About Our Association
Please click the links below for more detailed information about our association
President's Message
Welcome to the NSRMTA Website! I am so glad that you’re here!
We all share a common love for music and the magical moments that it can create for us as teacher, student, hobbyist,
or just a general appreciator of the music that surrounds us.
Our website provides the opportunity for you to find your ”perfect fit” for instruction amongst our many highly trained and experienced teachers. Just click under “Find a Teacher” and allow the music journey to begin. You’ll be glad that you did!
Why Music ?
The benefits of music are so numerous that one should be asking “why not music”
Research shows that the learning of music facilitates learning in other areas due to its use of both sides of the
brain simultaneously;
Music promotes language and mathematical development;
Music helps the brain to create more complex neuro-pathways which allows it to work more efficiently;
Music teaches discipline and perseverance;
Students who actively study music are also those students scoring in the top 10% at school – Music makes you smarter because of the brain development involved;
Music improves special and temporal intelligence;
Music allows for self expression, helps to alleviate
stress, boosts self confidence and is JUST PLAIN FUN!
Qualified music teachers, such as the members of NSRMTA, help to ensure that future generations have a well balanced approach to life, and appreciation for art, a network of friends and colleagues surrounding them and skills which easily transfer into other applications.
I wish you well as you, or somebody close to you, begins their journey with one of our wonderful teachers!
NSRMTA President
Misty Banyard Kelley
Our Patron
His Honour The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, KC,
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Arthur Joseph LeBlanc was installed as the 33rdLieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia on June 28, 2017.
His Honour was born in West Arichat, Nova Scotia in 1943 and attended primary and secondary schools in that region. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and he earned a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Dalhousie University in 1968. Following graduation, he was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in November 1968.
His Honour practiced law for over 30 years, initially as an associate of Vincent deP Burke and subsequently as senior partner of the law firm LeBlanc MacDonald and Pickup and this firm was succeeded by LeBlanc MacDonald. He maintained a solicitor’s practice and subsequently concentrated his practice in civil litigation. In 1983, His Honour was appointed as King’s Counsel in recognition of his distinguished law career.
While practicing law, His Honour served as a Director with several corporations and development authorities. He was also active with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and the Strait of Canso Barristers’ Society.
In 1998, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (General Division) and served on the bench until he was installed as Lieutenant Governor.
His Honour is Chancellor of the Order of Nova Scotia, Vice-Prior and a Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John, the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022).
His Honour is married to Her Honour Rosemarie Patricia (Patsy) LeBlanc (nee Lirette), who was born in Beresford, New Brunswick. Together, they have three grown sons, Pierre, André, and Robert. They have six grandchildren.
Our Council
The current administrative council for the
Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers Association 2023
Teacher of the Year
2024
Dr. Krissy Keech
Dr. Krissy Keech is passionate about piano, pedagogy and practising!
She completed her PhD in Music Education at McGill University, where she focussed her doctoral research on elements of piano pedagogy and teacher effectiveness—in particular, applied teachers’ identification and correction of students’ errors. She continues to research teacher effectiveness, effective practice methods, and best practices for error correction.
Dr. Keech has a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Acadia University, where she studied under Prof. John Hansen, and a master’s in piano performance from McGill University, under Profs. Marina Mdivani and Sara Laimon.
While her university training is in classical music, she has broad experience performing piano music in other styles: jazz, blues, folk, congregational, show tunes, Latin-American, and pop. As an accompanist, Dr. Keech is especially recognized for her rehearsal and performance skills in choral settings. She has worked with the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir, Nova Scotia Youth Choir, Canadian Chamber Choir, and numerous internationally renowned choral conductors (e.g., Elise Bradley, Scott Leithead, Michael Zaugg). She has been on the accompanying staff at Acadia, collaborating with and coaching woodwind students. As a gig musician, she continues a busy schedule of playing and singing at weddings, conferences, church services, restaurants, and other special events.
The guiding principle behind her research and teaching philosophy is the belief in the importance of the well-rounded musician, which includes being able to improvise and compose, in addition to the more traditional skills of learning to read and interpret Western music. Mistakes are also fascinating as they are inevitable and integral to the learning and creative processes. How do teachers, on the one hand, create an atmosphere where mistakes aren’t feared, where errors are embraced as learning opportunities, while on the other hand, maintain high standards of performance?
In addition to teaching full-time at Acadia, Dr. Keech has also been operating a private home piano studio for over 25 years. She adjudicates at music festivals and conducts workshops on topics such as teaching students to improvise, how to practise, and the pedagogy of practice.
In Memorial
Contact
NSRMTA President
Halifax Chapter President
Megan Wynn
Valley Chapter President
Heather Pineo Regan
Canada Music Week Coordinator
Diana Torbert
Student Composer Competition Convenor
Skippy Mardon
Atlantic Young Artist Representative
Lynn Johnson, NBRMTA (competitions@nbrmta.com)
National Essay Competition Contact
Julie Post
NS Kiwanis Music Festival Representative
Patricia Bryson
Social Media and Website