Clinicians and Regional Specialists
Halifax Regional Arts
Clinicians and Specialists
2023-2024
Halifax Regional Arts is pleased to provide the services of several clinicians and specialists. Educators in HRCE can book these clinicians and specialists to come to their classrooms to support curriculum delivery and assist with teacher professional development. You can contact each clinician and specialist directly at the email provided.
There is no limit to the number of times you can book a clinician and specialist; however, they will manage their bookings to ensure they are available to as many programs and classrooms as possible.
Music
Bob Nicholson-Bob is a brass specialist who will do clinics with brass players of all ages. Bob provides small and large group instruction and individual lessons in person or over Zoom. Bob will also work with educators on brass pedagogy and warm-ups for full band. He can be contacted at rnicholson@hrce.ca.
Leslie Smith-Leslie is a woodwind specialist who will do clinics with woodwind players of all ages. Leslie provides small and large group instruction and individual lessons in person or over Zoom. Leslie will also work with educators on woodwind pedagogy. She can be contacted at leslie.smith@hrce.ca.
Joe Cormier-Joe is a band educator with 30 years of experience. He is available for full band clinics to discuss pedagogy, planning, or any question a band teacher may have. Joe also provides brass clinics. You can contact Joe at jcormier@hrce.ca.
Ken Foote-Ken is an experienced instrumental educator who has been an integral part of the music education community in Nova Scotia for decades. Ken will focus on the Bayview/ J.L. Ilsley family of schools and will provide band clinics, sectionals, private lessons, and mentorship for music educators. Ken can be contacted at kdfoote@outlook.com
Pam Paddock-Pam is an experienced music educator and sought-after wind band conductor. She can help educators work on their conducting, pedagogy, planning, or any aspect of a band program. She also provides woodwind and full band clinics and percussion section guidance. Pam can be reached at ppaddock@hrce.ca.
James Jackson-James is one of the most respected Orff educators in Canada. Past president of Orff Canada, James brings a career of experience in elementary classrooms. James is available to mentor elementary classroom music educators or even band educators who wish to explore Orff technique. James books up extremely quickly, so contact him at jacksoj@hrce.ca.
Michael MacDonald- Mike is a Music Specialist with years of experience teaching classroom music and directing choirs of all ages. He is our resident recording studio specialist, running a recording studio for students through Cole Harbour High. Access to the recording facility is free of charge and available to any high school student or school ensemble. Mobile recording is also available through the studio. Recording time can be booked by emailing michael.macdonald@hrce.ca .
Charlotte Myers – Charlotte is a highly experienced music educator who applies both Orff and Kodaly pedagogy in her teaching practise. She would like to inspire more singing in the schools through choir/drama/concert rehearsals, student clinics, or in a music classroom setting. Charlotte can offer guidance and support on incorporating solfege, recorder, mallets, and movement into your music program. Contact her at cmyers@hrce.ca
Noah Garnier-Noah is a percussion specialist who will do clinics with percussion players of all ages. Noah provides small and large group instruction and individual lessons in person. Noah will also work with educators on percussion pedagogy, score interpretation, instrument capabilities/troubleshooting, part assignments, and section set-up. He can be contacted at noah.garnier@hrce.ca.
Regional Specialists-Drama/Dance/Visual Arts/Music
Melissa McCulloch- Melissa is a Fine Arts Specialist with an Indigenous focus. She is from Sipekne'katik First Nation. She helps with appropriating art by seeing it through an Indigenous Lens. She provides workshops for the Medicine Wheel, 7 sacred teachings, storytelling, singing, dancing, and much more. She also has experience with doing big projects for permanent pieces of art to be displayed in schools that involve the students and are student-led. Her email is melissa.mccullloch@hrce.ca.
Colin Briggs – Colin is a Fine Arts Specialist with an Indigenous Focus. He is committed to developing unique, relevant, hands-on workshops emphasizing Indigenous artists and voices. Colin is passionate about Fine Arts education at all grade levels that highlight Indigenous people’s contribution to visual arts, music, and storytelling. He can teach, lead, or assist in incorporating Indigenous Arts in P-12 classrooms. He can be contacted at colin.briggs@hrce.ca
Toria Aidoo-Toria is a passionate music educator with two decades of experience with African music & culture, drumming, dancing, marimba, and storytelling. Toria can do drum/dance workshops and mentorship programs in drum/dance or marimba. She utilizes the Orff approach in teaching music and is open to working with students from all grades. Please email Toria at vaidoo@hrce.ca.
Cindy Cain- Cindy is a Visual Arts specialist working for Halifax Regional Arts, bringing forth an Afrocentric arts-based curriculum rooted in African Nova Scotian art, artifacts, and folklore. She can be reached at ccain@hrce.ca.
Gail Teixeira- Gail is a Fine Arts Specialist with an African Nova Scotia emphasis. Her art practice embraces learning, performing, and creating as a collaborator, artist, and writer. Learners can expect direct experience in movement, storytelling, sound, and production during their workshop experience. The seminar extends the Nova Scotia arts curriculum’s emphasis on unifying themes. With decades of technology integration, songwriting, and performance for youth and adult learners, Gail can collaborate with all grade levels, sharing connections and raising awareness of local African Nova Scotia performance artists. She can be contacted at gteixeira@hrce.ca.