Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Jessie has a wide array of group and private teaching experience, including early childhood, K–12, university, and adult education. Currently, she is serving as Pedagogical Assistant Professor of Piano at Western Kentucky University, where she coordinates the group piano program; oversees the Minor in Piano Pedagogy and Graduate Piano Pedagogy programs; and teaches applied piano, pedagogy, and accompanying. In 2023, Jessie launched the Piano Laboratory Program at WKU—​a group and private teaching practicum for students enrolled in pedagogy coursework—​and in 2024, she instituted the new Minor in Piano Pedagogy. She serves as the Faculty Advisor for the WKU MTNA Collegiate Chapter and was recently nominated for Teaching Honors through the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Jessie also recently secured over $50,000 in grant funds from the WKU Sisterhood for student-led programs and technology updates to the Department of Music.

 

Jessie has served as an instructor at both Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University; prior to her position at WKU, Jessie operated a thriving studio in Dallas, TX, served as the pianist for Mercy Presbyterian Church, and held a longstanding collaborative position with The Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas. Jessie also continues remote work for The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, where she has served in various roles since 2021.

 

Committed to advancing the field of piano pedagogy, Jessie has been a featured presenter at every national pedagogy conference, as well as various state and regional conferences. Highlights include presenting at the College Music Society National Conference, the MTNA National Conference, the MTNA Collegiate Pedagogy Symposium, The Group Piano/Piano Pedagogy Forum, The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, and serving as the Chair of the Young Professionals Track for Pedagogy Saturday for MTNA. Additionally, Jessie served on the 2022-2023 MTNA Task Force on Young Professionals, Collegiate Chapters, and Collegiate Members, the 2023 MTNA National CEO/Executive Director Search Committee, and as a member of the 2023 and 2025 New Professionals Committee for the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.

 

Jessie has been published by Piano Magazine, Piano Inspires Kids, American Music Teacher, the MTNA e-Journal, and College Music Symposium. MTNA named Jessie as the 2022 recipient of the American Music Teacher Article of the Year Award and as the 2019 recipient of the MarySue Harris Studio Teacher Fellowship Award. She has performed in master classes and lessons for well–renowned pianists, including Alessio Bax, Olga Kern, Rebecca Penneys, Veda Kaplinsky, and Adam Golka. Formative teachers include Harold Martina, Carol Leone, Sam Holland, Ann Gipson, and Cathy Lysinger.