When I was 19, I was lucky enough to take violin lessons at the West Island Conservatory of Music. I enjoyed my time there so much that I decided to add voice lessons to the mix! The Conservatory is a warm and encouraging environment in which to learn. The teachers are knowledgeable and gifted, and their support was invaluable to a young artist (as was their patience, as I was not a “natural”!)

I have since gone on to have a career as an actor and writer in film and television. I am very grateful for my time at the Conservatory. Not only did it help build my confidence for a career in the arts, it also provided discipline and an opportunity to meet like minded people who nurtured my creative dreams.

I highly recommend this place!

“I Have been a customer of the West Island Conservatory of Music for many, many years. The eldest of my children began classes 15 years ago. WICM has been an important part of the development of my children’s skills and talents. The Quality of the music teachers continues to be top notch. The learning environment and tools are very professional.

The concerts are an excellent addition to the program and truly help the students to build their confidence and become comfortable performing to a large audience. My family would not take lessons anywhere else.”

“Both my son and daughter took lessons for several years at the West Island conservatory of music and they had a great time. The teachers made such a connection with the kids that they still have a joy of making music for their own pleasure and that of their friends.

The skills taught at the conservatory have stayed with them over the years and I highly recommend WICM to any parent or person Looking to get a proper introduction to playing music. Now it’s my turn and I am currently taking piano lessons at the Conservatory.”

Declan McGuinness started bass guitar lessons at the age of 9 with our teacher Max Pollack and has played with Conservatory bands at the Christmas and Summer concerts ever since. He gained a love of music playing with other members of his family who have also studied at the conservatory. He decided to pursue his interests in music and enrolled in the music program in Jean XXIII secondary school.

At the age of 13, in 2013 he was selected with 50 young musicians from Montreal to take part in the Montreal Jazz Festival’s Blues Camp. During an intensive week they learned a song and composed another one, both of which were played on the TD Stage in front of thousands of people on the last day of the festival. He was also interviewed about the camp on Daybreak Montreal.

Declan likes heavy metal, rock and the blues. We expect to see a lot of Declan on stage in the coming years.

“The West Island Conservatory of Music has a great range of teachers which makes it easy to find a teacher that best fits with the student’s personality and ability. As such it has always been the McGuinness family first choice for music lessons.”