GBC Conservatory of music

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord...

For over 30 years, the Conservatory of Music at Germantown Baptist Church has been a vibrant ministry, offering both music and dance instruction to the community. Our experienced, faith-driven instructors are passionate about nurturing students’ spiritual and musical growth in a supportive, Christian environment. Whether you’re interested in piano, strings, guitar, woodwinds, brass, or dance (ballet and tap), we provide personalized lessons that inspire creativity, discipline, and a deep love for the arts. Join us and discover the joy of music and dance.

Music Lessons

Conservatory Faculty

Dawson Hull

Pastor of Instrumental Worship Arts & Director of GBC Conservatory

Donna Thorne

Conservatory Ministry Assistant

Carissa Perez

Suzuki Strings Coordinator

Abbey Columbus

Dance

Anna Maria Haycook

Dance

Arden Lindsey

Dance

Elise Creason

Dance

Jasmine Gillenwaters

Dance

Jock Copeland

Acoustic Guitar

Kathy Thiele

Dance

Kendall Fagan

Dance

Lydia Summers

Dance

Mark Vail

Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba

Mark Williams

Acoustic Guitar

Pat Plumlee

Piano

Rebeca Rathlef

Suzuki Violin

Sheryl Lane

Piano, Violin, Cello

Taneea Hull

Clarinet

Verne Powell

Piano

Policies & FAQs

What payment options are available?
There are three options for payment:

Option 1 – Full payment is due by the first day of lessons
Option 2 – Half-payment is due by the first day of lessons with the remaining balance due in 30 days.
Option 3 – Quarter-payment is due by the first day of lessons with the remaining increments every 30 days
How do I make subsequent payments?
  • Visit my.germantownbaptist.org to make subsequent payments.
  • Log in by clicking the "You are not logged in. Click here to log in." button.
  • In the top menu, click on "My Registrations."
  • All active registrations (events for yourself or your children) will be displayed.
    • If you registered a child, only your account will show their registration information.
  • Find the GBC Conservatory class/lessons you registered for, displaying basic information.
  • Click the "Registration Details" button.
  • On the registration page, view your current balance and past payments.
  • Select the payment to make and click "Continue."
  • Complete the payment process by adding a new payment method or using a saved one.
What if I miss a payment?
Students whose tuition has not been received by the payment due date may not receive lessons. The Conservatory Office will notify you and your teacher of your delinquent status. No lessons missed due to past due balances will be made up.
What if I miss a lesson?
It is a requirement to notify the teacher when the student is unable to attend their lesson. One (1) lesson will be made up for an excused absence. Excused absences include student illness, death in the family, or an unavoidable conflict that shall be deemed reasonable by the teacher and the Administrator. Notification of at least eight (8) hours in advance entitles the student to a make-up lesson for an excused absence, as long that student has not already received a make-up lesson previously in the semester. When a lesson will be missed due to illness, please give the teacher as much prior notification as possible. A missed lesson without a phone call eight (8) hours beforehand is a no-show and will not
be made up or refunded.
Punctuality
Make every effort to arrive on time to your lesson. Lessons started late due to a student’s tardiness will still end on time as, in most cases, there is another lesson scheduled immediately afterward.
Teacher Absences
All lessons due to teacher’s absence will be rescheduled and will not be counted as the student’s make up lesson.
Withdrawal
If a student discontinues their lessons, our reimbursement schedule will be as follows: We will reimburse you for the remaining lessons as long as you have not entered into the next paid month.

Example: If you decide to discontinue your lessons during September and do not take any lessons in October, you will be reimbursed for prepaid lessons not taken in October, November, and December. If you enter into any lessons in October, you will be reimbursed for prepaid lessons not taken in November and December. If you enter into any lessons in November, you will be reimbursed for prepaid lessons not taken in December. If you enter into any lessons in December, no reimbursement will be made.
Inclement Weather
With the presence of multiple school districts within Shelby County and the surrounding towns, the GBC Conservatory of Music will follow its own schedule of closing for inclement
weather. Notification of closing will be posted to the home page of the GBC website. Lessons missed due to inclement weather (in the event that theConservatory is closed) will be made up. If a student decides to miss a lesson but the Conservatory is
still open, the teacher is not obligated to make up that lesson.
Conduct
The Conservatory seeks to maintain a safe and orderly environment. If a student or his/her parent behaves in an unorderly manner during lessons or on the campus of Germantown Baptist Church, the Conservatory administration will address the situation and give a warning that lessons may be discontinued if the behavior continues. If the behavior continues beyond the warning, the Conservatory reserves the right to discontinue lessons for that student at its discretion. In this case, a refund will be issued remaining lessons in the semester.
Building Entrance
Our building is in the midst of renovation, after major water damage at the end of 2022. Many spaces have been completed, but our main lobby and worship center remains closed. To enter the building for music lessons, you may use the handicap door on the far right of the front entrance doors, or through the Commons/Café entrance. Dance students will continue using the CORE entrance and parking lot.
Parking
There is parking available all around our campus. You are welcome to park in any of our available parking lots, but please do not park in any fire lane. The Germantown Police Department and Germantown Fire Department may issue tickets to vehicles parked in a fire lane on our campus.

Have further questions?

Don't hesitate to contact us directly!

Dawson Hull

Pastor of Instrumental Worship Arts
dhull@germantownbaptist.org

Donna Thorne

Conservatory Administrative Assistant
dthorne@germantownbaptist.org901.260.5753