Blab Music
Dartmouths New Music Studios Bring Lessons Home, Reducing Need to Cross the Harbour
For many Dartmouth families, a music lesson once meant a trip across Halifax Harbour to the city’s larger conservatories. The latest wave of community‑based studios—Accents Music Studio and Ekko Performing Arts Society—has changed that pattern.
Accents began in 2021 as a renovated basement classroom during the pandemic, founded by Erin Summers and Elizabeth Humphries. Demand outpaced the space within a year, prompting a move to the St. James United Church hall on Portland Street. Today the studio employs four teachers and three teaching assistants and offers piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, group singing and piano classes, mainly to elementary‑school‑aged children.
Summers explained that the decision to locate the studio in Dartmouth was driven by community ties rather than market strategy. "As a parent myself, you want something that’s close by," she told the Post. "You want something that you know you can trust – that your friend has recommended." She added that the studio’s goal is to make every child feel welcome and to meet students where they are, whether they aim for exams or simply enjoy playing.
Just a few blocks away on Ochterloney Street, Ekko Performing Arts Society began as a private music studio in 2021 and has since transitioned to a non‑profit organization. Executive director Adam LeBlanc said the studio’s mission is to create a "comfortable home vibe" where students can learn without pressure. "People could come in and just feel at home and relaxed," he told the Post.
Ekko’s downtown location—within walking distance of the ferry terminal and major bus routes—was chosen to improve accessibility for families relying on public transit and to support the growing arts scene in Dartmouth’s core. The organization offers sliding‑scale lesson fees, a music fund for lower‑income children, and instrument lending to reduce financial barriers.
Both studios emphasize inclusivity. Ekko hosts a queer choir, employs a diverse teaching staff, and designs programs to welcome all participants. Accents also focuses on building confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging in addition to musical skill.
Music education remains a significant expense for many families, and the studios’ efforts to lower costs are part of a broader trend in the region. Dartmouth’s population grew to 72,139 in 2021, and the community’s expansion has spurred demand for local arts services.
LeBlanc noted that the studios see music as a tool for personal resilience. "Some people come in and have a really stressful day, and then they come to this, and then a half hour later they’re saying, ‘Thank you for having me come,’" he said.
Looking ahead, both founders hope to see greater collaboration among local music groups and increased investment in neighbourhood‑based creative spaces. LeBlanc envisions a central performing‑arts hub where organizations could share space, reduce costs and expose families to a wider range of programs.
Summers agrees that the city’s music community is growing, with more qualified teachers and a variety of options close to home. She stresses that the goal isn’t to compete with Halifax’s established institutions but to ensure that children in Dartmouth no longer have to leave their community to find quality music education.
Today, Accents and Ekko continue to serve their local communities, offering lessons that blend skill development with social connection. As Dartmouth’s arts infrastructure expands, the studios exemplify how community‑based initiatives can provide accessible, high‑quality music education without requiring residents to travel to Halifax.
The studios remain open for new students and are actively recruiting teachers and volunteers. Upcoming events include a community concert series in late summer and a series of workshops on instrument maintenance and music theory. For families interested in enrolling, both studios maintain online registration forms and offer introductory lessons at reduced rates.
The continued growth of Dartmouth’s local music scene reflects a broader shift toward neighbourhood‑centric arts education, underscoring the importance of accessibility, affordability and community connection in fostering musical talent and cultural participation.
Accents began in 2021 as a renovated basement classroom during the pandemic, founded by Erin Summers and Elizabeth Humphries. Demand outpaced the space within a year, prompting a move to the St. James United Church hall on Portland Street. Today the studio employs four teachers and three teaching assistants and offers piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, group singing and piano classes, mainly to elementary‑school‑aged children.
Summers explained that the decision to locate the studio in Dartmouth was driven by community ties rather than market strategy. "As a parent myself, you want something that’s close by," she told the Post. "You want something that you know you can trust – that your friend has recommended." She added that the studio’s goal is to make every child feel welcome and to meet students where they are, whether they aim for exams or simply enjoy playing.
Just a few blocks away on Ochterloney Street, Ekko Performing Arts Society began as a private music studio in 2021 and has since transitioned to a non‑profit organization. Executive director Adam LeBlanc said the studio’s mission is to create a "comfortable home vibe" where students can learn without pressure. "People could come in and just feel at home and relaxed," he told the Post.
Ekko’s downtown location—within walking distance of the ferry terminal and major bus routes—was chosen to improve accessibility for families relying on public transit and to support the growing arts scene in Dartmouth’s core. The organization offers sliding‑scale lesson fees, a music fund for lower‑income children, and instrument lending to reduce financial barriers.
Both studios emphasize inclusivity. Ekko hosts a queer choir, employs a diverse teaching staff, and designs programs to welcome all participants. Accents also focuses on building confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging in addition to musical skill.
Music education remains a significant expense for many families, and the studios’ efforts to lower costs are part of a broader trend in the region. Dartmouth’s population grew to 72,139 in 2021, and the community’s expansion has spurred demand for local arts services.
LeBlanc noted that the studios see music as a tool for personal resilience. "Some people come in and have a really stressful day, and then they come to this, and then a half hour later they’re saying, ‘Thank you for having me come,’" he said.
Looking ahead, both founders hope to see greater collaboration among local music groups and increased investment in neighbourhood‑based creative spaces. LeBlanc envisions a central performing‑arts hub where organizations could share space, reduce costs and expose families to a wider range of programs.
Summers agrees that the city’s music community is growing, with more qualified teachers and a variety of options close to home. She stresses that the goal isn’t to compete with Halifax’s established institutions but to ensure that children in Dartmouth no longer have to leave their community to find quality music education.
Today, Accents and Ekko continue to serve their local communities, offering lessons that blend skill development with social connection. As Dartmouth’s arts infrastructure expands, the studios exemplify how community‑based initiatives can provide accessible, high‑quality music education without requiring residents to travel to Halifax.
The studios remain open for new students and are actively recruiting teachers and volunteers. Upcoming events include a community concert series in late summer and a series of workshops on instrument maintenance and music theory. For families interested in enrolling, both studios maintain online registration forms and offer introductory lessons at reduced rates.
The continued growth of Dartmouth’s local music scene reflects a broader shift toward neighbourhood‑centric arts education, underscoring the importance of accessibility, affordability and community connection in fostering musical talent and cultural participation.
