Welcome to Anna Minion

In August, we welcomed Miss Anna Minion to the music faculty. She is a graduate of ABC and is teaching Music Theory and piano lessons. While ministering in local church music ministry, she now has the opportunity to invest in the next generation of accompanists and musicians. Take a few moments to learn more about her.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Bolingbrook, IL.

How did you gain your love for music?

I was born into a very musical family and have probably loved music since before I was born! My parents, both heavily involved with music, had my five older siblings and me begin on piano and stringed instruments when we were young. When I was 4, my two sisters started me on piano and violin, until I continued with piano and viola teachers at 6 and 9 years old. The Lord graciously provided for me to continue lessons from elementary through high school. I also learned to play the organ along the way and dabbled with a few other instruments, just for fun. 

Some of my earliest and fondest memories of music are being lulled to sleep at night while my mom practiced trumpet or my siblings practiced their string quartet. When we weren’t practicing, our local classical music radio station would often fill the void! I sang in the children’s choir at my church and joined the church orchestra when I was 9. I eventually became involved in playing viola and piano for offertories. Later, I played the piano and organ for church services and accompanied offertories, special music, and the choir, on occasion. Those opportunities in church as a young musician greatly helped me develop my musical abilities and grew my love for serving the Lord through the music ministry.

Who were the greatest musical influences in your life and why?

I studied under Dr. Nancy Liley from age 6 through high school. She placed high expectations on her students, prioritized excellence in technique and theory, and assigned pieces from a variety of composers and musical eras. Musicality, memorization, and performance were also prioritized through participation in several events each year, including the Federation Festival, National Guild Audition, and two state competitions.

My parents pushed me to continue in my study of music at times when I wanted to give up. I have met several people who told me, “I wished I hadn’t stopped lessons when I was younger,” and I’m thankful my parents didn’t give me the option of stopping when I wanted to. At home, I was also held accountable for my practice. I wasn’t allowed to simply play through my pieces to “get by,” and my family would often correct wrong notes and rhythms to ensure accuracy. Even though I didn’t always appreciate it then, I realize that discipline helped me with more than just music practice.

Why is music theory important for church music majors?

Every musician ought to have a good foundation in music theory because it explains the “how” and “why” behind everything we do in music. While a person may be able to sing or play an instrument without much knowledge and understanding of music theory, I believe they are at a disadvantage. Especially if they are wanting to serve the Lord in the music ministry, they should at least have enough of a fundamental understanding of how chords, rhythms, and other musical aspects work together so they can help other people involved in the music ministry reach a higher level of musicality and discernment. We should have a standard of excellence in every area in life because everything we do should be bringing glory to God.

What does a music teacher like you do for fun?

I enjoy hiking, playing board games, doing puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.