Piano with Paula J.

Paula Johnson is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Piano and holds the Permanent Professional Certificate from Music Teachers National Association. She received a degree in Music Education from Carson Newman College and has been a long time member of the Tennessee and Knoxville Music Teachers Associations, in addition to being a Past President and Teacher of the Year of the Smoky Mountain Music Teachers Association. In addition, Ms. Johnson received training through Kindermusik International, a music and movement program for young children beginning at age birth, and is licensed to teach all Kindermusik curricula. Regular attendances of classes, workshops, seminars, and conferences, as well as review of current professional journals are an important part of Ms. Johnson’s continuing education. She has honed her piano performance skills by serving many years as church musician in congregations of various different denominations, as well as performing at weddings, funeral services, and for musicals. Ms. Johnson’s students have performed locally at the National Federation of Music Clubs Piano Festivals, National Piano Guild Auditions, MTNA Local and State Auditions, Pianorama, Music Field Day, American Piano Gallery - Home of Steinway, West Town Mall, Knoxville Fantasy of Trees, Knoxville Chocolatefest, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Ijams Nature Center Holiday Market, Farragut Community Nativity, and the General Morgan Inn, as well as opportunities at their schools and studio recitals. Through her piano study with Dr. Paul Ridgway, Ms. Johnson follows in a teaching tradition that can be traced back to Ludwig van Beethoven. Ridgway was a student of Leon Fleisher, who had been a student of Artur Schnabel, student of Theodor Leschetizky, student of Carl Czerny, student of Beethoven. Ms. Johnson is particularly noted by her students and their families as a calm, patient, and thorough teacher. Her students learn standard music theory, and to read music through instructional methods as well as supplemental pieces in various genres of music according to their interests including classical, sacred, popular, jazz, and more.