Teachers



To contact individual teachers, please use the contact page

FACULTY:
Barbara A. Walters, director, strings:Barbara A. Walters Barb has been teaching violin and other instruments since she was a teenager in college. Following her graduation from the University of Michigan School of Music, she played in professional and community orchestras in Massachusetts and Kentucky while maintaining her studio. She moved to Lebanon in 2001. Barb now plays in the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and free-lances. With her family and other musicians, she performs as Running River Strings entertaining at nursing homes, churches, libraries, schools and other locations and events. Barb is Artistic Director of Fiddlesticks and Vice President of the Lebanon Community Arts Council.
     Barb teaches lessons at her home in the northwest part of Lebanon. Group lessons are held between 4:00 and 6:30 pm on Tuesdays at Grace Church on Elm Swamp Road in Lebanon. Please see Barb's calendars for group lesson dates.
     Barb has seven children and two grandchildren. She homeschools her three youngest children. Barb and her family worship at Grace Church in Lebanon where they participate in choir and the sanctuary orchestra.

Melinda Hightower, piano: Melinda graduated from Cedarville University. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Music with an emphasis in Keyboard Pedagogy. She is a former student of FMS teacher Margaret Warburton, Dr. Steve Roberson of Butler University, and Dr. Charles Clevenger of Cedarville University. Melinda is an experienced teacher who is eager to bring students the experience of learning to play an instrument as well as enjoy a lifetime of music. She teaches in her home in Lebanon on Mondays. If needed, she will make Tuesdays available.

Grant Hodges, acoustic guitar:Grant Hodges Grant Hodges, guitarist, can be heard performing on guitar, bass, and trumpet at the Thorntown Bluegrass jam and in the services of Grace Church. Grant performs original compositions on acoustic guitar and plays with the Grace Praise Band on bass guitar. He also performs on trumpet with the Grace Sanctuary Orchestra. Grant conducted the Grace Sanctuary Choir for twelve years, was musical director for two touring groups, and producer on two recording projects. Grant teaches his lessons at Grace Church. He will work with students to find a suitable lesson time and day. Visit Grant on the web!


Liz Knox, piano, brass:Liz Knox Elizabeth A. (Mosby) Knox, (b. 1976) currently resides in Lebanon, Indiana with an active schedule as a conductor, teacher, and composer in the Indianapolis area. Knox, a native Hoosier, was raised in Spencer County in southern Indiana. Knox relocated to central Indiana in the late 1990s, establishing a private teaching studio for piano and low brass students. During this time, she also provided fundamental instruction for marching bands, and served as a piano accompanist for various groups. Following her marriage to Kevin Knox in May, 2000, they welcomed a son, Christian, and daughter, Julia. Knox later continued her education at the University of Indianapolis where she focused her efforts in Music Performance (tuba), Theory, Composition, and Conducting.
     During her years at the University of Indianapolis, she studied composition with Dr. John Berners, piano with Dr. Sharon Parr, harpsichord with Thomas Gerber, and conducting with Dr. James Spinazzola. While at the University of Indianapolis, Knox participated in masterclasses, workshops, and clinics with notable conducting clinicians such as Dr. Rodney Winther (Cincinnati Conservatory), Dr. Gary Hill (Arizona State University), Dr. Allan McMurray (University of Colorado), and Cliff Colnot (principal conductor/Chicago Symphony Orchestra's contemporary MusicNow series.)
     Knox has also participated in the International Conducting Festival and Workshop, held in Ann Arbor, Michigan under the direction of Maestro Gustav Meier. Knox remains active in the art community of Lebanon as president and founding member of the Lebanon Community Arts Council of Indiana. The group focuses their efforts in bringing cultural education, awareness, and advocacy for the arts to their community. Through this program, the group was able to establish the Boone County Youth Orchestra in 2009, of which Knox serves as Artistic Director. Knox also serves as principal tuba for the Lebanon Brass Quintet (founding member), Grace Church Orchestra, and the Boone County Community Band. Visit Liz on the web!

Melissa Lamb, voice, piano:Melissa Lamb Mrs. Lamb believes that music is an amazing source for confidence building that prepares individuals for success in life. “Music is a language we all can relate to. Whether singing in front of 30,000, or alone for personal enjoyment, the gift of music is to be treasured and passed on to others.”
     Melissa Lamb attended Anderson University, majoring in vocal performance. She studied with Greta Dominic (teacher of Indiana’s own Sandy Patty). Mrs. Lamb’s career in music has given her many performance opportunities. She sang I've Just Seen Jesus with Grammy Award winner Larnelle Harris and performed in the opera Magic Flute in Anderson, IN under the direction of Fritz Robertson. With help from producer Steve Milikan, she released her first professional recording.
     Mrs. Lamb spent several years traveling throughout the United States singing concerts and for special events in churches of all denominations. She sang numerous times on Christian Television Station channel 42 (Trinity Broadcasting Network). She has also performed the national anthem in sports venues such as Pacer Basketball and professional racing events.
     For the last fifteen years, Mrs. Lamb has been teaching students of all ages and abilities in Lebanon, Brownsburg, and Bloomington. Her students have excelled in state and local competitions where some have been featured as top soloist in show choirs. She has helped several students who have sung the National Anthem for Pacer home games or other sporting events.
     In addition to teaching, she has returned to performing some concert and special event. However, she now takes her three beautiful daughters with her.

Jenna Page, flute:Jenna Page Jennifer Page, flutist, recently graduated from the University of Indianapolis summa cum laude "with distinction" with a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance. While at the University, Jennifer performed in the University's Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra where she sat principal flute, participated in the University's flute choir and handbell ensembles, was a member of and 2010-2011 President of the University's chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, a professional honorary music fraternity, and a member of the University's chapter of Alpha Chi and the University's Honors College. She was featured twice as a soloist with the University Chamber Orchestra and was invited to perform a duet with her flute teacher on a University of Indianapolis Faculty Artist Series Concert. Jennifer has performed in masterclasses for Thomas Robertello and Paul Edmund Davies and has presented at the 2008 National Collegiate Honors Conference in San Antonio and the 2011 Alpha Chi National Convention in San Diego. She participated in the orchestral program at the 2010 MasterWorks Festival for the Christian Performing Artist. Jennifer enjoys taking hundreds of pictures, adores teaching the kiddos at church, loves spending time with family and friends, and is passionate about music and serving others through this incredible gift. Visit Jenna on the web!

Margaret Warburton, piano: Margaret has taught piano lessons for many years. After studying piano pedagogy at Butler University she taught for ten years at Bethesda Christian School and also has maintained a private studio. Margaret has been a church pianist and organist for fifty years and continues this ministry at Grace Church in Lebanon. Mrs. Warburton teaches her lessons at Grace Church.

STAFF:
Emily Walters, violin, piano, student teacher:Emily Walters Emily is an assistant teacher of piano. She is a junior in high school and has played both violin and piano since she was five years old. Emily has been a member of the New World Youth Concert Orchestra in Indianapolis for three years and the New World Philharmonic Orchestra for one year. She attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in 2007-2010. This summer, Emily is touring Europe with the Blue Lake International Youth Orchestra. Emily sings in the choir and plays violin in the sanctuary orchestra at Grace Church. Emily teaches at her home in the northwest part of Lebanon. Visit Emily on the web!


Hannah Horton, piano, student teacher:Hannah Horton
Hannah Horton is a student teacher for piano. She is a junior in high school. Hannah has played piano since she was five years old and takes lessons from Linda Singletary. She sings and accompanies for her school’s beginning choir and plays oboe in her the school wind ensemble. Hannah also plays keyboard in her church's worship band.




WEB DESIGN:
Jonathan Walters:Jonathan Walters Jonathan designed Family Music Studio's website. Jonathan graduated from Purdue University in 2011. Jon plays violin and piano and enjoys singing. He has now started his career as a computer science consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton in Maryland.






PAST FMS STAFF:
Catheryn Van Kley, piano, acoustic guitar:Catheryn taught piano at Family Music Studio for 3 years (2007-2010, summer 2011) and guitar for 1 year (2009-2010). She loved teaching for the studio and looks forward to getting involved at FMS again in the future. Catheryn graduated from Christian Liberty Academy School System this past spring (2010) and is now attending Florida Christian College for studies in music. She will major in Music Ministry or Music Education - or maybe both! Catheryn is excited to see what God has in store for her future. She plays piano, guitar, violin and some upright bass.

Bethany Walters, violin, piano:Bethany Walters Bethany taught piano and violin to beginning through intermediate students for FMS until 2009. She continues to teach and perform in Indianapolis. Please visit Bethany's studio Fine Arts Connection. Bethany is a junior at University of Indianapolis majoring in violin performance and English. Bethany enjoyed touring Europe with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Orchestra in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 she attended the University of Indianapolis Chamber Music Institute. Bethany is an alumna of the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Indianapolis. When Bethany is in Lebanon, she sings in the choir and plays violin or string bass in the sanctuary orchestra at Grace Church.




Note: Family Music Studio abides by high standards of morality and safety. All FMS staff are required to submit references and complete a background check. Our conflict resolution policy is to follow Biblical principles: If you have a issue with someone, try first to straighten it out directly with that person. If it cannot be resolved, the FMS director Barb Walters or Pastor Grant Hodges will be available to come alongside to help. Gossip (saying something negative or critical about someone who is not present) will not be tolerated.