Our Teachers and Studios

Nancy Cree, Iowa City

Nancy started teaching in 1974 after studying music education at the University of Iowa...

Nancy started teaching in 1974 after studying music education at the University of Iowa. From those first students taught in the living room piano, to her own innovative teaching studio, to the establishment of the Nancy Cree Keyboard Learning Centers in 1989, and leadership in the field of keyboard music instruction; Nancy has effectively combined the joy and excitement of keyboard music with a solid foundation in music fundamentals.

Over the years, Nancy has conducted workshops on the integration of technology into traditional piano teaching, and good studio business practices on the local and state level. In 1988, she created a videotape and wrote an article for Clavier magazine on the use of technology and was featured in the technology section of the fall 1999 Iowa Music Teacher magazine.

Nancy is active in her local Iowa Music Teachers Association (IMTA) district Festival and Auditions. She judges for festival and auditions around the state and has been the chair for the East Central IMTA Piano festival for many years.

Beyond her teaching and supervisory work, Nancy has a large family and loves to spend time with her husband, Stephen, and their seven grandchildren – and she always has a book with her so she can indulge in her favorite hobby whenever time allows.

Contact:

Nancy Cree
Phone: 319-321-1651
nancy@nancycree.com
Address: 719 North Johnson Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245

Tina Chapman, Coralville

Tina Chapman is our lead teacher. She joined our program in 1990 and has...

Tina Chapman is our lead teacher. She joined our program in 1990 and has been working with West Music since 1982. She shares teacher supervisory duties with Nancy and handles the billing for our West Music locations as well as her teaching responsibilities.

Tina studied music education at Simpson College. She has performed for years playing keyboard in several bands and playing and singing for many weddings. Tina has also arranged many ensemble music pieces for our centers. Before joining us, she worked with West Music for eight years doing everything from working the sales floor, to managing the teaching studios, to teaching many group organ and keyboard lessons. Her years of service for West Music earned her the 2002 Pearl J. West award for outstanding work and dedication to the music education field.

She has served as the president for our East Central IMTA (Iowa Music Teachers Association) Local Association. She is also State IMTA student composition competition chair. Tina is qualified to judge for our IMTA state festivals and auditions and does so frequently.

In her spare time she enjoys playing for weddings, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

Contact:

Coralville Studios
Phone: 319-351-2000
VM EXT:1394
tchapman@westmusic.com
Address: 1212 5th Ave.
Coralville, Iowa 52241

Allison Chenoweth, Marion

Allison Chenoweth became part of the Nancy Cree Keyboard Learning...

Allison Chenoweth became part of the Nancy Cree Keyboard Learning Centers' teaching team in June of 2005, starting in a brand new studio in the newly remodeled West Music, Marion Conservatory.

Allison is originally from Ottumwa, Iowa where she was active in band, orchestra, choir, jazz band, and piano from a young age. In the summer of 1996, she toured Europe with Iowa's Ambassadors of Music, playing clarinet in the band. After high school, she attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa where she earned a Bachelor's degree in both Music and Anthropology in 2002.

While at Cornell, Allison participated in band, choir, and also joined Pandemonium, the steel drum ensemble. She also discovered a new love for music from around the world, and immediately following graduation, moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Humanities focusing on the field of ethnomusicology and studying the development of steel pan bands in the Chicago area. Following her 2003 graduation, Allison moved to the northern Chicago suburbs, where she taught community college and rented space to teach piano.

In her spare time, Allison loves to read and garden and tries to keep up with the latest developments in the world of ethnomusicology. She enjoys finding piano music that focuses on the music of other countries and teaching her students about it.

Allison is very active in the Iowa Music Teachers Association. She is currently the state co Vice-President for State Auditions, and chairs local IMTA piano auditions and festivals. Allison also helped to start the Musical Mornings program at West Music, a monthly meeting for local piano teachers to meet and discuss topics in teaching and studio business.

Contact:

Allison Chenoweth
Phone: 319-351-2000 VM EXT:5113
achenoweth@westmusic.com
Address: 1398 Twixt Town Rd.
Marion, IA 52302