Mr. James with Lacey Seem after her first recital, December 2011.
A Personal Sketch of James Weinberg, Music Teacher
First of all -- who I'm not!
I'm not an institution...James' Music Studio is simply me!
I can offer personal attention to you and your children with a minimum of bureaucracy. I won't cancel your lesson to take a hot gig on a cruise ship. I don't tour with country superstars or do session work on Music Row.
If you're dazzled by Grammys and gold records on the wall, Nashville has companies with flashy staff members who've made albums and won awards. But if you want someone who just loves music, adores kids, and totally enjoys teaching...then I'm the guy for you.
INDEX
Home PageLessons Locations
My Studio
Music Links
Lesson Schedule
Testimonials from
Students & Parents
See my Graphic Biography
I was once a kid, too! This is me at 16 while a student at
Brighton High School.
Cutting loose in the Praise Band at Belmont Heights Baptist a few years (and pounds) ago. I'm much calmer now!
And just in case you wondered...
my family does NOT own the
Weinberg Center for the Arts
and I am no relation to Max Weinberg from Bruce Springsteen's "E" Street Band!
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A native of Rochester, New York, I began piano lessons at age 5 with my
mother. Over time I studied at a variety of private studios including the
Eastman School. After high school, I entered SUNY Fredonia as an organ
major, transferring to Stetson University in Deland FL. While raising a
young family, I entered Peabody Teacher's College in Nashville. Later I
trained as a Navy broadcast journalist, and once a civilian again, I
spent five years as a classical radio announcer & producer at WPLN.
In 1984, while leading the VBS music program at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church,
I dropped "Jim" and "Jimmy" and started using Mr. James, which stuck.
In 1985, I completed a bachelor's degree in church music at Belmont
College (cum laude) and returned for a master's in music education, conferred in 1991. The area of emphasis for my M.M.E. degree was
Elementary/ Primary Pedagogical Methodology (translation: how to teach music to kids in K-8). My internship was at Montessori Academy in Brentwood
teaching pre-school through 6th grade. Nowadays, I work hard to be the best piano teacher in Franklin!
More details may be found in my CV |
 With one of his boys--not a student!
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 Tilling in Brentwood As a teacher of piano, organ and voice, I specialize in beginning through intermediate level, and accept students of all ages. I also teach most styles, including jazz & pop. Theory and improvisation are text (method) based, since I believe it's crucial to have an intellectual comprehension of the principals of harmony, melody and form. Vocal coaching focuses on fun repertoire, interpretation, vocal production and confidence-building. |
You really don't know what
being an educator is all about until you've tried teaching music to a
group of 3 year olds! I've worked for local churches of every major
denomination as an accompanist, organist and
choir director. I am presently Choirmaster-Organist at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Franklin.
My wife of 39 years, Carol, and I have two grown children, Benjamin and
Rebecca, a poodle and two cats. In our "spare time," you can generally find us at home in
Brentwood gardening and landscaping. Isaac the Dog in the Backyard | ||
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Frequently Asked Question: "What kind of name is Weinberg?"
It's German, meaning "vineyard" (though there's not one drop of German blood in me!)
Between 1900 and 1926, there was a Weinberg Piano Company in Riga, Latvia
I am not related to any famous Weinberg, including composers Jacob
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and Mieczyslaw
