Who are we?

With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Nikhil is a touring singer-songwriter and producer, who goes by the artist name "Kill The Burr". As owner of Burr Beat Music and founder of Burr Beat Records, Nikhil brings a deep, practical understanding of music performance, education, and creative development. Having worked across diverse musical settings — from live performance and studio work to teaching and mentoring — Nikhil has developed a teaching approach that balances technical excellence with artistic expression.

Throughout a career shaped by real-world industry experience, Nikhil has worked with musicians of all levels, helping students build strong foundations while discovering their own musical voice. This background informs a teaching philosophy rooted in discipline, creativity, and confidence — ensuring students are not only skilled musicians, but expressive and adaptable artists.

As the founder of Burr Beat Music, Nikhil is committed to creating a supportive, inspiring learning environment where students are encouraged to grow at their own pace. The school’s vision is to provide high-quality music education that bridges traditional training with modern industry insight, preparing students for a lifetime of musical enjoyment — whether professionally or personally.

Nicolas has been playing instruments and composing melodies and lyrics for around 15 years. He grew up taking piano lessons, and is a self-taught guitarist. He has been teaching for 4 years, and is eager to share his knowledge of music theory and his ear training techniques with his students. Nic structures his lessons around each students’ individual interests and goals, as he believes that it is important for your music experience to feel personal! Nicolas received his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from University of Waterloo, where he worked with Matt Borland (Systems Design Engineering at UWaterloo) to develop Interval Notation; a color-coded musical notation system aimed at visualizing music for people who struggle with reading conventional sheet music!

Hans Li is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, mixer and gigging musician from Mississauga. He started with classical piano training at age 5, reaching RCM 8 before learning to play the drums at age 10 and learning guitar and bass later in his teens.

Since attending Humber college’s Jazz Percussion program between 2018-2020, he has contributed mixing and recording credits for independent and label-backed acts alike. Some notable collaborations include Toronto’s Justice Der, Katie Tupper, Mileena, and Marielle Divino.

With over 10 years of performance and production experience in indie, hip-hop, RnB, rock and pop music, he has the ability to engage students musical interests no matter how diverse they may be.

Jadon Haughton is drummer and producer. He started playing drums at the age of 5, and has been teaching for over 20 years!  He credits influences ranging from Erykah Badu to Led Zeppelin for his unique sound and ability to adapt his musical approach for each students’ lesson specifications.

He attended Mohawk College’s music program, where he studied with acclaimed professors, Anthony Michelli, Pat Collins and Adrean Farrugia. Jadon has performed on the stages of venues throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.  Jadon believes in working hard, and having fun while doing so.

Stephan has been playing guitar for over 10 years, beginning his musical journey at age 13. His playing is rooted in blues-influenced guitar, drawing inspiration from legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, while also embracing classic rock, early metal, and modern metal styles. His influences range from bands like Led Zeppelin to contemporary metal artists, allowing him to connect with students across multiple genres.

Before guitar, drums were Stephan’s first instrument. He began playing drums at the age of seven and continues to play to this day, developing a strong sense of rhythm, timing, and groove—skills that heavily influence both his guitar playing and teaching approach. While guitar is his primary instrument, this rhythmic foundation allows him to help students better understand feel, timing, and musical structure.

Stephan studied music throughout all four years of high school, building a solid foundation in musicianship and music theory.

In his teaching, Stephan believes that student engagement is key to real progress. He structures lessons around songs students genuinely enjoy, ensuring the material aligns with their individual goals. This approach keeps students motivated, encourages consistent practice, and makes learning more enjoyable. Each lesson balances structured technique and music theory with practical, song-based learning, allowing students to build strong fundamentals while working on music they’re excited about—creating the best of both worlds.

​Desiree (she/her) is a vocal coach, singer, actress, and songwriter based in the GTA. She has been teaching voice and piano lessons at various studios and in her home studio for 8 years now.  Desiree has also produced cabarets and concerts throughout Toronto in collaboration with various music groups. She is well-versed in many different genres such as Musical Theatre, pop, indie pop/folk, and classical. She received training in Voice Performance at York University. She has also received a certificate in Music, Drama and Voice from the Music Theatre Academy at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Everett started playing piano at 13 years old, and has been teaching for over 25 years. He studied Jazz Piano with Brian Harris at Humber College, as well as Jazz Improvisation and Classical Repertoire with Miki Petopski. Everett is a songwriter, recording artist and producer, who is open to all expressions of music. He enjoys playing a variety of genres, including Gospel, R&B, Jazz, and Rock. Everett is able to comfortably teach RCM Piano up to Level 8.

Mariana has been playing Trumpet and Guitar for 5 years, and has been teaching both for 1 year. She has a musical background in Jazz, Latin, and Soul/Funk, but is also able to teach Contemporary music genres, such as Pop and Rock. Mariana is currently enrolled in Humber College’s Jazz Music program. She has several years of Trumpet performance experience throughout the GTA with the Toronto All-Star Big Band. Mariana also has experience teaching Piano at a beginner level.

Michael Bones is a classically trained violinist graduated from WLU’s Chamber Music Program studying BMus and majored in Composition. He has played live with Orchestras, String Quartets, Operas, and as a Soloist. Michael has also played on Dr. Dre’s 2001 live album with Alternative Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House in Toronto, and has recorded for other artists and projects, including film scores. Michael currently has 2 EPs and 1 Album released under the artist name “Michael Bones”. He currently plays first chair violin Ⅰ, with the Milton Philharmonic Orchesta.