Teachers

Barbara Nichols

is a native Knoxvillian who has been teaching piano and voice for over 36 years in both Tennessee and Texas. She received the Dean's award and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Music Education from East Tennessee State University. While participating heavily in the college opera workshop,Ms. Nichols was a soloist and accompanist for various churches in the area. After graduation, Ms. Nichols opened her own music studio in Johnson City, accompanied a church youth choir, and was a featured soloist with the Johnson City Community Chorus. A few years later, Ms. Nichols moved to Texas, where she opened the Dallas School of Performing Arts. This music school offered studies in piano, voice, preschool music classes, and artist development through coaching.

During her years in Texas as a musician,Ms. Nichols accepted a position as the first Music Therapist in the central Texas MH-MR facility, became co-owner and director of an Expressive Arts Workshop for children, and taught class piano for the Dallas Independent School District. After returning to Knoxville, Ms. Nichols accepted the position of Director of Music Ministries for a local church, while maintaining a full studio roster of students. She has been an instructor in the Bill Jones Music Center since 1990.

Ms. Nichols is a member of Knoxville's Tuesday Morning Musical Club, the Tennessee Federation of Music Teachers which sponsor the annual Junior Festival audition event, and the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She is also a National Guild adjudicator when time allows. Her teaching studio includes beginner through advancing piano students and voice students beginning in middle school. Ms. Nichols enjoys conducting choral music, teaching children, actively participating in church ministries, being a church vocalist, singing for funerals, and preparing students for auditions and competitions.

Melissa Wade

from Knoxville has been teaching private piano to children and adults at Bill Jones Music for twelve years. She began teaching while in college at the University of Tennessee, where she graduated with a B.S. in Communications in 1988. Her love of music was born early in life with a full-time church pianist job by age 14.

She studied piano for 12 years, during many of which she served as pianist for various Knoxville churches. She currently accompanies the chancel choir on piano and synthesizer at West Hills Presbyterian Church under Music Minister Don King. Melissa teaches traditional piano method, along with comprehensive theory, to students ranging in age from 5 to 65 years. She is also an experienced instructor of improvisation in styles including hymns, popular and Folk music; playing by chords, lead sheets and fake books; and choral accompaniment. The latter skill she honed as accompanist for both the concert choir and pop ensemble at Carter High School under Dr. Sonny Melton in the early 1980s.

As co-leader of several pop and Top 40 bands from 1989-2000, Melissa learned both keyboard improv and entertainment skills, which she shares with students interested in pursuing music as either a hobby or a profession. She now fronts the acoustic/Folk band Wild Blue Yonder, from Knoxville, as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. She is also a professional songwriter whose songs have won ASCAP awards from 2004-2009 and received radio play on more than 150 U.S. and international stations. Many of her self-penned songs have been featured on Wild Blue Yonder’s CD releases, “Bolt Out Of The Blue” (2002), “Above & Beyond” (2004), and “Full Disguise” (2009).Melissa currently has openings for piano lessons at Bill Jones Music on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Penny W. Norris

Having studied piano for ten years, I began teaching piano in 1973 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education.  Although I have lived in Tennessee since 1981, Georgia is my home and I am, and forever will be, a Georgia Bulldog!  I have taught private piano lessons for over thirty years.  During this time, I have also been an elementary school music teacher, an elementary school classroom teacher for grades K - 4, and an elementary school principal.

In the schools with which I have been associated, both public and private, I have had the opportunity to serve not only as a classroom teacher and principal but also as an elementary and secondary school choir accompanist and as a pianist for various school functions, including graduations, assemblies, chapels, festivals, talent shows, and other school events.  It is a joy to have been able to blend these two areas of interest, education and music, throughout my life’s work.

I have also had the opportunity to serve as a pianist in several churches, accompanying both children and adult choirs, participating in praise band and ensemble groups, and playing for weddings, funerals, and other functions within the church.  I am grateful to be able to share musically with others in this capacity as well.

I moved to Knoxville from Johnson City, TN in 2008 and I have been teaching at Bill Jones Music Center since March 2009.  I thoroughly enjoy playing the piano and teaching piano and would be delighted to discuss lesson opportunities!  It is a privilege not only to share music with others but also to share in the music education of others!

Jeannine Hines

has been teaching piano at Bill Jones Music for 6 years.  She graduated from Taylor University in Indiana with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.  She began teaching piano in 1977 while attending Taylor University.  She has taught piano in Indiana, Michigan, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Jeannine Hines is a member of the Music Teachers National Association through whom she has received national certification.  She is also a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the National Federation of Music Clubs.  Jeannineʼs students participate annually in piano playing auditions and recitals.

Tina Pemberton

Tina began playing the piano by ear at 3 ½ yrs old.  She began lessons at 4 ½.  Her classical training continued through high school and college, both University of Tennessee Knoxville and Middle Tennessee State University.  Upon graduation she began teaching piano.

She recently graduated from an intensive Music Education Seminar conducted by Yamaha Corporation’s Music Education Division in Anaheim, California.  She is now certified to teach Yamaha Music Education Courses at Bill Jones Music.  To qualify for training Tina passed special examinations designed to test her musical skills. She will continue to receive training and updates on the material and techniques. At Bill Jones Music, Tina is teaching the internationally renowned Yamaha Junior Music Course and Young Musicians while continuing her private student lessons as well.

Angela Palmer

I am a native of Winnsboro, Louisiana and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1998. I started lessons at the age of six and was our church pianist at the age of ten. After twelve years of lessons through high school and then college, I started teaching. My students ages have ranged from 5 years to 78 years.  The last 30 years have been a whirlwind of public schools, private schools, private teaching, and Music Director of Wasatch Academy, a preparatory boarding school, grades 9-12. Currently teaching at Bill Jones Music and for the last four years, I teach private piano, group piano, and the very popular five time "Emmy Award" winning  program "Play Piano in a Flash" by Scott Houston, a tremendously successful program for adults or those wishing to learn to play using "lead" sheets or "gig" music.

I,  also, teach vocal music, instructing students  in Italian Folk Songs and Arias and Early English Folk Songs, appropriate repertoire for "eager" singers. The age group for voice is 10 years old to "whatever your dream might be!"  Nine years ago, a student came to me and said she wanted to sing  at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and today, she is at Juilliard . Dreams can come true!  I have directed Preparatory school choirs, church choirs, taught as a vocal coach for the Knoxville Children's Choir, culminating with students singing with the Knoxville Symphony's 4th of July celebration.