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Andy Bryenton joins Music Arts

With the retirement of Jeanine and Matthew Wilkinson, Music Arts is fortunate to welcome cellist Andy Bryenton to the music school’s faculty. Bryenton has been the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s principal cellist for 10 years and prior to that was the principal cellist of the Oak Ridge Symphony for several years.

In addition to being a member of the Knoxville Symphony’s Principal Quartet, a musician of broad tastes, Bryenton also enjoys performing with a group devoted to hot jazz and swing music of the 30s and 40s, the Johnson Swingtet, a group of two guitars, mandolin and harmonica in addition to cello.

Bryenton earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, continuing with a Master’s degree in Music from UMass Amherst. He started playing cello when he was nine years old. “I’d tried violin, but my hands were too big for it,” he recalls. “Cello seemed to be a perfect fit for me.”

As an instructor, Bryenton likes carrying on a tradition and feels he’s making a difference. “I’m divulging secrets of technique,” he grins. “I really like to see students light up when they grasp something important. It’s very special to be able to make music out of notes.”

A typical lesson combines many aspects. He feels that learning to read music is important, as well as building muscles necessary to play. “I strive to inspire improvement, even if it’s just a small improvement,” he notes.

Bryenton enjoys students of all ages, and feels that children are ready to learn the basics as young as age six. “It’s possible to start earlier, but if a child starts at, for example, age 3, by the time he or she is five, they haven’t gone too far.”   Naturally he enjoys more advanced students as well, concentrating of performance techniques.

“I like to be open-minded about interpretation of music,” pointing out that all music is essentially ‘new’ music to students. “It’s important to get a fresh look at the way a piece is played.”

Starting with the music school’s Summer Quarter, Bryenton will be teaching at space leased from the Alliance Church on the corner of Robertsville Road and Raleigh Road in Oak Ridge. For more information, contact the music school’s office at 482-5614 or use the “Contact Us” link on the website.

Matthew Wilkinson joins Music Arts Faculty

Matthew Wilkinson, member of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Principal Cellist of the Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport, as well as a Knoxville Symphony on-call member, has joined Music Arts and is now giving lessons.

Matt’s wife, Jeanine Lafitte Wilkinson, has been a member of the Music Arts faculty for a number of years, and when her schedule no longer allowed her to accept new students, Matt was the obvious answer.

According to Matthew, cello runs in his family in more than his connection with Jeanine. His mother was professional cellist, and started Matt with cello lessons at age 4, playing a 1/10 size instrument. He says that this has instilled cello playing into his lifestyle and feels that this is what he was raised to do. And he loves it, and the sound of the instrument, pointing out that he can play some of the greatest music ever written, as well as traveling and performing with different people.

As well as his orchestra jobs, his busy schedule includes teaching orchestra at Karns, with three hour-long orchestra classes every day. He’s also an assistant conductor for the Knoxville Youth Symphony.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Oregon, as well as a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Matt is very qualified. He accepts students as young as 4^th or 5^th grade.

What does he look for in a student? Primarily, a willingness to learn, to accept new ideas. He adds that it helps if they have a passion for music, that they want to play for some reason. He admires students who practice, and points out that progress is determined more by how a student practices, rather than how long. He’d rather see a student practice for one hour, efficiently, than just coast along through a four hour session.

Needless to say, he’ll be more than willing to help his students learn to put their practice time to the best use.

Every now and then we get enthusiastic notes of praise from students, and we’d like to share some of these with you from time to time.

In today’s contribution, an adult student says she realizes that she enjoys and appreciates piano lessons much more than she would have as a child. Read on ….

“My husband gave me six music lessons as a Christmas gift this year. This was a wonderful surprise and something that I have wanted to do for quite a long time. I’m sure learning to play the piano would have been easier 60 years ago, but at age 65 I can honestly say that I enjoy and appreciate these lessons much more than I would have as a child.

“Fortunately, Mr. Nemeth is a very, very patient teacher! At the end of four lessons, I feel as though I am trying to pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time while my brain tries to decipher a foreign language. But I am enjoying it enormously.

“I also bought a Yamaha digital piano and am enjoying that as well. I’m glad you mentioned the possibility of that type of piano to my husband since we didn’t know that this as an option. The fact that it can be used with headphones is a very good idea since it take me forever to learn the most simple item.

“I would absolutely like to continue these lessons. What is the usual arrangement for paying for them? I will happily send you a check if you let me know the preferred time period that it should cover.

“Thanks again for your help in arranging a wonderful Christmas gift this year.”

Our director, Nancy England, says:

We have a relatively large number of adult students, not only in piano, but also voice, violin, guitar, trumpet and other instruments. Many people agree that while it’s easier to learn a new skill while a child, that debit is replaced by enthusiasm and desire to practice.