Amy Joy has a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy from Florida State University & degree in Film Composing from Berklee College of Music. She has over 15 years experience teaching piano lessons, both individual instruction & classes, to students of all ages, levels and style. She has special training teaching music to youngsters ages 3-5 years old and to students with special needs.

Music theory and ear training are integrated into the lessons and song writing and composition are offered to interested students. Amy is a classically-trained pianist with additional performance experience in rock, pop & blues ensembles. She resided in Los Angeles for 5 years where she worked for Warner Music Group, played in a pop/rock band, and belonged to the Society of Composers and Lyricists. Amy currently teaches at World Music Nashville on Saturdays and works full time at Warner Music Nashville. Amy is also a member of the MTNA (Music Teacher's National Association) and NAMTA (Nashville Area Music Teacher's Association).

Ben Graves holds his Master's Degree from Washington State University. He also graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Ben represents an eclectic history of musical experience; growing up near Memphis he was a folk/classical guitarist, saxophonist and lead singer. He is a true multi-instrumentalist; he's jammed on chromatic harmonic with Lyle Lovett, played electric bass at the Grand Ole Opry with Kid Rock, and has blown saxophone with Modern Jazz Quartet bassist Percy Heath, just to mention a few. Ben loves, performed, and teaches all styles of music and all levels.

Beth Sass is a professional music educator with extensive and impressive experience. Beth graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 1981.  Relocating to Music City, she has become a recording artist, vocalist, songwriter, and both a touring and recording session keyboardist for other artists.

Beth began teaching in 1982. Today she is well established with an extensive track record in Early Childhood and Elementary School Music Education as Piano Instructor, Choir Director, and General Music Educator. In addition to years of creating musical curriculums, designing and directing school programs, presenting outside lectures, and nurturing young students, Beth also calls upon a wealth of professional musical experiences.

Beth has toured as a keyboardist for Herb Reed and the Platters, The Coasters, The Marvelettes, The Drifters, The Shangri-Lahs, Benny King, The Crystals, and The Tokens. On Nashville’s Music Row Beth was a staff songwriter as well as an independently published songwriter. You can hear some of Beth Sass the artist on her CD “Seven Songs”.  The CD was produced and engineered by famed Nashville talent Richard Adler. Mr. Adler has work with artists that include Allison Krauss, Neil Young, Natalie Cole, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Doc Watson and Marty Stuart.

Brandon Lucas teaches students in the fundamentals of their respective instruments utilizing methods in chord spelling, scales and modes, ear-training, formal technique, piano fundamentals and music theory. He was the co-creator and manager of Popshop, a program that emulates the famous "School of Rock" model for students ages eight thru eighteen. This program offered students the ability to learn a variety of musical styles in a group setting and concluded with a final concert.

Brandon possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Music from West Virginia University in jazz performance. He teaches beginner through advanced guitar and piano, and beginner to intermediate bass guitar.

For his entire career he has been compelled to explore the role of bass guitar as a solo instrument, performing his solo act across the U.S. and Europe, and recording a seven-string bass solo CD.

Brian is now receiving widespread recognition for his flamenco-like technique, altered tunings and unique melodies and rhythms. Beginner or pro, Brian's passion for bass, ten years of teaching experience and friendly personality make him a highly recommended teacher.  

Dan Hagen has a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz/Classical guitar from the University of North Texas at the legendary University of North Texas. He has been teaching guitar in all styles and age levels since 1990.

Dan has taught such renowned players as Billy Burnette(Fleetwood Mac, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan) and Desperate Housewives actor James Denton.

Dan is the band leader/guitar player for the national organization "Chick Singer Night" ( www.chicksingernight.com) held in Nashville at the legendary Bluebird cafe.

Dan is currently producing several artists and bands in Nashville as well as performing regularly live and in the studio as a guitar session player. Artists Dan has worked with include Norah Jones, Kelly Sweet, The Jordanaires, Lila McCann, Paul Brandt, Lari White, Elizabeth Cook, Sarah Whatmore, Adam Nitti, Joseph Wooten, El Buho, Gabriel Katona, Annie Sellick, Charles Walker(The Dynamites), arranger Don Hart, Robinella, Buddy Spicher, Dave Hungate, Jeff Coffin(Bela Fleck), Lars Ulrich, King Diamond, Reeves Gabrels, Lauren Lucas, Ryan Hoyle(Collective Soul) Dave Roe, Lillie Mae(Jypsi), Charlie Morgan, Reese Wynans,  Zac Hacker(Nashville star), Jace Everett and Phil Jones.

Ernest Chapman comes to World Music Nashville with many years of experience in musical performance, composition and instruction, having shared the stage and/or performed in the studio with many notable artists and musicians, including Michael McDonald, James Taylor, Vince Gill, Bob Geldof, Olivia Newton-John, Rodney Crowell, David Foster, Bonnie Raitt, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Craig King (Organ/Keys for Ray Charles), Leland Sklar (Bass - Phil Collins, Leonard Cohen, etc…), Roscoe Beck (Bass - Eric Johnson) Rusty Anderson (Guitarist - Paul McCartney), Maart Allcock (Keys - Jethro Tull; Lead Guitar - Fairport Convention), Kevin Bacon, Richard Marx, Matt Rollings (Keyboardist for Mark Knopfller), Jim Brickman, Mike Reid, Gregg Collins (Engineer- No Doubt, KISS), Charlie Morgan (Drums - Elton John, Bjork), the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, the Idaho Falls Symphony, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, John Michael Talbot, DC Talk, Brenda Lee, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, and JD Souther (Legendary songwriter for The Eagles).

Jessie Friedman is a performing songwriter, singer, guitarist, and bassist who plays with many local and international touring acts, including Grammy nominated songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman. She has also played in almost every venue in Nashville as a side-woman, including the Sommet Center.

Jessie has a B.A. in music performance from Hampshire College. Before going to Hampshire she lived in Switzerland and studied guitar with virtuoso Francois Kiezer, and played with Vic Pitts, drummer for James Brown and Otis Redding, among others. After college she moved to Boston and studied electric bass with renowned Berkeley College of Music professor Jim Stinnett.

Giving her students a well-rounded music education is important to her. She teaches theory, how to read and write music, as well as how to play by ear. Connecting with what motivates her students is what makes her lessons fun and exciting.

Jillian Gottlieb comes to World Music Nashville from Belmont University.  Graduating Magna Cum Laude in Vocal Performance, Jillian is also a violinist and pianist. Her experience is in youth music education. She has taught as a church Summer Camp Music Director and tutored students in sight-singing and music analysis. Julian provides instruction in beginning to Advanced Voice, plus beginning to intermediate Piano and Violin.

Joel Rivers has taught both guitar and banjo for over 30 years.  An author of four instructional method books for banjo, Joel brings a wealth of experience to the World Music Nashville Education Center.  For enjoyment, Joel likes to take songs from other genres and create bluegrass adaptations from them.  He finds a lot of fun in that process and feels that it enhances the creative process.

Along with being an prolific instructor, Joel is an active performer as well.  His specialty is bluegrass banjo but has been known to perform rhythm guitar in the bluegrass, country and pop scenes.

Joel's books include:

Jump Start for Bluegrass Banjo (2004)

Intermediate Banjo (1982, 2005)

Rhythm Chording For Bluegrass Banjo (1977)

Basic Techniques For Bluegrass Banjo (1977)

Aside from cutting his teeth as an exceptional musician, Joel has earned his Ph.D. in Psychology and works in human resources and organizational development when not at World Music.

Joelle Platt is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music (2003). Joelle brings a wealth of musical training, performance, and experience to World Music.  She earned a Bachelors of Music degree with an emphasis on Music Business.

Joelle began private vocal training 20 years ago, studying a classical method of vocal technique passed down from one of the most respected voice teachers in the country. Because Joelle is more skilled in the genres of rock, pop, country, metal, and blues she has adapted this method of training to help her students achieve the personal goals they seek vocally while also teaching them how to maintain and protect their instrument.

Joelle also has a lot to offer to students seeking guidance in audition preparation, stage performance, and studio recording.

Joelle's performance experience credits her working with major producers/writers in Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, and Nashville including: John Alcock (Thin Lizzy, The Runaways), Gen Rubin (Mary J. Blige), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Joel Feeney (LeAnn Rimes), and Kevin Savigar (Rod Stewart).

John Mahoney has been teaching since 1984 and is versed in all styles of music. He is very passionate about teaching and enjoys his role as a mentor. Many of his students have gone on to be professional musicians.

A graduate of Fitchburg State College, he has studied with several world class musicians, including a one-on-one session with guitar virtuoso Albert Lee. John has performed with The Platters (Herb Reed), The Drifters, The Coasters, The Marvelettes, The Tolkens, The Shangra-La's, The Ink Spots, Billy J. Kramer, Clem Curtis, Wayne Fontana, Peaches and Herb, and more.

A songwriter/producer himself, he keeps active in the studio and has done sessions for Richard Adler (Alison Krauss, Neil Young, Natalie Cole, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, Marty Stuart) and Lawrence Dermer (Miami Sound Machine)...just to name a couple.

Her musical instruction experience also includes writing method books published by Alfred Publishing which include: Guitar Made Easy & Women in Rock.

Kathleen Guidry has been teaching piano, guitar, and voice to children and adults for 15 years. She has also taught band jam classes and songwriting classes. She possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Music, a Master's Degree in Music Therapy, and is currently working on her Master's in Elementary Education.

Kyle Jones has devoted much of his life, not just to the study of ethnic percussion instruments, but also to the underlying cultures and languages of their origins. He has studied with the world's foremost experts on many different types of drums, learning from Indian tabla masters and such well-known musicians as Elvin Jones and Terry Bozzio. 

Kyle  counts the likes of master drummer Kenny Aronoff and Titans All Pro running back Eddie George as students, and has performed with Quincy Jones and Janet Jackson as well as in many other world class ensembles.

Along with his career in musical instruction, Kyle is also an avid writer and student of philosophy. He is a contributing writer for Jan Darpan, a regional publication on India and Indian lifestyle.

Linden Lantz has been a music  instructor for over 10 years. Linden is the band director at Ensworth Middle School..  He received his Bachelors Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Lee University.  Linden's principle instrument is saxophone but he is proficient in flute and clarinet as well.

As well as being an instructor, Linden has numerous performance credits under his belt.  He has performed with the Chattanooga Big Band and has recorded with the Campus Choir at Lee University during his studies.  Linden is a member of MTSBOA (Middle Tennessee Band & Orchestra Association).

Liz Ficalora has over 35 years of musical experience as a teacher, clinician, performer, producer and engineer. She earned a bachelor degree from the Berklee College of Music majoring in Music Education and minoring in performance and composition. Liz is a certified K-12 instrumental and vocal instructor. She has been extensively trained in developing music programs for drums and piano students that will guide them in accomplishing their goals as they grow into successful musicians. Her teaching method includes progressive technique study, theory, notation and music reading skills. Liz teaches beginner to advanced levels in both drums and piano.

Liz has authored two instructional books for drummers, How to Write a Fast and Easy Drum Chart, Basic Method and Advanced Method in which she teaches drummers how to chart out a song. The Advanced book is to be published by Alfred Publishing. Liz has developed a master class based upon this book and will be teaching this class at PASIC 2011 in November. She has extensive world touring experience with Stella Parton and the Carnival Cruise Lines playing the drums singing backup vocals and arranging music and is an award winning jingle writer.

Luke Chandler is a multi-instrumentalist with extensive education and personal experience. He possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Music, and a Master's Degree in Music Therapy. Luke has taught elementary school, middle school, and college level students. He has been playing music for 17 years. Luke has a strong commitment to serving others through music.

Mark Niemiec is a talented drummer, percussionist, recording engineer, and music producer. With a drumming career that spans 26 years and an engineering/producing career that is 13 years in the making, Mark considers his ability to be on "both sides of the glass" a special gift.

It started when Mark first picked up the sticks at the age of 10, and never looked back! Finding his passion for music at an early age set him on a path that would not be denied. Practicing every day and playing in every band he could find eventually led to the University of Southern Maine, where Mark's major was Music Education.

During his education a USM, Mark was involved with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps for 2 years in which he traveled the country in competition with other Drum Corps. Soon after Mark began to teach on a private level holding 20 to 30 students a week. Besides private lessons, Mark taught various types of percussion and drum ensembles. While instructing the Westbrook High School Marching Band he led the drum line to 5 consecutive state titles as the caption head and arranger. His credits also include The Rose Bowl and Citrus Bowl competitions. He continued on as an instructor as well as the musical arranger with winter percussion for The Southern Maine Youth Percussion Ensemble.

It was during this phase of Mark's life that he felt that he needed to broaden his skills in the music business. After USM, Mark enrolled at Full Sail Center of the Recording Arts in Orlando, Fl. The year long grueling class schedule helped to prepare him for the long hours in the studio to come. After graduation, Mark wasted no time by immersing himself in the recording business as an intern at Metropolis Studios in Middleton, MA. A year later the studio moved to Nashville, TN where they hired Mark on as one of the house engineers.

Mark Robinson began his professional career at age 17, traveling with Bobby Helms, who had a big hit with “Jingle Bell Rock”. Mark studied music and audio production at Indiana University, and received both his Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications and Master of Science in Education.  After college, Mark pursued music as a career, working as a recording engineer in Chicago, and playing with many of the blues legends in the windy city (Lonnie Brooks, Koko Taylor, Jimmy Johnson, Son Seals and Bo Diddley to name just a few).  He has also performed and recorded with Carrie Newcomer, Tom Roznowski, Bob Cheevers, Davis Raines, Walt Wilkins, Randy Handley, Tricia Walker, Kent Blazy, Johnny Neel, and Larry Crane (formerly John Mellencamp’s guitarist).

Matthew Joy hails from Boston MA where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music. It was there that he really started to learn the craft of composing and arranging for jazz orchestra and small ensembles. After finishing college he began vigorously composing and arranging for solo nylon and 12-string guitar while playing venues around Boston and New York. He later went on to form the group “Orchestra of This”, an acoustic world fusion jazz quartet performing his original compositions. In addition he played lead guitar with the soulful singer "Jesse Dee" with whom he recorded two studio albums.

Having shared the stage with some of Boston's finest musicians as well as Los Lobos, Preston Reed, and Etta James, Matthew has also performed festivals and venues in the U.S., Canada, U.K, and Europe. On top of all this he has been teaching the art of guitar playing for over ten years. Currently Matthew is living in Nashville TN teaching, performing, composing, and working on his masters degree in Jazz Composition at MTSU. 

Missy Johnson is a multi-talented musician and voice coach. She is a dynamic performing and recording vocalist as well as a guitarist and pianist. Since graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2003, Missy has performed with bands at venues ranging from New York's CBGB to the San Diego IndieFest. She has also performed across the country as a solo acoustic artist including appearances at Nashville's own world-renowned BlueBird Cafe. As a professional musician, Missy has worked as a back-up vocalist (Nashville Star/ American Idol Kristin Macnamara, Ashlee Hewitt), an acoustic guitarist, a demo-singer, and a contracted songwriter (Megatraxx, LA).

Missy has a wealth of experience teaching private lessons in voice, piano, and guitar. Missy studied under top-notch vocal coach, Mark Baxter (Aerosmith, Goo Goo Dolls, Journey) and utilizes Baxter's concepts in conjunction with her own to help singers of all levels and styles. Graduating as a Professional Music Major, Missy's expertise also includes the fields of Music Business and Songwriting. She combines these important disciplines with the application of Music Theory and Vocal Technique to ensure her students become well-rounded musicians.

Rebecca Waine has been playing the violin for the past 19 years. She studied under Linda Kistler, protégé of Ivan Galamian, renowned violinist and teacher of Isaac Perlman.  She played extensively in high school and college orchestras including the Moravian College Orchestra, the Moravian College Chorus, the Collegium Ensemble, Jazz Fusion of Moravian College, and Tennessee Technological University Orchestra. She has played with numerous bands and artists over the years including Kathy McWade, Las Sorpresas, Ribbonpigeon, the Brett Andrew Project, and Anasazi Secret.  Her music video with Ribbonpigeon was aired on Nashville Channel Five Plus. She recently played with an artist, Keeli on her new CD at Atlantis Records.  Rebecca's violin was also recorded on the new "Soul Khan" hip hop album based out of Brooklyn.  Rebecca played in a duo called Will and Bex in NYC with her partner Will Mogey and she currently plays in and around Nashville in the bands: Anasazi Secret, ( Native American/modern), Song Street South, (bluegrass/country), and the Get Reels, (Irish, Celtic).

Thomas McIntire began playing trumpet at the age of 12.  He was fortunate to be able to take lessons from John Horack, a senior member of the Ringling Bros. Barnum Bailey Circus band.  After graduating from Riverview High School in Sarasota Florida he attended Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and earned a Bachelors of Music Education degree from Florida State University in 1970.

Upon graduation from Florida State he joined the United States Navy.  During the four years of service he played trumpet in the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet Band.

After discharge Mr. McIntire was appointed to the “solo cornet” chair for the Sarasota Concert Band.  At the same time he was teaching music in the Sarasota County School system.  In addition to his work with the Sarasota Concert Band he served as principle trumpet for the Sarasota Choral Society and played with a number of brass groups in the Sarasota-Bradenton area.  He was the music director for the Sarasota Bicentennial Youth Band.

Before moving to Tennessee Mr. McIntire was a freelance artist playing with the Ringling Bros. Circus Band, various dance orchestras, the made for TV movie “The Great Wallenda” and shows and musicals.

Tim Baumgartner possesses a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and has studied guitar at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He began playing guitar in third grade and has gone on to become a veteran Nashville guitarist. Tim combines his performing. recording, and writing experience with his educational background to teach Country, Rock, and Blues based guitar.