Connie Beach
woodwinds, piano
With over 35 years of teaching experience, Connie is well-qualified to teach students of all ages and levels of advancement. Connie has taught piano lessons for nearly 40 years. She has served as an instructor with the University of Memphis Suzuki Piano School, and is the past president of the Germantown Collierville Piano Teachers Association. Connie holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Memphis.
In addition to being a fine teacher, Connie is also an active performer, with extensive experience performing in solo, chamber, theater, orchestral, and jazz/pop venues. Before coming to Charlotte in 2001, she performed and taught in Memphis, Tennessee, having performed live and in the studio with Isaac Hayes, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, and numerous area church and free-lance orchestras, and with the chamber groups Pyramid Winds, Trio Classique and the Lorelei Duo. She was a featured soloist with the Germantown Symphony, performing the Nielsen Concerto and the Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp with Carrol McLaughlin. In Memphis, she was co-founder and past president of the Memphis Flute Society and past president of the Germantown Collierville Area Piano Teachers Association.
Here in Charlotte, Connie serves as associate director of the Charlotte Flute Choir, Junior Flute Choir, and is actively performing in numerous other local chamber, theater, and orchestral groups. Connie is also the director of the Academy's Chamber Ensemble.
Mrs. Connie is a very good teacher. She is always on time. She is flexible with my practice routines. She is fun, but also wants you to do your work and work hard on it. I've been playing piano for four years (and had 3 teachers) and she has been one of my favorites. She teaches me how to write songs and make up the rhythm and harmony. She is also well organized. I feel I have learned a lot. I would strongly recommend her.
~Aaron S, age 12, Academy Student
Connie has been a pleasure to work with as a parent. She is very communicative and we feel as though Aaron has advanced a great deal. She has challenged Aaron and held him accountable for his progress and practice time. She is honest with Aaron when he writes his own songs - providing feedback that is meaningful and thoughtful - not "candy-coated". She has pushed Aaron when he needed pushing and given him lighter assignments when she felt he was tiring/burning out. We look forward to Aaron continuing to work with her for years to come.
~Chris and Deana, Aaron's parents
My daughters have been Connie's students for a year now. My 13 year old takes flute lessons & Chamber Ensemble with Connie, and my 11 year old takes piano lessons. Connie is a very kind person, and a patient, nurturing teacher. She encourages the kids to bring in their own music to play, in addition to what they are learning from their music lesson books. This helps keep them motivated. My daughters enjoyed seeing the musical "Wicked", and Connie has been helping the girls learn to play music from their "Wicked" song books. I also like it that Connie is always on time and rarely misses a lesson (she is always quick to reschedule if a scheduling conflict arises). We love Miss Connie and couldn't ask for a better music teacher.
~Michele, Academy Parent
