Jessica Hansen-Wheaton

Jessica Hansen Wheaton is an active member of the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association (NSRMTA) and has been teaching piano to students of all ages and levels for more than twenty years. Growing up in a musical family—both of her parents are pianists and teachers—she began playing piano at the age of six. In addition to her private studio, Jessica has taught piano and related courses at Acadia University, served as head examiner for the School of Music’s external piano examinations, and currently teaches at the Maritime Conservatory of Music in Halifax. She continues to run a thriving piano studio and is well regarded for the strong musical community she has built with her students.

Jessica began her piano studies at the Maritime Conservatory before earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Acadia University and a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Montreal. She has studied with distinguished teachers including Constance Hubley, Peter Allen, John Hansen, Marc Durand, and Maneli Pirzadeh. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous awards and competition prizes, and has appeared as a soloist in venues such as Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Claude Champagne Hall, Orford Arts Centre (Orford Musique), and The Music Room. Jessica has also participated in masterclasses with many of Canada’s leading pianists, among them Angela Hewitt, Janina Fialkowska, Marc-André Hamelin, André Laplante, Jean Saulnier, and Anton Kuerti. In addition, she has served as assistant instructor and coach to Richard Raymond at the University of New Brunswick’s Summer Music Festival.

Jessica is a dedicated teacher at heart, committed to bringing out the best in each of her students. Known for her patience, firmness, and enthusiasm, she strives to inspire students to achieve at a high level while ensuring they enjoy their lessons. She shares her passion for music with creativity and energy, fostering a supportive environment that nurtures discipline, confidence, and curiosity.

In her teaching, Jessica emphasizes both artistic growth and technical strength, helping students build a solid foundation for agile playing and injury prevention. She is equally devoted to nurturing self-esteem, encouraging personal expression, and cultivating a genuine joy in making music. Her students have consistently earned top marks in Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations and distinguished themselves in local festivals and competitions.

Above all, Jessica aims to instill in each student a lifelong love of music and the inspiration to pursue their individual musical goals.