Kingston Strings Music Society logo Kingston Strings Music Society · est. Oct 2025
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Annapolis Valley · Nova Scotia

Play
Skillfully.

A music studio teaching violin alongside Royal Conservatory of Music theory, and a range of other musical interests besides — for students, parents, and teachers who believe music is a craft worth practising well.

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Kingston Strings studio — violin in hand, mid-lesson.
In the studio
34
Years Teaching
5
Faculty Members
Royal Conservatory of Music
Theory & Practical
1.

News from the studio.

Our monthly newsletter — recital dates, student milestones, repertoire notes, and what the ensembles are working on. Read the latest issue below, or browse back through the season.

Gathering the latest issues…

Prefer it in your inbox? Write to us and we'll add you to the mailing list. Get in touch

What's On.

News and upcoming engagements, gathered in one place — from open registration for the 2026–2027 season to band practice rehearsals and ensemble lessons across the Annapolis Valley.

Registration Open · 2026–2027 Season

Next season's registration is open.

Lesson registration for the 2026–2027 season is now open. Though we have traditionally focused on the violin family and piano, we're expanding our mission to offer instruction across all orchestral instruments — strings, reeds, woodwinds, brass and percussion — taught by our master faculty. Classes begin the second week of September.

Enrol online now
Season
September – June
Instruments
All orchestral instruments & piano
Rates
Children's rates available
Savings
Discounts available
Announcing the Kingston Strings 2026–2027 music season. Lessons run September to June, now including all orchestral instruments — violin, viola, cello, double bass, reeds, woodwinds, brass and percussion — plus new piano instruction. Children's rates, family discounts, and service member discounts available.
How to enrol Reserve a place for the coming season by beginning your registration, or just write to us at info@kingstonstrings.org — we're happy to answer any questions about instruments, rates, or discounts. New to the studio? Find us here on the map.
Band Practice · New for September

Dust off your instrument (or start fresh!)

Remember the energy of band practice? We're bringing that classic, structured format back, for teens and adults alike. Rehearsals are led by Roger, a seasoned educator with a deep background across every level and instrument, and they're every bit as rewarding as they are fun. Come and join the ensemble!

When
Thursday evenings, from September
Band fees
Discounted if enrolled in regular lessons
Kingston Strings band practice — a new music ensemble group lesson taught by Roger Taylor, open to all experience levels.

Who it's for Teens & adults

  • Beginners — learn your very first notes in a supportive environment.
  • Returners — dust off your old instrument and pick up right where you left off.
  • Veterans — keep your skills sharp and enjoy playing in a group dynamic.
Good to know Rehearsals are Thursday evenings starting in September. Let us know as soon as possible if you need to rent an instrument from us, so we can make arrangements to get one to you. To register your interest, write to us at info@kingstonstrings.org. New to the studio? Find us here on the map.
2.

A small faculty, each a working musician.

Five dedicated musicians carry the studio between them. We keep it small on purpose, so that every student is known by name and every lesson is properly prepared for.

Jonathan George

President

After a successful career as a professional pilot, Jonathan took over as President of Kingston Strings Music Society in 2026. He is deeply committed to providing world-class music education in the Annapolis Valley, focusing on excellence in both music and character development. In his spare time he enjoys lutherie, violin-making, and violin-family bow maintenance. "I am so grateful to be working with such dedicated professionals, such committed students, and such a supportive community."

Amy Spurr-Caveney

Vice President

Amy began her violin journey with Kingston Strings and is now a full-time violinist, performing with Symphony Nova Scotia and alongside other well-known musicians. With degrees from Memorial University and the University of Toronto, she oversees the Society's professional standards and faculty development, and is deeply committed to giving every student a first-rate learning experience.

Roger F. Taylor

Head Instructor

A teacher with Kingston Strings since 2005, Roger was educated in the UK (Bristol) and France. He is an accomplished composer, performer, and Royal Conservatory of Music theory expert who leads the instrumental programs with a focus on refined technique and musicality.

Emily Nyenhuis

Instructor

Emily holds honours in Royal Conservatory of Music Piano and Violin (Level 9). She combines her advanced studies with a dedicated teaching practice, fostering a love of music in students of all ages through her own studio and at the Kingston Strings Music Society.

Aleksa Lear

Ensemble Instructor

With a lifelong devotion to the violin, Aleksa specializes in fostering nurturing environments where technical proficiency meets a deep, intuitive love for the craft. Aleksa leads our group ensembles, guiding students through the collaborative process of ensemble performance.

3.

Studies and tuition.

Private tuition and ensemble practice, billed monthly and cancellable with a month's notice. Our rates are set so that a family with more than one player is never priced out of lessons.

Children's

Children's rate

$45/ month
  • Weekly private lesson
  • December & June recitals
  • Season: Sept – June
  • Exempt from further discounts
Select
Track

Core Progress

Perfect if you're busy but want steady, dependable progress — a 30-minute one-to-one lesson every week.

$85/ month
  • Weekly one-to-one lesson
  • Suzuki book 1 – 10
  • December & June recitals
  • Season: Sept – June
  • 50% off band & ensemble fees
Select
Track

Professional

Designed for those who want to dig deeper. These are one-hour lessons and include ensemble fees.

$110/ month
  • Advanced Royal Conservatory of Music repertoire
  • Full theory & ear-training
  • Examination preparation
  • Seat on the orchestra
Select Recommended

Ensembles & group practice

Weekly group rehearsals for players who want to make music together. Discount available for students enrolled in regular lessons.

Ensemble

Band practice

$30/ month
  • Brass, reed, woodwind & percussion
  • All skill levels welcome
  • Discounts for enrolled students
Select
Ensemble

String ensemble practice

$30/ month
  • Violin, viola, cello & double bass
  • At least 1–2 years of prior lessons
  • Basic music theory required
  • Sight-reading an asset, not essential
  • Discounts for enrolled students
Select
4.

Rentals & discounts.

Instruments to get started, and the family discounts that keep more than one player affordable.

Support

Instrument rental

$20/ month
  • Luthier-serviced violins
  • Half, 3/4, and full sizes
  • Violas on request
Inquire
Military

Servicemember discount

15%off lesson fees
  • For active and veteran servicemembers
  • A standalone discount in its own right
Inquire
Family

Multi-member family discount

15%off each additional member
  • Enrol more than one family member and save
  • Full price applies to the highest-value package
  • 15% off each additional member's equal or lesser-value package
Inquire
Season

Free month of June

Freecatch-up month
  • June is a free month
  • To catch up on cancelled or missed lessons
Inquire

Please note: discounts on lesson fees are not stackable.

5.

Bow services.

Rehairing, repairs, and maintenance for the violin family — bows kept in playing condition by hand.

Violin Family

Rehairing

  • Fresh horsehair, hand-fitted
  • Violin, viola, cello & bass bows
  • Cleaned, combed & re-tensioned
Violin Family

Repairs

  • Tips, wedges & eyelets
  • Winding, grip & leather
  • Cambre & straightening
Partnership

School & orchestra upkeep

Jon also maintains the bows for the Kingston Strings violin school and student orchestra, keeping every player's stick ready for the season.

Jonathan George — Violin Family Bow Repair Services. Bow rehairing with high-quality horsehair, frog and button repair, screw and eyelet replacement, grip and winding, tip plate replacement, and stick straightening and crack repair.
Inquiries

Speak with Jonathan George

For rehairing, repairs, or bow maintenance, submit a work request online or reach out directly and Jonathan will be glad to help.

Submit a Work Request
 
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6.

Come by, write, or ring.

Lessons, a tour of the studio, or just a conversation about music — we'd love to hear from you.

The Studio

743 Academic Avenue
Kingston · NS · B0P 1R0

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© 2026 · Kingston Strings — Play Skillfully — Annapolis Valley · NS