Keyboard Instructors
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Catherine Balcom - piano
Catherine
Balcom graduated in 2000 from Mount Allison University in Sackville,
NB with a Bachelor of Music Degree. She went on to study Organ
Performance at McGill University in Montreal, PQ. In 2002 Catherine
moved to Lower Sackville, NS. She continues her musical studies
at Dalhousie University and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing
Arts. She is a certified Music for Young Children and Orff Level
1 instructor.
Catherine has taught beginner through to intermediate and advanced piano students. She is currently organist at the Catholic Church, Saint Rose of Lima, in Fall River, NS. -
John Bird - practical piano, improvisation
John Bird comes to us from Liverpool, Nova Scotia where he began his musical career and where he was a member of the Bowater Mersey Band under G.B.F. Padmore. His study of music took him to the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon after which he taught music in the public school system in Dartmouth, NS. During this time he became a familiar figure in commercial music in metro and also served as a clarinetist with the Princess Louise Fusiliers Regimental Band.
The opportunity to study film scoring with Frank Comstock of Universal Studios in Culver City, California took John back to the United States. When he returned to Canada, he worked in the Atlantic region as a free-lance musician and he wrote incidental music for CBC Radio Drama. He was engaged as percussionist for Neptune Theatre's production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown which toured the Maritimes and was retained by the theatre company as an in-house rehearsal pianist and music consultant.
John returned to his home town of Liverpool and for two years, was a musician in residence under the Canada Council's Musician in Residence Program for the Atlantic Region. He began teaching instrumental music privately and has been doing so ever since. He became a member - and twice served as chairman - of the Winds of Change Drama Society and he is now a life member for his many contributions to this organization. He has been the music director for many of the theatre group's musicals and has written arrangements for various ensembles for stage productions.
In 1985 John and his wife Catharine bought the Astor Theatre in Liverpool and set about to re-establish it as a cultural performing arts center for the Liverpool/Queens County area. He remained as theatre manager for twelve years and in 1998 he resigned to devote more time to music and private teaching.
His other achievements include: the Lescarbot Award - presented by the Government of Canada in recognition of his outstanding contributions to community cultural activities, co-founder of the Liverpool International Theatre Festival, founding member and now music director/arranger for the Lighthouse Chamber Ensemble, pianist for the Chester Playhouse's production of Broadway, Our Way, percussionist with the Chester Brass Band, music director for the Bridgewater Firemen's Band for five years, and he returned to the Mersey Band (formerly the Bowater Mersey Band) as music director for almost eight years.
John continues to teach privately and perform with his trio and the chamber ensemble in a variety of musical events ranging from weddings to dinner music and receptions. -
Tim McNabb - piano
Tim
started taking piano lessons at the age of seven and worked
his way to a Grade 9 Royal Conservatory of Music certificate
along with Grade 3 Harmony and Grade 3 History in theory to
go with the Grade 9 practical exam. After a significant break
from piano studies, Tim is currently working towards his Grade
10 RCM as well he is taking practical piano lessons from Lisa
MacDougall.
Starting at an early age, Tim began playing and singing in church and followed in the footsteps of his grandmother as a church musician and still continues today. In addition to singing in church and school choirs Tim has also performed at many music festivals as a soloist in both piano and voice as well as in choirs and other musical ensembles. In high school Tim performed in musicals as well as playing the viola in the orchestra and string ensemble, and trombone in the band and jazz band.
Tim's musical instruction continued with two years of voice at Humber College as well as one year at Wilfrid Laurier University before moving to New Brunswick to follow his wife with her career. While in New Brunswick for six years Tim ran a very successful piano teaching business and also taught for one year in the public school system as a music teacher as well as choir director. Tim also performed dinner theatre in Grand Falls as well as many concerts with two other gentlemen. They even recorded a CD entitled Christmas: A Musical Celebration that is available through Tim.
Tim then moved to Halifax with his wife and 3 children and has been performing at Alexander Keith's Brewery where you can find him serving up beer (lemonade and ice tea to those under 19) and entertaining the tour guests with great maritime music.
Tim is extremely happy to be at Buckley's Education Centre and looks forward to learning and growing with his students. -
Janet Munson - piano
Janet Munson is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who has
performed and recorded with musicians such as Leonard Cohen,
Sylvia Tyson, Archie Fisher, Tommy Makem and Lennie Gallant.
Janet has worked as far abroad as Athens, Greece, to Kerrville,
Texas, and Dawson City in the Yukon Territory.
Janet has experience in national television and radio. She performed with Dream a Little Dream, which featured Denny Doherty of The Mamas & Papas. An accomplished arranger, her clients have included Symphony Nova Scotia, the Stadacona Band and Lennie Gallant. She has also received Nova Scotia Arts Council and Canada Council Awards for writing, research and composition.
Over most of the last 20 years Janet has maintained an active teaching practice where she enjoys teaching children and adults alike.