If you’ve been to our website, www.MusicArtsSchool.org, you may have noticed that many of our instructors have “testimonials” written by their students.
We’d like up update these website pages, and would like to hear from you. What wonderful qualities does he or she have that might make you want to recommend your instructor to your friends? Write to us and let us know, are maybe your entry will be featured on your instructor’s website page (complete with photo, of course!).
Although younger than other Music Arts instructors, the music school’s latest addition to the faculty is brimming with talent, enthusiasm and playing experience.
Don Childress
Don Childress, who sports the nickname “Duck,” recently graduated from Bearden High School and has as his life’s goal to be a professional musician and teacher.
A guitarist who’s familiar with a wide range of music styles, Don especially enjoys rock, jazz, bluegrass, country and blues. He’s lead guitarist and vocalist for two Knoxville bands and keeps busy performing.
Don’s hope, in teaching, is to pass along his love of music. “I think it’s good to pass music around and share it with everybody,” he emphasizes. “Everyone deserves a chance to learn.” He doesn’t put age limits on the students he’ll accept.
At lessons with new students, Don prefers to first see what they already know. He thinks it’s important to also find out what their goals are. Do they want to learn just chords, or learn to read melodies? “If they can sit still for scales and music theory, I’d be happy to help them with that, too” he grins.
As a musician who loves his guitar and making music, Don was inspired to play guitar because his father had a guitar. “Dad taught me some chords, and it was ‘away we go’ from then on,” Don says, adding “The bottom line is that I always want my students to have fun. If they’re not having fun, then they’re wasting their time and their money.”
Many of you will remember Professor Romeo Fracalanza, who taught piano with Music Arts for many years.
Sadly, Romeo passed away on July 3. He had been a patient at NHC and prior to that, at a local nursing home, where he kept his piano in his room and continued to enjoy it for some time.
Romeo was a gentle, exceptional person. Born in Venice, Italy, he earned his doctorate in music and spent perhaps a decade as the chief organist at the largest church in San Paulo, Brazil. He and his wife, who predeceased him, lived in Sarnia, Ontario; Rochester, N.Y.; and Port Huron, Mich., before moving to Oak Ridge many years ago to be near their daughter Liz Herbes and her family.
The Professor’s family has requested that donations in his honor be given to the Music Arts Scholarship Fund, and we’ve already gotten several, including some from his past friends and neighbors in Michigan. Feel free to add your name to this list.
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 [. […]
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 [.. […]
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 [...] […]
Piano students of Rudolph Nemeth and vocal students of Lisa Griggs appeared in a Music Arts recital on Sunday, February 7. The event, which started at 2 pm, took place at the West Village Christian Church on Robertsville Road. Performing were Michael Raines, Melanie Fann, Matthias Brown, Peter Podar, Kelsey Ridenour, Meagan Kessell and Alex Sample, [...] […]
Taking part in a Music Arts recital on Sunday, December 6, 2009, were students of Francine Britto, Rudolph Nemeth, Frank Layton and Ilia Steinschneider. Appearing were Christopher Friend, Julianna Romanoski, Grace Crowe, Abby Laymance, Josie Flickenger, Mary Grace Hagemeyer, Justin Kidder and Anna Flickenger, piano students of Britto; and Emily Parsons, pian […]
by Lisa Griggs From the student’s point of view, the idea of performing in a recital can be rather daunting. However, there are good reasons why instructors encourage students to perform. Performing helps overcome fear. The fear of the unknown is very powerful. If a student regularly avoids recitals, this fear can build up far beyond proportion. [...] […]
That bird that ate the house is still there, but we promise he/she won’t attack you if you’d like to drop off your payment in our Drop Box at our book-keeping office at director Nancy England’s home on the corner of West Outer Drive and Mississippi Avenue (driveway off Mississippi) in Oak Ridge. If you [...] […]
It’s time for a reminder about how you can earn credits and discounts on your Music Arts bill. If you refer a new student (whose family hasn’t studied with us in the past four years) to any of our Music Arts instructors, you’ll earn one free lesson for every full quarter that the new student completes [...] […]
Our recitals are not grueling marathons! They’re designed to last about one hour, with smaller audiences. Everyone loves the Intermission Quiz, where students are rewarded with mystery prizes for correct answers to musical questions. Let your instructor know that you’d like to be included. And if you’re not quiiiiiite sure about appearing in one, come [...] […]
If you’ve been to our website, www.MusicArtsSchool.org, you may have noticed that many of our instructors have “testimonials” written by their students. We’d like up update these website pages, and would like to hear from you. What wonderful qualities does he or she have that might make you want to recommend your instructor to your friends? [...] […]
How’d you like a free lesson every now and then? Nothing to it. You can be part of our “Advertising!” Refer a new student and for every full quarter that student completes, you’ll earn one free lesson! Better yet, that single referral “Bonus Lesson” award can last as long as two full years! Check it out [...] […]
Auditions for the 2009-2010 Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra will be held on Wednesday, September 23 at 7pm at the University of Tennessee School of Music. Saxophonist Alan Wyatt will conduct the band this year, with support from various members of the KJO. Audition requirements and directions are posted at the website: http://www.knoxjazz.org Follow the “Yout […]
