Ms. Danielle Creider began formal piano training at the age of six, near her hometown of Commerce, Texas. She attended Baylor University where she studied with Dr. James Williams. She earned a Bachelor's of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Baylor. She was also recognized as an outstanding student in piano pedagogy through the Elizabeth Brient Smith Scholarship Award and was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Honors Society.

Ms. Creider continued her advanced education at Baylor where she worked toward a Master's of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance. During that period, she studied piano under Professor Jane Abbott-Kirk and piano pedagogy under Dr. Lesley McAllister. She was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship which gave her the opportunity to teach piano to undergraduate non-music majors in group and in private settings. She was recognized by the Baylor Graduate School as an exemplary teacher several semesters in a row. While working towards both degrees, Ms. Creider taught in Baylor's Piano Laboratory Program; this program provides experience in teaching and managing group piano classes as well as private piano instruction. In addition, she collaborated with numerous musicians and served as a church pianist.

Ms. Creider has had the opportunity to present at the Conference of Texas Collegiate Chapters, part of the Texas Music Teachers Association Conference (TMTA), and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP).

Ms. Creider strives to cultivate a love and appreciation of music in every student she teaches. She believes in maintaining an encouraging learning environment to ensure individual success. In order to help students discover the joy of music, Ms. Creider will often employ creative teaching strategies. She is a member of CMTA, the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA), and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

Ms. Creider joined the faculty of Coppell Conservatory in the Fall of 2013.

  Mr. Rodrigo Garcia is a pianist with more than 30 years of experience as a freelance musician and 20 years of experience as a dedicated piano teacher.

He received his formal musical education with emphasis in classical piano at the Conservatory Antonio Maria Valencia in Cali-Colombia, his native city, under the tutelage of teacher Marjorie Tanaka.

Rodrigo grew up in a musical household where both his parents were renowned folk musicians who used to tour all over Colombia and would often appear in the leading Colombian musical TV shows of the moment.

With his dad a prolific composer of Colombian folk songs and a guitar player, and his mom an accomplished singer, Rodrigo acquired a passion for the popular styles of music from an early age, and, is now a specialist in the styles of jazz, rock, pop, ballad, folklore, fusion and electroacoustic music.

To further his studies, in 1997 Rodrigo went to The Bruckner Conservatorium of Jazz in Linz Austria for an intensive year of studies in Piano jazz and Piano Ensemble where he studied under the guidance of Dean Pechenko.

Rodrigo's professional highlights include being faculty at the INCCA University of Colombia from 2005 to 2016, where he served as professor of undergraduate piano students teaching classical and jazz piano, and also served as collaborative faculty.

He also taught at private music schools such as Fernando Sor School of Music, the Youth Orchestra of Colombia program in Bogota, where he taught students from pre-K to high school age, and the Conservatory Antonio Maria Valencia in Cali Colombia, from the years of 2000 to 2005, where he also served as piano and collaborative faculty.

As a freelance pianist and composer, he has toured through the major cities of Colombia and South America with renowned groups and companies such as Azul Trabuco, a group with jazz, salsa, and fusion flares, Tribu Perdida, an integrated company of artists, where Rodrigo served as pianist and composer of its film, circus, and dance music, and Rapsoda, as pianist of famous Latin American singers such as Sabu, Elio Roca, Manolo Galván, Nicola Divari, Tormenta, Los Angeles Negros, Los Pasteles Verdes, Los Terricolas, Los Demonios, Tania, Claudia de Colombia, among others.

Rodrigo also worked as the accompanist for the Santiago De Cali City Ballet from the years of 2000-2003, and 2006. As a composer, his music has been featured in films such as Colombian film "Entre Cuartos" by Luis Merino in 2001, and Colombian film Riverside by Harold Trompetero in 2009, he has also composed jingles for Colombian TV commercials for local channels.

International performances include playing with the famous Colombian singer Beatriz Arellano at Colombia's embassy in South Africa in 2004, and as keyboardist of Azul Trabuco at the 2019 South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin TX.

Rodrigo enjoys teaching students of all ages and his teaching philosophy focuses on building upon the strengths of students to continue unlocking their limitless potential.

  Ms. Emilie Griffin is from Van Buren, Arkansas where she began diligently studying piano at the age of 11. Her music studies led her to become a student of Mrs. Alice Sanders at the Fort Smith Academy of the Arts. While in high school, Ms. Griffin actively attended various music camps and regularly participated in Piano Guild, achieving superior ratings each time.

In 2020, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Piano Performance with Emphasis in Pedagogy (BM) from Oklahoma Baptist University where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Dean. While at OBU, Ms. Griffin actively served as a choral accompanist, church pianist, and music theory tutor. In 2022, Ms. Griffin earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from Texas Christian University where she studied pedagogy under the direction of Dr. Ann Gipson and applied piano under Professor Harold Martina.

During her educational career, Ms. Griffin has given five solo piano recitals and performed a concerto with an orchestra. Additionally, she has presented a lecture recital which featured her interest in Romantic literature by pedagogical composers and its importance in preparing students for standard literature. Furthering her artistic development, Ms. Griffin has been selected over the years to perform in various masterclasses taught by internationally-acclaimed pianists such as Nikita Mndoyants and Marina Lomazov.

Prior to joining the faculty at Coppell Conservatory, Ms. Griffin has held teaching positions at Texas Christian University as a Graduate Assistant, Parker Piano Studios, and the Oklahoma Baptist University Preparatory Department. Her varied teaching experience includes group and private teaching at the preschool, K-12, and undergraduate levels. She has also facilitated studio classes and taught in the masterclass setting.

In addition to her passion for teaching, Ms. Griffin strives to continually look for ways to learn and grow herself. She has been both an attendee and presenter at the MTNA National Conference, the MTNA Collegiate Symposium, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP). While at TCU, she served as both the historian and the vice president for TCU's MTNA collegiate chapter.

An enthusiastic, encouraging, and dedicated teacher, Ms. Griffin strives to create a learning environment in which students will thrive. She believes that students should be equipped to reach their full potential, allowing them to become independent, life-long lovers of music.

  Mr. Bradley Hetherington is from Davis, Oklahoma, where he began studying piano at the age of eight and competed in the Federation of Music Competitions from ages nine to eighteen. He advanced to the state competition seven times and receiving honorable mention each time. Hetherington was a recipient of the Oklahoma State Superintendent Arts Excellence Award in 2015. In 2019 he graduated Cum Laude from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance with an Emphasis in Pedagogy. In 2021 he graduated with a Master's of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Texas Christian University. During his education he has been under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Dean, Dr. Ann Gipson, and Mr. Harold Martina. During his educational career, Bradley has performed in three solo piano recitals and one lecture recital which highlighted his graduate research in teaching piano to the special needs student.

Prior to joining the faculty of Coppell Conservatory, Bradley has held teaching positions as a Graduate Assistant at Texas Christian University, The TCU Preparatory Department, Parker Piano Studios, and the Oklahoma Baptist University Preparatory Department as well as maintaining a private studio since 2013. Bradley has taught private and group piano, music theory, and aural skills to pre-college, college, and adult students. His students are also active in recitals, festivals and competitions.

   Julia Lee is currently teaching at Dallas College as a music faculty and staff pianist in the music department as well as a piano instructor at Coppell Conservatory. Previously she taught at Wiley College, Texas Wesleyan University, Northwestern State University, Grambling State University, etc., and has served churches in Texas, Louisiana, and South Korea as a director of music and pianist/organist for thirty years. Therefore, Dr. Lee has established her career in North America and Asia as a collaborative keyboardist, church musician, and educator.

Her recital appearances as a collaborative pianist includes venues in Canada, South Korea, and Arkansas, California, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Texas, Verginia, and Washington D.C. in the States. She made her impressive debut at the Kennedy Center with the Korean Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the heritage of Korean Day.

As an active collaborative keyboardist with choirs, opera, and orchestras, the highlights of her performances include concerts with the Longview Symphony (Principal Pianist), Marshall Symphony (Principal Pianist), Shreveport Festival Orchestra, Las Colinas, Irving, and Garland Symphony Orchestras and choirs with the University of North Texas, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Northwestern State University, and Wiley College. Her recent engagement with Northwestern Opera Theatre as a collaborative pianist was the Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" and an opera gala concert at Texas Wesleyan University in 2019.

She holds a B.A. in Church Music and piano from Kosin University, an MM in organ performance from KeiMyung University, and a DMA from the University of North Texas. Her piano studies have been with Shila Paige and JaeGal Sam.

I'm very glad to share my extensive experiences as an educator, pedagogue, and performer with Coppell Community to serve your children's needs.

  Katie began her music journey at 4 years old when started cello lessons through the local Suzuki program in Waco. She also took lessons throughout her childhood on piano and guitar. She was principal cellist for the Waco Youth Symphony Orchestra and found joy in the cello picking out her favorite songs by ear without music she continues to this day.

Katie had a strong desire early in her life to make an impact on people's lives with music. She was selected for a full scholarship as a Terry Foundation Scholar to attend Texas Woman's University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy as an honors graduate. Throughout her undergraduate degree, she performed extensively each semester in musicals, banquets, weddings, a collaborative recitals. Katie began cello private lesson teaching upon completing high school in 2015 for Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. Her students have earned top seats in region and state UIL ensembles and top ratings in Solo competitions held every year.

In order to receive her degree, Katie took private cello lessons, performed with the orchestra, and learned piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, and percussion accompaniment proficiently. Katie learned the principles of using music to reach communication, fine and gross motor skills, social skills, and academic skills by building a relationship through shared music experiences. She has worked with children and adults with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, chromosomal abnormalities, and much more. Seeing children's worlds expand and brighten with music is a life-long dream come true. She loves seeing technique and music principles grow along side quality of life growth outside of the sessions. Katie believes strongly in teaching to the way each child learns best individually.

"With patience and unwavering belief in each child's already existing strengths, anything can be broken down into accessible steps for all ability levels to grow their confidence and bloom with the music they love"

  Ms. Marquette began her piano studies at age 6. Her education includes 8 years of music school and then she attended Andijan State College of Music in Uzbekistan. She earned her Bachelor degree in piano and music theory. Her first experience teaching piano started in 1988 and she continued her work as a music teacher in Moscow, Russia. She also taught group lessons to children as young as Kindergarden and really enjoyed working with young children.

Upon moving to United States, she took private piano lessons with piano teacher Dr. Octavio Gutierrez, and she continues to study with him today. During this time, she also began teaching piano privately in Lewisville. Teaching piano allows her to combine love for music with her passion for teaching. She has worked with children between the ages of 6 and 15 years old and helps students reach their goals by giving them all of the tools they need to understand music. She use a combination of lesson books and individual plans for each piano student.

Ms. Marquette's style of teaching is warm, encouraging, structured, creative, and challenging. She asks students to be inquisitive, to think for themselves, and develop in their own words a clear understanding of musical concepts. I believe that practicing is a skill and success comes from loving music and working hard to perform well. Ms. Marquette's teaching methods vary according to each student's needs. Depending on each student's specific experience and goals, she builds a lesson plan to create success in each of her students. She encourages all of her students to choose pieces they are excited to play from a variety of styles.

Ms. Marquette is an active member of Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) and Music Teachers National Assotiation (MTNA) and Carrollton Music Teachers Association.

  Ms. Adriana Morales grew up in Cali (Colombia), where she had her early music education under the tutelage of Cuban teacher Lucia D. Mora. After receiving a High School performance certificate with emphasis on piano from the Antonio Maria Valencia Conservatory, she began her undergraduate studies toward a degree, at that same institution in Cali. Subsequently, she won a scholarship to continue her education at Texas Christian University (TCU), to study Piano Pedagogy under the tutelage of Mr. Harold Martina.

During her undergraduate years at TCU, Ms. Morales was active as a performer as well as a teacher, with appearances in her native country of Colombia and in Fort Worth. In addition, Ms. Morales' interest in jazz led her to join the Curt Wilson Big Band in her junior year. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from TCU, and subsequently she went on to win the Young Artists performing Series competition in Colombia, where she played in one of the most prestigious halls of the country, the library Luis Angel Arango.

Ms. Morales returned to TCU to continue her education toward a Master's degree in Piano Pedagogy, studying with Mr. Harold Martina, who guided her piano studies, and with Dr. Ann Gipson, who guided her pedagogy studies. During that time, Ms. Morales acquired a great deal of experience teaching students of all ages (5 to70), in both private and group lessons settings. In her teaching, she concentrated on both musicianship and technical development. She has taught group lessons to amateur adults, non-keyboard music majors, and children's classes of varying levels.

Ms. Morales joined the faculty of Coppell Conservatory in the Summer of 2011.

Ms. Morales is a member of CMTA, the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA), and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

   Ms. Narkhova was born and raised in Kazakhstan. Her genuine interest in music naturally brought her to the local music school where she began piano lessons at the age of 8, and from which she graduated at the age of 16. Subsequently, she went to the East Kazakhstan State University to continue her music studies. She graduated from that institution with a Bachelor in Music Education. Since moving to the United States, Ms. Narkhova has taught piano privately in her studio in Lewisville (Texas) and has taught at Brookhaven Community college as a keyboard Instructor.

In 2011-2013 Ms. Narkhova attended Texas Woman's University where she obtained Master of Arts in Music, with emphasis on Piano Pedagogy.
Her main goal as a teacher is helping students to maintain steady interest in music, by stimulating and developing their potential musical abilities. During private lessons, time is spent on technique exercises, sight-reading, and polishing repertoire into artistic performances - with some time reserved for theory/ear training assignments. In her opinion supportive atmosphere with honest yet positive criticism allows students to become self-motivated, independent learners and develop the self-expression they need to succeed in music studies.

Ms. Narkhova understands the great responsibility of teaching music; from her students she expects a long-term commitment and a continuing interest in order to succeed. Ms. Narkhova firmly believes in the benefits of music study for all individuals, regardless of age and ability.

   Tobi Otekayi grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and attended the Musical Society of Nigeria School of Music (MUSON) where he studied piano with Maria Asseeva and earned an Associate Degree in Piano Performance. At MUSON, he won the Music Quest Young Artist First Prize in Piano and was awarded the Faculty Choice Award. After graduation, Tobi taught piano at the MUSON Basic School, a preparatory academy for precollege students and adult beginners. Upon moving to the US, Tobi completed both a Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Piano Performance at Winthrop University, SC under the tutelage of Dr. Matthew Manwarren. Most recently, Tobi earned a Master of Music Education in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma where he studied piano with Dr. Jeongwon Ham and Dr. JP Murphy, and piano pedagogy with Dr. Barbara Fast and Dr. Jane Magrath.

Tobi has an extensive experience both as a performer and teacher. During undergraduate and graduate studies at Winthrop, he taught piano to precollege students at the WU Academy of Music while holding a Graduate Assistantship in Music Theory. He was also awarded a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at the University of Oklahoma, where he taught applied piano lessons to piano minors and secondary piano students, and group piano to music majors and non-majors under the mentorship of the piano and piano pedagogy faculty. As a teacher, Tobi strives to create an atmosphere of self-discovery and exploration in and outside the studio. In designing each student's curriculum, he considers their learning styles, musical backgrounds, interests, skills, and career goals. In Spring and Fall 2021, Tobi was awarded the Provost's Certificate of Distinction in Teaching for excellence as a Graduate Assistant based on student evaluations.

Prior to graduate studies at OU, Tobi was Instructor of Music and Staff Accompanist at Erskine College, SC for three years. At the college, he taught piano to music majors and non-music majors. Additionally, he taught music fundamentals and keyboard skills, aural skills, and an introduction to music course. His time at Erskine also provided him the opportunity to collaborate in recitals with faculty and students, including a 2017 performance tour with the Erskine Choraleers throughout Lithuania and Denmark. He also served as collaborative pianist for the Greenwood Festival Chorale in Greenwood, SC for two seasons. He continues to seek performance opportunities both as a soloist and church musician

Tobi is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and has participated in regional and national conferences. He currently serves as a member on MTNA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, chaired by Dr. William Chapman Nyaho.

  Anthony Paradisograduated in May 2021 from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. While at TCU he studied with Mr. John Owings and Dr. Ann Gipson. Anthony began taking piano lessons at four years of age with Heather Waldrop in Harlingen, Texas. He moved to Aledo, Texas in 2011 and began studying piano with Kriszta Kovacs-Tubbs. Anthony has performed several times at Carnegie Hall in New York City with Nina Drath and the Fryderyk Chopin Society of Texas. He toured Europe on two occasions with the Fryderyk Chopin Society of Texas and performed at the childhood home of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw, Poland, and in Rome, Italy.

Anthony's strengths as a piano instructor are that he can relate to students of all ages and levels, and help them work steadily towards their goals. He has a solid understanding of technique and theory, and helps students see how learning this side of piano music will increase their ability to perform. Anthony is enthusiastic and passes that enthusiasm to his students so that they will also learn to love to play the piano.

  Mrs. Natasha Rubakha began studying the piano at the age of 5, entering a classical piano class at the Tashkent First School of Music, in Uzbekistan.

She continued her studies at the Tashkent State College of Music, where she successfully studied classic piano, concentrating on pedagogy.

She received a diploma of Piano Teacher and Accompanist. After graduation, Mrs. Rubakha performed as an accompanist in many choral and violin concerts, and started her pedagogical career as well.

Mrs. Rubakha has been teaching piano since 1981. She has taught an impressive number of students, the majority having become musicians or proficient amateurs.

Mrs. Rubakha has a natural talent to motivate and to teach students of all ages and abilities. Her style and dedication enable her to relate to each student on an individual basis, so that in turn they are open to expressing themselves to their fullest potential.

Mrs. Rubakha is a member of CMTA, the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA), and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

   After graduating from Baylor University with a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Piano Pedagogy, Asher Thorne moved to the area and taught at the Susan Ogilvy piano studio and the Community School in Denton.

He loves helping students to begin each of their musical journeys from a much loved new hobby all the way to creating a strong foundation for private piano studies. His passion is meeting each child's teaching needs so that they may receive the greatest benefit from music and to continue researching the best methods for age-appropriate brain development.

"I truly feel blessed and privileged to teach such a wide variety of students from all over the world. I am the teacher that I am today only because they--the students--have taught me how to teach them individually and how to meet their specific needs."

Asher's greatest passion is brain development and how teaching piano can play a vital role, especially in the early stages of a child's life. He also has experience teaching students who have ADHD, dyslexia, autism, sensory disorders, and physical challenges.

"Early childhood students have been overlooked for many years. But the brain development that takes place is awe-inspiring! Watching little ones see patterns, master fine motor skills, understand concepts, and literally grow right in front of your very eyes is extremely rewarding. It just takes creating a safe and fun place, and patience...it's amazing what ANY child/person can achieve if you see and believe in who they are and what they can do."

Asher has served as the Assistant to the Director, and currently serves as the head of the Group Piano and Early Childhood music programs.