Kayleigh James Music
Where your new musical journey begins.
Music lessons, workshops, group classes, and camps in North End Halifax and central Dartmouth.
Lessons Offered
Upcoming Workshops
You do not need to be an existing student to register for a workshop. Come join us! Click on each poster for more information.
Student and Parent Experiences
Christine, 30
“Learning a new instrument as an adult can feel intimidating, but Kayleigh makes it fun and rewarding with her approachable teaching style. She is patient, encouraging, and always incorporates music I want to learn, which keeps me motivated and gives me the confidence to learn songs I’m interested in. I’ve grown so much in just a year and am truly grateful for her guidance and expertise in my piano learning journey!”
Caleb, 8
“Kayleigh is a great teacher for kids both young and old and she understands that some kids are just learning to play. She has a gentle voice and is very calm. I respect her ability and her kindness to all kids and adults.”
Lan, 60+
“Playing piano is always my passion but I have to stop after I got married and too busy taking care three kids. Two years ago of summer 2023, my daughter Emily who has encouraged me to start taking piano lesson again and signed me up with Kayleigh. After nearly 30 years of not playing, it was quite a challenge at the beginning, but Kayleigh has made it fun for me. She is very flexible and understanding of what the students needs. I have a wonderful experience with her. Thank you Kayleigh.“
Heather, parent
“Knowing the importance of a trusted teacher in the life of our kids, Kayleigh has been a gift to our family. She is patient and warm and curious about discovering the best way for our son to learn. I believe his love of piano is largely due to Kayleigh‘s delight in what she’s teaching, and in him.”
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Mission & Values
The mission of Kayleigh James Music is to provide welcoming and inclusive high-quality music education that is driven by student goals.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
I understand that music education can sometimes be intimidating and exclusionary, and that many people have had negative experiences with music education in the past. I am continually working to create an educational experience that is easy and safe for people to participate in. I continue to seek out knowledge of the ways in which people are impacted by discrimination on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, health, age, or otherwise, and work to use this knowledge to develop inclusive and accessible teaching and business practices. I am currently working to develop a program which will fund lessons for students who would not otherwise be able to access music education.
Anti-colonial
Colonization has caused significant and lasting harm to people, communities, and nations locally and across the world. I am engaged in the continual process of working to identify and disrupt the impact of historical and persistent inequalities, both in music education and in business operation. I continue to seek out knowledge of the harms caused by colonization, as well as knowledge of music and teaching pedagogy from nations and cultures around the world and at home, and work to build this knowledge into my teaching and business practices.
Self determination
I believe that students should be in charge of their own learning, and lessons should prioritize student interests and goals. I work with students to understand what they want from their music education, and create lessons that allow me to work with them to help them develop into the musicians that they want to be.
Creativity
I know that each person who signs up for a music lesson, group class, workshop, or camp has individual needs, goals, and interests. I approach each student individually and with creativity to create a personalized education experience that supports their goals and helps them grow as a musician. I design my lessons and teaching style to foster student creativity and prioritize student input and ideas. I work hard to ensure that educational experiences are free of judgment and negativity in order to create a space where students know they are protected and encouraged to explore and share their own ideas.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before this land was ever referred to as Nova Scotia, it was part of the larger region called Mi’gma’gi. This land has been occupied by the Mi’kmaq people since time immemorial. Their life here can be traced back more than 10 000 years. Between 1725 and 1779 a number of treaties, known as the Peace and Friendship Treaties, were signed between the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Abenaki, Penobscot and Passamaquoddy peoples and the British. These treaties between sovereign nations affirmed Indigenous rights and did not transfer any land to the British. These treaties are now also recognized and affirmed in Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada. British and Canadian governments have not honoured these treaties. Kayleigh James Music operates in land that belongs to the Mi’kmaq, and I strive to continually learn more about how to appropriately acknowledge this in my teaching and business practices.
To learn more, consider starting by reading the following:
The Mi’kmaq People of Nova Scotia
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples