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To contact individual teachers, please use the contact page

Barbara A. Walters, director, strings:
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, they perform as Running River Strings entertaining at nursing homes, churches, libraries, schools and other locations and events. Barb has seven children and two grandchildren. She homeschools her four younger children. Barb and her family worship at Grace Baptist Church in Lebanon where they participate in choir and the sanctuary orchestra.

Bethany Walters, violin, piano, assistant teacher: Bethany teaches piano and violin to beginning through intermediate students. She is a senior in high school and is preparing for music school auditions. Bethany is a member of the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Indianapolis. She has attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan for three years. In the summer of 2007, Bethany toured Germany with the Blue Lake International Orchestra. She will tour France this summer with Blue Lake. Bethany sings in the choir at Grace Baptist Church. She also plays violin in the sanctuary orchestra.

Jonathan Walters:
Jonathan designed Family Music Studio's website. As a computer science major at Purdue University he tutors writing and all levels of math. He sang with the Purdue Men's Glee Club for one semester and continues to enjoy singing. He also plays violin with Running River Strings. He works at National City Bank. Jonathan sings in the choir at Grace Baptist Church.

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. 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.

Grant Hodges, acoustic guitar:
Grant Hodges, guitarist, can be heard performing on guitar, bass, and trumpet at the Thorntown Bluegrass jam and in the services of Grace Baptist Church. Grant performs original compostions 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.

Liz Knox, piano, voice, brass: Liz Knox is currently a student at the University of Indianapolis. Liz has taught privately for several years and has recently returned to school to complete her Bachelor of Music Performance. Her principal instrumental studies are in Tuba and Piano. She has also performed and instructed students in Trumpet, Trombone, and Euphonium.
     Liz enjoys her return to studies as an older student and feels that she has a renewed, more enlightened outlook on education and academics. After years of conducting her own music studio, she understands the importance of higher education and wishes to continue her own education so that she may continue to provide an excellent standard for her students. Liz enjoys continuing her education while having the support of her husband and two children. The obstacles of enjoying family life and education often serve as a tool to help her remain focused on her goals.
     Currently Liz performs with the University of Indianapolis Symphonic Wind Ensemble as well as previous performances in the Baroque Ensemble and the University Tuba Quartet. Off campus, she enjoys being a member and performing with the Grace Baptist Church Orchestra in Lebanon. She plans to join the Lebanon Community Band and is looking forward to performing in community events.
     Liz would like to extend her musical knowledge to enable her to teach lessons for all of the basic band instruments. Her future educational goals include receiving her Masters and Doctorate in Music while continuing to teach. Music Theory is her favorite subject and would someday like to teach Beginning and Intermediate Theory at the college level.
     She looks forward to her future in the Lebanon Community and hopes to be able to bring more music programs and opportunities to the area while sharing her love of music with her students.


Catheryn Van Kley, piano, student teacher: Catheryn is a Junior in high school and has been home schooled her entire life. She has taken piano lessons for eight years. During that time she has completed "Alfred's Basic Piano Library" and "Alfred's Technical Skill" series. Along with playing piano, she's been in four different choirs at church, in a handbell choir for three years, and is in a youth band at church playing the electric guitar. She recently started taking guitar lessons. Catheryn is a Christian and attends New Hope Christian Church. She enjoys playing piano and guitar, and knitting.

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 Baptist Church in Lebanon.



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 problem with someone, try first to straighten it out directly with that person. If it cannot be resolved, the FMS director (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. Groups that follow these simple principles are productive and healthy.