Making Music Magic
Making Music Magic
  • Home
  • About Simply Music
  • The Teacher
  • Lessons
  • Fun Stuff
  • Performing Services
  • Contact
  • Blog

~Melanie Dewey~

Picture
Playing at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University 
--accompanying the choir for the Pioneer Days Fireside 
with speaker M. Russell Ballard, LDS 
General Authority--


"To me, life is all about making music.  I can't get enough!”


~ An accomplished pianist, certified teacher, 
and handbell ringer for 
the Bells at Temple Square ~




Picture




It's my hero... Jon Schmidt
→ 
from the local-to-Utah sensation making it 
big internationally on You Tube...


The Piano Guys
(with the 'cello guy') 
Check out The Piano Guys' famous videos at this link
And here's a great video of Jon
Picture
​




​Ringing with the Bells at Temple Square
for Music and the Spoken Word with the Tabernacle Choir
Picture
The Conference Center Organ...
With Richard Elliott... head Tabernacle organist
Picture

With Neil Moore, the Australian creator of Simply Music 

...and Lyndel Kennedy from Australia, the creator of 
Inner Musician (Play-A-Story & Piano Windows),
Simply Music's sister
programs

*Over 30 years of piano experience*
--see MUSIC RESUME below--

*20 years teaching experience*

Taught elementary school for 10 years and approx. 10 years teaching piano

 ♫ Has taught Simply Music/Play-a-Story for 7 of those years ♫
♪ One of the most experienced Simply Music teachers in Utah ♪
The first SM teacher in Utah County

 
Experience teaching in public schools, a charter school, & has also worked with home-schoolers


*Nominated twice for the national 
Disney Creativity in Teaching Award*

♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪
Teacher Bio

Melanie is not only a certified Utah Elementary Teacher with 10 years experience teaching in both charter and public schools but also an accomplished pianist, handbell ringer, and musician!  Melanie has held many competitive musical positions and been in many elite musical groups…

With 30 years of piano experience, she has performed a piano solo on Temple Square, played background piano music at Nordstrom’s, and performed a humorous ‘Victor Borge’ style comedy piano duet at Weber State University… just to name a few.  She also has extensive experience accompanying for many choirs, including the LDS Institute choirs for internationally broadcasted events. She began accompanying for large singing groups as a child at the young age of 11.  Melanie is also currently a member of the Bells on Temple Square, playing for and with the world-famous Tabernacle Choir.   



Playing on a cruise ship
Playing background Christmas music 
at Nordstrom

Melanie has 9 years of experience teaching grades K-6 in various public schools and 1 year in a charter school where she was also introduced to the homeschooling world.  Melanie has been nominated twice for Disney’s Creativity in Teaching Award and often spoken of as a master teacher whose influence has touched many lives for good.   


Melanie’s teaching experience, coupled with her love of music and extensive music resume has given way to her true niche as a Simply Music teacher!  She has always sensed there had to be a better way to teach music and has been on a mission to find one until discovering this groundbreaking approach.  She is so excited to be teaching Simply Music to all ages and abilities.




♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪




Picture



Picture


*Accompanied the Ogden LDS Institute Choirs during a CES Fireside satellite broadcast at the Marriott Center with a General Authority which was broadcast throughout the world and later on television

*Performed a humorous piano duet with amusing variations of Chopsticks and Hungarian Rhapsody (Victor Borge style comedy piano) at Weber State University and while on tour with the Chorale

*Accompanist for the Ogden LDS Institute Summer Chorus performing piano in the Dee Events Center for multiple Pioneer Days Firesides with various General Authority speakers

*Performed twice in the play Forever Plaid as the accompanist at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse for a two month run

*Performed multiple times in the play Pirates of Penzance as the accompanist at the Layton and Sandy amphitheaters as well as the Springville Playhouse

*Performed live background piano music for multiple wedding receptions and other events

*Accompanist for an evening choir at the Ogden LDS Institute


Picture
With "The Piano Guy" who airs on PBS


*Accompanist for many other choirs at Clearfield High School as a student

*Received a superior rating, the highest possible, at the Solo & Ensemble competition for a piano solo entitled Rondo, by Mozart

*Accompanist for several Jr. High choirs as a student

*Began accompanying for large singing groups at an early age, as a child in sixth grade… playing an advanced arrangement of the piece The Greatest Love of All at age 11 for her elementary school choir

*Participated in the Program for Accelerated Learners in the subject of music, where few are chosen to attend on a district level, as a child in elementary school

*Reflections piano solo composition award, first place in elementary school



Music Resume
Musical history and experience for 
Melanie Dewey

Piano Experience

*Performed a piano solo arrangement of I Stand All Amazed on Temple Square for the church New Music Concert in 1996

*Played live Christmas background piano music at Nordstrom department store in the mall

*Played live background piano music for the McKay Dee Hospital lobby as a volunteer music therapist

*Accompanist for the Ogden LDS Institute Chorale –a competitive position for a select singing group

--Accompanied a great number of pieces for the choir including Battle Hymn of the Republic while on tour and a major Christmas Cantata


Picture
Piano Comedy Duet... Don't let us fool you



*Choir accompanist as a teacher for multiple elementary school choirs

*Obtained a grant to purchase a classroom set of ukuleles used to instruct elementary children

*Accompanied on both piano and organ for many, many church choirs, ensembles, and solos

*Served in many church organist positions

*Piano teacher for 10 years


*Accompanist for Clearfield High School’s elite madrigal singing group as a student


Picture
My niece and I at the piano...

                        
Handbell Experience

*Handbell ringer in various handbell choirs

-Bells at Temple Square

        ringing for and with the Tabernacle Choir

-Utah Valley Handbell Ringers

-Bells of Joyful Sound

*Quartet handbell ringing, small ensemble experience
Vocal Experience

*Sang in numerous choirs and ensembles since childhood, including some elite auditioned groups 

*Received a superior rating, the highest possible, for a vocal duet entitled Spring Song

*Performed an entertaining vocal duet, Feelin' Groovy by Simon and Garfunkel for madrigal night

*Privileged to sing during General Conference in 1996 with members of the Ogden and Logan Institute Choirs




♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♪


Also able to teach handbells, chimes, ukulele, and recorder. 

--Possibilities to begin groups or clubs for those interested in learning these other instruments as well.