Our Instructors:
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Dave Lawson
Director of Bands ( Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced/Elite and Woodwinds
Dave Lawson graduated from Reinhardt College (University) with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and another Bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance. He was hired to create the band program at Cherokee Christian School in Woodstock, GA in 2011. During his tenure from 2011-2016, his groups regularly performed above their grade level and performed for community events throughout Cherokee and Cobb counties. During his last year at CCS, 60% of his top band made either District or All-State.
Mr. Lawson is a woodwind specialist and teaches in the North Georgia area. Mr. Lawson joined the Milton Marching Band staff in 2019 as the summer band camp clarinet instructor and the woodwind instructor for the regular season. Since graduating college in 2009, Mr. Lawson has worked with multiple BOA and WGI groups including Creekview High School, Sequoyah High School, Denmark High School, Etowah High School, River Ridge High School, and Milton High School earning 5 Grand championships and numerous class and division championships. He has worked as a woodwind clinician for many local middle and high schools including Milton High School, Northgate High School, Etowah High School, Cartersville High School, Woodland High School, Appalachee High School, Sequoyah High School, Cherokee High School, Woodland middle school, Northwestern Middle School, and Creekland Middle School. His private students regularly make All-State and District bands and his graduated students regularly receive scholarships to play at their college or university.
Mr. Lawson owns Dr. Dave’s Instrument Repair and has worked on thousands of woodwind instruments. Being a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) since 2005, Mr. Lawson has presented 6 sessions in the past 4 years on instrument repair for GMEA, AMEA (Alabama), and TNMEA (Tennessee).
Mr. Lawson is very passionate about teaching music, with a focus on single reeds. His website, www.woodwindmaster.com, contains beginner level videos that take the player through both the Essential Elements and the Standard of Excellence books. His advanced level videos take the player through the method books he uses with his high school students, and he regularly makes recordings for clarinet and bass clarinet GMEA All-State etudes.
Mr. Lawson is an avid performer and frequently performs on clarinet, sax, bassoon, and flute. He is currently a member of the American Patriot Winds. He has performed with the Tara Winds at GMEA and performed as well as conducted with them at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Mr. Lawson has also performed with The Sounds of Sawnee Community Band, Alpharetta City Band, and the Dalton Whitfield Community Band. He has performed in the pit orchestra for multiple musicals for the Academy Street Theatre Group and for Reinhardt University including, Little Shop of Horrors, Wizard of Oz, and Newsies.
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David McCord
Ukulele Instructor
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Melanie Davis
Itty Bitty and Joyful Noisemaker Instructor
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Delaney Rodgers
Choir Director
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Chase Palistrini
Guitar Instructor
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Davis Hancock
Strings Orchestra Conductor
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David McCord
Pennywhistle Class Instructor
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Sara Hydo
Recorder Instructor
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Tara Scavelli
Music Theory
James Palestrini has a Bachelors in Classical Guitar Performance from UGA and a Bachelors in Music Education from Kennesaw State University. He has served ar the Atlanta Director for Camp Jam.
He currently teaches at Roswell High School where he has done the following:
Developed curriculum for all grades at Roswell High School
-Led beginning guitar classes with an emphasis on rock, pop, folk, and blues music
-Instructed advanced classes with an emphasis on classical guitar
-Taught music theory and history within the context of the guitar classes at all levels
-Created an optimal learning environment for all students with varying levels of musical aptitude
-Managed classes with up to 35 students at a time
-Sponsored Roswell High School Guitar Club for 6 years, which gave students more access to instruction outside of class
-Within 2 years guitar classes became the most requested elective at Roswell High School
Sara Hydo has taught private flute lessons since 1996. She has worked with public and private schools teaching band camps, sectionals, and all state masterclasses. She has preformed in large and small ensembles within the metro Atlanta area.
Mrs. Hydo began teaching recorder, in addition to flute, so she could help her own children begin with an instrument. Having taught flute for many years, she formed a beginner recorder class. She uses a curriculum and techniques that incorporate movement and singing to engage students in multiple ways.
Currently Mrs. Hydo plays in a woodwind quintet in Acworth, teaches flute lessons, and homeschools her 8 and 10 year old kids. She has a degree in flute performance from Georgia State University.
Tara is a homeschooling mom of seven, ages 5 to 19, six of whom have at one point been in JNB. She has BA in Music (as well as Communications) and has been engaged in music as a Church Musician in various director and accompanist capacities for the past 20+ years. Her primary instrument is piano, though I also played the violin for 11 years and previously sang (I have a diagnosed vocal node).
Here's what she says: In the various roles I've played, I've always sought to give my ensemble members, most of whom were volunteers with little formal music training, a basic understanding of the music they were providing. I have always thought it important to have a least some background knowledge in order to add depth and breadth to the music - even in the non-professional worship setting. It took me a little while to fully trust that God was calling me to offer Music theory at Joyful Noise, but now here I am!! I do believe that understanding the larger “language” of music is an integral part of being a well-rounded musician. I’m excited to have the opportunity to help form future musicians!!!
