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New students register below under the instructor bio.
Zac Bolton: Guitar + Ukulele + Bass
Zac Bolton is a South Carolina native who has been teaching and playing for over 20 years. Zac attended Winthrop University where he attained his Bachelors of Arts in music. He is proficient in jazz, rock, country, blues, and has also studied classical guitar. While guitar is his primary instrument, Zac also teaches electric bass and ukulele as well. Zac balances his teaching schedule at Pecknel with a busy performing calendar. He plays with various groups of contrasting styles throughout the Carolinas and is very active on the Greenville music scene.
Carlos Diaz: Guitar + Banjo + Ukulele + Piano
Carlos has been playing and teaching music professionally for 15 years. He earned his Associates in Music from Broward College with an emphasis in Jazz Studies and studied Classical guitar at Florida International University. He is currently the Music Director at his church and enjoys sharing his passion for music and learning by teaching young and old alike. He loves playing Jazz, Classical, Rock, Folk, nerding out on music theory, and helping his students learn to play the music they love while also giving them the foundations of music theory to become solid musicians.
Carlos teaches guitar to all levels and bass, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and piano to beginners.
David Little: Guitar
David Little is a native of Greenville, SC and has been teaching and playing guitar professionally for over 25 years. He returned to Greenville in 2019 after living in New York City for 15 years where he was a studio session player, touring musician and an audio engineer.
During this time, he was the recipient of several awards and recognitions including three Grammy nominations as a guitarist, songwriter and producer. David also composes for tv advertising and film and was recently nominated for a Critics Choice award for film scoring. He attended The Fine Arts Center for four years in the Jazz Guitar program and was also selected to be in the South Carolina All State Jazz Ensemble for four consecutive years.
David went on to receive the John Carlisle Memorial Scholarship to attend the University of North Texas where he earned a degree in Jazz Studies. He enjoys teaching students of all ages and is fluent in many styles including rock, jazz, blues and country.
David believes that every student has a unique musical journey and strives to tailor his teaching methods to meet their individual needs and aspirations. By providing a supportive and inspiring learning environment, he encourages students to explore their creativity, build their technical skills, and develop a lifelong appreciation for music.
Christina Frederick: Piano
Classically trained in piano since the age of five, Christina Frederick also studied celtic harp in high school, and earned a Bachelor's degree in music from Pensacola, Florida. She has 12 years of music studio teaching experience and is 32-years-old. Christina is booking new students for both piano and harp lessons. She also does academic tutoring in English, Spanish, math and writing. She teaches music lessons online to students on the west coast, New Jersey, South Carolina and India.
Every-Other-Week 30-Min Lessons: $50
Jonathan Freeman: Trumpet + Baritone/Euphonium
Jonathan Freeman is a North Carolina native and is pursuing a degree in Music Education with a focus in trumpet at Bob Jones University. With over 9 years of experience playing, he has studied with Dr. Jonathan Poquette of Elon University and currently studies with Dr. Bruce Cox at BJU. He has experience playing different band settings, from brass ensemble groups, to full wind band. He has also done extensive brass solo competition for the NCCSA Fine Arts Competition and also for the BJU Fine Arts Festival. Jonathan also has served in a church setting starting at Beacon Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina. Currently, he participates in the BJU Symphony Orchestra, BJU Symphonic Wind Band, the BJU Trumpet Choir, and also leads a brass chamber group at BJU.
Jacob Hammett: Brass
Jacob Hammett moved to Greenville from Anderson, SC after finishing his degree in Music Education this year from Anderson University. He has played trombone in multiple ensembles at AU including the trombone ensemble, jazz ensemble, and the Anderson University Wind Symphony. He has played the trombone for 12 years. He has had a lot of experience teaching young children in a middle school setting and has found his passion for teaching the next generation of musicians. He believes music is a joy to be shared with the world.
Jonathan Harris: Violin + Viola
Jonathan is in his last year of study at Bob Jones University as a Music Education Major. He started violin in his late teens and understands the struggles of new concepts to older students. Coming from a multicultural background having grown up in Argentina, he can also teach Spanish-speaking students. His desire is to see students succeed and enjoy their instrument. He enjoys performing folk songs and discovering the lesser known composers so as to encourage a well-rounded view of music.
Jenith Mark Isreal: Piano
A 25-year-old from Mumbai, India, Jenith Mark Isreal is a professional music instructor who finds the greatest reward and solace in music. Raised in a Christian family, Jenith enjoys playing church hymns, having performed the same back in his native home in India.
With his vast four years of teaching experience, Jenith is a qualified trainer and has previously managed three different international schools training Grade 3 to Grade 10 learners. He is conversant with the various recitations and has been a competent host for diverse recital shows where his experience has been well appreciated. He has trained students on four-part harmony with exclusive classical and contemporary piano skills accompanied by private practicals to sharpen and fortify their capability.
Jenith has a rich educational background, having pursued a Bachelor of Music with his expected graduation set for December 2023 from Anderson University. His prospects to serve a larger audience have seen him learn different languages. Jenith is a multilingual and has a good grasp on English, Hindi, Marathi, and Tamil. He is also a beginner in the Spanish language and will soon widen his audience to ensure his skills can be felt and appreciated across several cultures.
Rebecca Payne: Voice
Becca Payne is a Greenville, SC native who has been singing as long as she can remember. A graduate of the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, she was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Memphis where she earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance. After college, Becca began one on one vocal coaching and performing locally. She has particiated in productions with several companies in the upstate including Centre Stage, The Younts Center for Performing Arts, GLOW Lyric Theater, and The Market Theatre. With over 10 years of experience, Becca is looking forward to helping singers of all ages develop their voices and singing technique.
Tom Wheat: Woodwinds
Tom Wheat moved to the Upstate from Nottingham, England in 2011. He studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and gained his teaching degree from Nottingham Trent University.
Tom has been teaching for 22 years in schools, colleges and private studios. He joined Pecknel Music in 2017. Tom combines his teaching with a busy performing schedule, playing in many difference venues across the U.S. and beyond.
Madeline Simon: Beginner Piano
Madeline first started playing the piano at age 4 on her neighbors’ piano. Originally from Atlanta, she moved to the Greenville area in 2014 to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Furman University. Since graduating, Madeline has been teaching chorus and group piano at Southside High School, serving as Music Minister at First Christian Church (DOC), and performing in musicals at Spartanburg Little Theatre. Madeline is excited to share her love of music with teen and adult first-time pianists.
Nathan Townsend: Tuba, Euphonium and Beginner Voice
Nathan Townsend is a music education major at Bob Jones University. He has played the tuba (his main instrument) for over twelve years. In that time he has earned a seat in an AllState band three times, as well as placing high in several music competitions. He studied tuba with Dr. Dan Turner for four years, and is currently studying with Dr. Paul Overly at Bob Jones. Last semester he played as the principal tubist in the Bob Jones Symphony Orchestra, and as a section leader in the Bob Jones University Wind Band. He has also sung in choirs for over ten years and studied voice for two years. He has sung multiple solos with the University Singers. Nathan has a passion for music and intends to spend his life pursuing that passion. He is excited to help tuba and euphonium players, as well as beginner voice students, develop into strong and confident musicians.
Megan Johnson-Barnes: Cello
Since high school, Megan Johnson-Barnes has had a passion for teaching cello and helping her students fall in love with music. Incorporating Suzuki, Feuillard, Rick Mooney, Janos Starker, Popper and more, she believes in a well-rounded approach catering the lessons to each specific student’s learning style and level. Over the course of her professional career, she’s taught dozens of students ranging from age 8 to nearly 80.
Megan began playing the cello as a young child in Atlanta, GA. After moving to the SC low-country in 2004, she studied with Damian Kremer and Natalia Khoma in Charleston, SC. Through her high school studies, she was an active part of the Beaufort, SC classical music scene, regularly performing with the Beaufort Chamber Orchestra. She was principal cellist of the Beaufort Youth Orchestra through grade school, eventually teaching cello students in the area. She began performing for weddings and special events over 15 years ago, and has since played/organized hundreds of events. She attended the University of North Carolina in Greensboro as a Cello Performance Major, then finished her studies with Natalia Khoma at the College of Charleston, completing her Bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance (2013).
Megan has been honored to share the stage with Yo-Yo Ma, Andres Cardenes, Bela Fleck, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bublé, William Preucil, and many other world-renowned musicians. She attended the advanced division of Brevard Music Festival.
Member of American String Teachers Association, and working to complete my Suzuki Certification in Books 1-5 (in progress).
Kevin Heuer: Drum & Percussion
Kevin Heuer has been playing drums in the Upstate for more than three decades, having moved to the area from his native North Tonawanda (Buffalo), N.Y., in 1979.
Now, a longtime resident of Greenville, SC, Kevin has been a private drum teacher at several teaching schools in Greenville and Knoxville, TN for over 35 years. Not only has he been teaching privately, he has also instructed marching band drumline (Mauldin High School 1988-1997, Morristown West High School, Tennessee 1993-1997).
Kevin plays with such local artists as Tim Lee -The Faulty Plowers- Americana, and the Low Stakes -pop/rock, originals,covers; and he’s notably worked with acclaimed artists ranging from Danielle Howle (Columbia/Charleston SC) ,to Vigilantes of Love/ Bill Mallonee (Athens, GA), to Duke Special (N.Ireland) and has toured the US, Canada, UK and Europe.
He is also a longtime participant in the area theater scene. He has/is performing with The Greenville Theatre, The Spartanburg Little Theater, Centre Stage, and The Warehouse Theater, to name a few.
Kevin has also been active in the regional recording scene as a much sought after session player, having recorded in Greenville, Atlanta, and Knoxville, TN . He also has 2 wonderful, married step kids that live nearby and has recently welcomed a granddaughter!
