. She has now returned to NSCC to teach songwriting and vocals herself, and continues to play live in a variety of groups.

Izra aims to meet her students where they are at musically, and help them achieve their own goals: be it technique, creation, and/or performance. 

Hometown:  Wolfville

Education: NSCC Music Arts Program, Honors. Performance and vocal training with Lawson Vocal Studios in Toronto

Instruments I play: Vocals, Keys

Favorite Pastimes: Watching movies, songwriting, hanging with friends

Favorite Music/Artists: Lorde, Florence + the Machine, Maggie Rogers

Favorite quote/Best Advice: “Why not me?” – Mindy Kaling 

Teaching at Joyful Sounds since 2021, is the latest installment of a piano teaching career that has spanned over 35 years- all of them wonderful!

I grew up in St Johns, NL where I started piano at the age of four. Music education continued to be part of my life and culminated with my Diploma from Trinity College Music of London, England. Simultaneously, I pursued an academic education in Marine Biology at Memorial University ( Bsc.).

Education: Trinity College Music of London England Diploma , Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 Piano, Theory, Royal Conservatory of Music Certified Teacher, Music for Young Children

Favorite Past-time: being physically active, ran 5 marathons, playing harp,cooking and entertaining, walking our two westies-Loch and Miss Wiggins and just plain hanging around with my husband on the Gulfshore. Oh yes!! We live beside Northumberland Links and I play golf!!

Favorite Music: I LOVE many styles of music. My playlist is long and varied. Music always makes my day!

Favorite Quote: “Teach the student first, the music second,and the piano third.” Frances Elliot Clarke

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.

Lindsay grew up playing Nova Scotia Celtic Fiddle all across the province, from the Halifax boardwalk to the Maritime Fiddle Festival. Amidst her travels she’s had opportunities to perform in Peru exposing her to a variety of cultures and musical genres.

In Saskatchewan Lindsay studied under the Concertmaster for the RSO, Christian Robertson, then graduated in 2018 from Briercrest College with a BA Honours in Music with a concentration in Violin Performance. She taught private and group classes at the Briercrest Conservatory for around 5 years, ranging in a variety of ages. Along with teaching Lindsay has performed in local orchestras which accompanied large theatrical events and concerts.

Lindsay’s greatest joy is to encourage others in their love for music, then giving them the confidence to share it with others!

Hometown: Lake Echo, Nova Scotia

Instruments I play: Violin/Fiddle, Piano, and Voice

Favorite Pastimes: Family time, oil painting, hiking, fishing, travelling

Favorite Music: Owl City, Hilary Hahn, Phil Wickham, Imagine Dragons, John Williams

Favorite quote: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

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

Sam Wilson is a guitarist-composer, private music instructor and Kindermusik educator based on the east coast. Her solo album ‘Into a Heart Pt. II’ (2020 Muzak records- Japan), won Music Nova Scotia’s 2022 ‘Jazz Recording of the year’. In 2021 she was awarded the Paul Cram Creation award, which gave her the opportunity to write a piece in honor of Paul Cram’s legacy, which was premiered by Symphony Nova Scotia at the 2023 Open Waters Festival. Her third-forthcoming, album as a leader, ‘Wintertides’, is a trio project with drummer Jen Yakamovich (Vancouver) and Geordie Hart (Vancouver) to be released in the winter of 2024. Sam frequently plays with the acclaimed trombonist Andrew Jackson in their collaborative project the ‘Jakcson\Wilson Duo’, they released their debut album ‘New Doors’ on January 28th, 2023. 

Hometown: Windsor, Ontario

Instruments I play: Guitar, ukulele, piano, I sing!  

Favorite Pastimes: reading, going on adventures outside with my dog Lewis 

Favorite Music/Artists: jazz, folk, instrumental, improvised, experimental   

Favorite quote/Best Advice: ‘never underestimate the power of walking’ – pg

Andrew has been playing music since it was first physically possible, and is always looking to explore the musical world further! He’s happy to answer any questions you may have when he works at the Front Desk. Andrew is also a student at Saint Mary’s University where he is studying English Literature and Creative Writing.

Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Instruments I Play: Guitar, saxophone, and I sing a bit!

Favourite Pastimes: Reading, writing, watching movies, playing video games

Favourite Music/Artists: Neutral Milk Hotel, The Velvet Underground, Elliot Smith, and David Berman

Favourite Quote/Best Advice: “Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it. Don’t wait for it. Just let it happen.”

Emma is a Kindermusik Educator and full time student at Dalhousie University. Some of Emma’s earliest musical memories are from Kindermusik classes as a child so she is so exited to be teaching her own Kindermusik classes at the studio! She has been involved in music through choirs and musical theatre since she was young and still loves participating in musical theatre productions! 

Education: Graduating this spring with a BSc in Psychology!

Pastime: Singing, dancing, watching movies, drawing, swimming.

Instruments I Play: Voice

Favourite band: Among many: The Beatles, Poor Man’s Poison, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Best advice: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Steve is part of a well-known musical family from Eastern Prince Edward Island and grew up surrounded by the sounds and rhythms of traditional Scottish, Irish, PEI and Cape Breton fiddle music.  His family organizes the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival which is one of the longest running festivals of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

Steve’s fondest musical memories involve road trips with his parents, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles to various festivals and events across Atlantic Canada and the U.S, and particularly summer trips to Cape Breton.

Steve lives in the Fall River area with his wife, Cathy, and their sons, Lochlen and Anderson.

Hometown: Bear River, PEI

Instruments: Fiddle, Piano, Guitar

Favourite Pastimes: Gardening, astronomy, reading.

Favourite Music: 90’s Rock, Folk, Traditional.

Favourite Bands/Musicians: The East Pointers, Beolach, Natalie MacMaster plus many more.

Favourite quote: A violin sings, and a fiddle dances.