Get to Know Us
At Making Music Academy, we are passionate about introducing music to children. Our team of enthusiastic and professional instructors are all united by their love of music, and their commitment to helping our musicians grow!
We strive to create a stimulating, creative and fun learning environment so our music makers can get the most out of our sessions. Scroll to learn more about our instructors.
Terrilyn Pickett
Owner & Music Director
Terrilyn Pickett is a full time classroom music teacher who is originally from Pouch Cove, and is currently living in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips.
She has completed a Bachelor of Music Degree with a major in voice, and a Bachelor of Music Education with a minor in English Literature at Memorial University.
Terrilyn has performed in countless weddings, funerals, functions, concerts and fundraisers throughout the years.
​
With 15 years of teaching music in various areas such as voice, piano, ukulele and classroom music, Terrilyn noticed a dire need for an early childhood music and movement program in the area. After becoming a mom of two small girls, the need was even more apparent.
Terrilyn cannot wait to share her love of music in her new program Making Music.
​
​
Nichole Kirkland
Music Teacher
Nichole Kirkland is a full-time Executive Office Management Instructor of 8 years at College of the North Atlantic.
She has completed a Bachelor of Post-Secondary Education degree and multiple Office Administration Diplomas. She is currently taking Royal Conservatory of Music exams in piano and has completed multiple musical theory courses.
Nichole has participated in multiple Kiwanis Music Festivals and music recitals during her years in voice and piano. Nichole has also performed in multiple weddings, funerals, concerts, local events, and fundraisers. She has experience playing piano, guitar, and recently ukulele.
​
With over 20 years of experience performing and producing concert events along with her education experience, Nichole is very passionate about teaching music to young children and sharing the joy that music can bring to all families.
Samantha Cohen Real
Music Teacher
Samantha Cohen Real is truly passionate about early childhood music education. Her main passion as a music teacher is to transmit peace and happiness to children through music and to help them learn to express their emotions in a free and healthy way.
With over ten years of experience, Samantha has taught music in schools, churches, community centers, academies and private classes.
She has attended different music education workshops and festivals and teaches different instruments such as trombone, trumpet, tuba, piano and ukulele. She has also directed musical ensembles including children's choirs and instrumental ensembles.
She is currently studying a masters in music pedagogy with an emphasis in performance/pedagogy at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Takeytha Legge-Power
Music Teacher
Takeytha Legge-Power has a love for music which started at a very young age. She participated in music lessons, including voice, piano, violin, and flute. She was an active member in many choirs, including Shallaway Youth Choir and Holy Heart Chamber Choir.
Her childhood was filled with many concerts and musical theatre performances. Along with her love of music, Takeytha has a passion for working with children. She has been a team lead for an afterschool enrichment program and, for the last 10 years, she has worked alongside children with emotional, intellectual, and physical exceptionalities, which led her to her current role as Student Assistant at NLSchools.
She is planning to continue pursuing her Education Degree in the Fall. Since becoming a mom to her daughter, she has eagerly incorporated music into her daily life, as she knows the benefits music brings to new babies and children of all ages.
She spends her extracurricular time learning and practicing American Sign Language as well as helping out at Cutie Mommies Club events.
Takeytha is excited to be joining Making Music Academy and looking forward to this new adventure.
David Walters
Music Teacher
David Walters has been teaching piano for well over a decade. A Kiwanis Music Festival Rose Bowl winner, David’s love and dedication to music is demonstrated by his diverse musical background in classical, pop, rock, Top 40, jazz, Broadway, religious, etc. He has performed/accompanied in weddings, festivals, traditional/contemporary church services, dinner music, community events, and executive functions, among others.
With a Bachelor of Music from Mount Allison, David is a lifelong learner. He also has an extensive background in RCM exam prep. And he loves teaching music theory!
David also has a keen interest in electronic keyboards and the endless possibilities of computer digital technology for musical expression and instruction.
David is eager to instill in everyone a love for music. He is very excited to begin teaching at the Music Academy. More than anything else, his wish is to make music fun—for all ages!
Matt Goldsworthy
Music Teacher
Matt Goldsworthy has had a guitar in his hands since he was six years old. His father left his guitars around the house, and he taught himself how to play the most challenging music he could find. Nearly 30 years later, he's still just as passionate about music and guitar!
​
Matt attended Memorial University, studying with the Classical Guitarist Sylvie Proulx. Over the years, Matt studied with world-renowned guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and became influenced by Jazz fusion player Allan Holdsworth.
​
Matt has many years of teaching experience and is well-versed in diverse styles of music. He is committed to furthering his knowledge through independent study and is currently working on recording and producing his own music.
​
He is passionate about passing on his knowledge to people of all ages and musical interests. He likes to make learning music fun to recreate how he felt about music growing up. He loves diving into complex music with serious students, helping them tackle new songs and learn independently outside the classroom.
Melanie Walters
Music Teacher
Melanie Walters, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been teaching and instilling a love of music in students since 1998. Melanie enjoys RCM preparation, popular music, theory, preschool music, and group piano (keyboard).
Melanie graduated from Mount Allison University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music and began her career in Halifax. Teaching group preschool music classes and having training with Anne Crosby for the group keyboard courses was a wonderful start to group teaching as well.
In 2006 Melanie came to Newfoundland, began teaching while working on her Master of Music at Memorial and studying some Music Education courses. Melanie graduated with her masters in 2009, and then had the opportunity as a choral scholar with Shallaway Choir. A highlight of the experience was accompanying Shallaway on their tour through France, Amsterdam, Bruges, and visiting Beaumont Hammel.
Our Philosophy
At Making Music Academy, we believe that music is a powerful tool that can open the door to learning, exploration and creativity!
We provide a fun and engaging environment for children to explore, create, discover and learn through making music.
Our program is designed to develop the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social learning of children.
Through our classes, children learn to express themselves through music, build strong relationships and teamwork and gain self-confidence.
With our unique curriculum, our teachers are able to provide a comprehensive educational experience for children and their families.