Where Mahone Bay comes to play
Where Mahone Bay comes to play
"Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." —Plato
Buchanans isn’t just a shop. It’s a living room. A 6 year-old bursts through the door with a ukulele on his back. A 55 year-old plays Chopin on the old standup piano, and someone's got a fiddle, too. In the seaside town of Mahone Bay, people come to The Music House to practice, light sparks of imagination, and enjoy our community.
Come to the bay for a walk or a coffee, for yarn from the knitting shop or syrup from the berry farm. Spot some pirates and try out that mandolin you've been eyeing. You'll see kids walking here after school, and parents relaxing in our cozy space.
We sell and rent musical instruments and gear of all kinds, and we teach young and old alike. We even lend the talents of our circle to special events and celebrations. We'd love to see you at the house. Stop by and bang a drum, won't you?
Visit the House
15 Edgewater Street
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
(902) 531-3310
Tuesday — Friday:
10 am — 5pm
Saturday:
10am - 4pm
Sunday:
11am - 4
Monday
closed
Music for you
Music for you
"We drop in to the music house whenever we're in town. It's an essential part of our bay rounds to browse and dream about my next banjo!"
—Jamie Junger
Lessons
Lessons
Our staff and teachers are professional musicians passionate about music and who enjoy sharing their experience. With four private instruction rooms, we offer lessons in fiddle, violin, piano, brass and woodwinds, guitar, bass, mandolin, accordion, percussion, voice, music theory, performance and songwriting. Contact us to match up with the right instructor to fit your personal and musical needs. We welcome all ages and abilities!
All-Ages Classes
From babies to 80s or anywhere in between and beyond, come to the music house for voice, strings (guitar, ukulele, mandolin, bass guitar, violin/fiddle, viola), percussion (hand percussion, bongos, djembe, drum kit), piano, accordion, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, music theory, or songwriting lessons.
Rock Camp
Our summertime Rock Camp is a fun, confidence-building intensive for 8-18 year-olds. Aspiring young musicians of all levels will form a band and jam with pros, learning the ins and outs of live performance. We'll entertain family and friends with a rock show—one of the highlights of the year!
"I love your friendly, happening, hip shop! I always have a great time in my lessons, and I've learned lots!" —Alison Phillips, guitar student
Meet our Teachers
Paul Buchanan
Piano, Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Accordion
Paul has played festivals and toured throughout North America. His album Alfalfa Honey topped the East Coast Countdown for four weeks, and his act Flat Fifth debuted at the ECMA main stage & garnered two nominations. He has accompanied songwriter Laura Smith, and performs in Eilidh and The Woolly Jumpers, The Flaming Jays, and Flat Fifth.
Mikey Smith
Drums
Mikey's father and oldest brother played drums, and he first played his brother’s kit at 8 years old. From that moment he wanted to be a musician. At the age of 12, his parents bought him his first drum kit and he has been playing ever since. He performs independently and in the bands Dockyard Boxer and The Dead Minutes, and competes and teaches.
Paula Phillips
Voice, Tiny Tunes, Piano
For more than 30 years, Paula has performed, taught, conducted, and arranged oratorio, opera, musical theatre and jazz with many ensembles, from Canada’s National Youth Choir to the award-winning Halifax Camerata Singers. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and teaches at the Maritime Conservatory.
Tara Ehler Harp & Piano Tara is the newest addition to our talented teaching family at Buchanans House of Music and she'd love for you to discover the magic of the harp too! Tara is currently accepting new students for both Classical & Traditional Irish/Scottish Harp lessons.
Alex Hamilton Guitar With over 15 years of experience playing, Alex brings a fun, supportive and flexible approach to lessons. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your technique, he's passionate about helping students reach their musical goals at their own pace. Alex also focuses on songwriting and performance to help students understand music on a deeper level.
Miranda Lever
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
Miranda learned piano from her grandmother, a teacher, and began formal lessons at age 5. She has taught for 10 years. She performed with an orchestra pit band and with Grafton Street Dinner Theatre, has played keys and sang for with a few bands, and performs for weddings and receptions. She fronts the neo-classical pagan folk metal band River Moss.
If you’re curious, read more about The Suzuki Method of music education practiced by several of our staff.
"Rock Camp was amazing! The week was jam-packed with loads of new songs, and I made fantastic new friends. I can't wait for next year!" —Keira Kowalyk, 12
In the Shop
In the Shop
Stringed Instruments
Our guitar wall features quality acoustic & electric guitars of all levels at a range of prices. From great-sounding beginner guitars to handcrafted professional quality, we stock Seagull, Yamaha, La Patrie, Epiphone, and Beavercreek.
We carry new Yamaha and Stentor violins and a small selection of lovely secondhand fiddles for growing players, along with a variety of accessories such as bows, rosin, and shoulder rests.
Keyboards
We currently carry Yamaha and KORG keyboards, portables, and stage pianos, along with a variety of pedals, benches, stands, and accessories. We are happy to order in any model as requested by our customers.
Percussion
We have a great selection of hand percussion in-stock, such as djembes, bongos, bodhrans, and hand percussion. We carry LP, Toca, and Mano Percussion, and we stock Remo and Evans drum heads plus an array of kit accessories. We can bring in a selection of complete drum kits—from Mapex, Yahama, and Westbury.
Books & Sheet Music
We have a fantastic selection of music books, from grade exams and tutorials to tune books in many styles. Our fiddle books include imported Scottish books, as well as Irish, Canadian, and Cape Breton tunes. Browse our stash for plenty on jazz improvisation, popular music, or blues, and learn with great music books and tutorials for beginners.
Accessories
We carry several lines of strings for electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, violin, banjo, and mandolin, including nylon classical or coated strings. We carry a full line of reeds for woodwinds, and we stock rosin, cases, and just about any other accessory for most instruments.
Bits & Bobs
From mouth organs to fancy straps, picks, or shiny new toys, we've got all kinds of treats, essentials, themed musical jewellery and scarves, birthday gifts, and stocking stuffers to encourage and delight all the musicians in your life.
"I'm so happy with my new saxophone, thanks to Buchanans' rent-to-buy program. The Music House is awesome — their service is wonderful." —Lisa
Sound Gear & Rentals
Sound Gear & Rentals
Gear
Microphones
Dyamic & condenser microphones
for live or studio sound applications
Amp systems
Powered box mixers
Sound mixing consoles
Guitar & bass amplifiers
Speakers
Active & passive PA systems with monitors
Portable PA systems
Lighting
LED lighting systems
Hardware
Mic stands
Speaker stands
Mounting brackets & more
Instrument Rentals
Strings
Acoustic & electric guitars
Bass guitars
Full-size and fractional violins as small as 1/16
Mandolins & banjos
Drum kits
5-piece full-size drum kit with throne
Cymbals
Keyboards
Full-size, weighted, 88-key keyboards and smaller student versions
Ongoing rentals
We rent all manner of instruments and gear on a daily, weekly, or long-term basis for ongoing learning, holidays, or one-time events.
Sound Technicians
Our in-shop sound technicians have worked as mixing engineers, professional musicians, and recording collaborators with well-known local artists. We can get you all set up for any kind of performing or recording endeavour, and can jump into projects of all genres with proficiency and good cheer. Contact us for booking information.
Instrument Repairs
Instrument Repairs
Whether it’s evaluating any needed repairs, or simply breathing new life into a piece that’s been collecting dust, our Expert Technician Chris MacEachen can help! Chris has become an invaluable addition to Buchanans since joining our team in February. Chris is in House Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-3 to help with:
Guitar and Bass Setups
Violin and Cello Setups
Professional Tuning
Restringing
Instrument Modifications
Pickup and Electronics Installation
Musicians for Hire
Musicians for Hire
For your special event
"Thank you for doing such a lovely job at our wedding. Everyone was just so impressed and the music was so perfect!" —Lisa Davie
From a blow-the-roof-off Celtic extravaganza to a singalong house party with acoustic Beatles tunes to a peaceful harp in a field full of wildflowers, we have the right musicians and the right energy for your celebration—for birthdays, memorials, weddings, backyard parties, or corporate events. Contact us below to set the tone with the right music for you.
photo by Scots Music
The best ceilidh dance-callers this side of the Atlantic
Scottish/Irish or not, we'll get your guests dancing, laughing, and mingling together. As long as you can walk, you can ceilidh dance. If you're familiar with square dances or contra dances, then you already have a head start. Every ceilidh band is accompanied by a dance caller who will guide your guests through the steps. Include just the essential fiddles, or add Irish pipes, guitar, bouzouki, and flute to really make the floor shake. Book your band and caller for the whole night, or choose variety by ceilidh dancing for a couple of hours before you move into 1970s funk.
Our dance caller is a certified Irish dance instructor, and has called ceilidh dances featuring Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and with Juno award-winner Loretto Reid. Her energy is lively, contagious and instructive, and she'll help to make your event unforgettably fun.