Brother Powell will serve as the chairman of the music department while directing several music groups. Mrs. Powell will be teaching piano and various music classes.
The Powells bring many years of church music experience to the faculty and are looking forward to welcoming the students for the 2024-25 school year. Take a few moments to get to know them a little better.
With Roger Powell . . .
Where did you grow up?
I was born and reared in Atlanta, GA.
When did you sense the Lord calling you into ministry?
I had the blessing of attending a solid, Bible-preaching Baptist church growing up. Pastor Howard Pyle and his wife, Ann, (who eventually became my father and mother-in-law) were always encouraging the young people of our church to consider devoting their lives to “full time Christian service.” Although there were trials in their ministry, they never gave me the impression that serving the Lord was hard or bad. Instead, their testimony was that serving the Lord was great! In that environment I sensed the Lord calling me to the ministry during my adolescence and when I was 13, I responded during a church invitation and dedicated my life to serve the Lord. My call was not to a specific area of ministry, but just to serve in church ministry in a full-time capacity. The first person to encourage me at the end of the service was a beautiful young lady, Joy Pyle, who eventually became my wife.
Give a survey of your academic training.
When I was in the 4th grade, I asked my parents if I could join the beginner band at my elementary school. They said “yes” and took me to the music store and rented a clarinet for me. I was a couple of weeks late joining the band and felt really lost. I was discouraged, because the band leader had very little patience with beginner music students and really yelled a lot. I took 1 band lesson and quit.
Although my interest in music did not diminish, I didn’t take music lessons again until I was 15. My interest had changed from woodwinds to brass, and I began taking private trumpet lessons from our church music minister. Besides my private lessons, I was also a member of our church choir. It was there that I really learned to read music.
After high school, I went to a Christian university and studied music in my undergraduate years. After graduating from college with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I served in a local church for a few years and then reenrolled in a Christian college to further my music education. I had the distinct privilege of studying conducting under Dr. Frank Garlock and voice under Ray & Ann Gibbs.
While serving the Lord in the early 1990’s at a larger church where there were several pianos always in need of being tuned, I enrolled in a craftsman trade program and became a certified piano technician.
Describe your musical abilities.
I enjoy a wide range of music disciplines, but I think my strengths lie in music administration and conducting. I believe one of my God given gifts is that of teaching. It is a delight to help others learn and hone their abilities for service to the Lord.
How many years have you served in local church ministry?
Over the last 51 years beginning in 1973, I have had the opportunity to serve the Lord in local church ministries in the southeast and Midwest as a Christian school teacher, music director, assistant pastor and senior pastor.
What is your favorite hobby?
From my early childhood, I have had a strong interest in aviation. At five years of age, a friend of my father’s gave me an authentic wooden airplane propeller. I still have it and it has been a part of my office décor for many years. It adorns one of the walls in my office today. During my senior year of college, I had the opportunity to take flying lessons and earned my private pilot’s license, thinking that the Lord might want me in mission aviation ministry. The Lord redirected my steps, so I did not pursue advanced training. However, my love of flying is as strong as ever (I have been a subscriber to FLYING magazine for 50 years). I have tried to keep up my currency as I am able, but since flying is so expensive, I don’t get to go up as much as I would like. Instead, most of my flying today is done with rc (radio controlled) helicopters.
With Joy Powell . . .
When did you start taking piano?
My piano lessons began at the age of 6. My first teacher was not an encourager, and I left in tears more than once. My second teacher came to my house and sat beside the piano in a rocker for an hour, teaching me from John Thompson's piano course. She gave me an excellent start in theory and technique and sight-reading. I began to play as an accompanist, including offertories and specials, for children's church at the age of 8. When I was 10, I became the church organist (small, one manual with an octave of pedals) At the age of 12, I began teaching piano lessons to young people in my church and played for my first weddings.
Who was your most memorable piano teacher?
During my last two years of high school, I had a wonderful hymn-playing teacher who guided my improvisational skills. In college, I had the privilege of further refining my hymn playing and arranging techniques under the instruction of Mrs. Flora Jean Garlock (sometimes referred to as the mother of hymn playing) at Bob Jones University. At my first lesson, she asked me to play a hymn for her. When I finished, she laughed and said, "You don't have to use every style you know in one song." Probably the greatest thing I learned from her musically was to separate my ideas and to develop a theme within an arrangement. She became a dear friend. We laughed and prayed and sometimes cried together. I was blessed to see and feel her heart for the Lord and for ministry.
Tell us about your music academy experience.
In 2012 my husband Roger and I started Just N Tune Music Academy in Hopkinsville, KY. We began with 8 students. In 2015, we moved about 30 minutes away to Clarksville, TN, taking some of our students with us and very quickly adding many more. The Lord blessed our endeavors and within a few years we had added 9 faculty members, teaching everything from piano to strings, brass, woodwinds, organ, and percussion. Our highest enrollment was around 120 students. We had two recitals each year and a very big Christmas concert which drew large crowds.
How does one learn to arrange Christian music?
Growing up in a pastor's home, I spent much of my time listening to quality classical and sacred music in the form or LP records. My dad often invited musicians to come from Christian colleges to minister in our church. Many times, they stayed in our home, and I had the privilege of hearing them play the piano and sing. Much of my arranging style developed from what I heard and observed in those formative years. I am so thankful that my music "diet" contained no "junk food." My musical tastes were greatly influenced by what I absorbed from other godly musicians. Although I have lots of interests, arranging music is my very fulfilling hobby and work. A good place to start with arranging music is by taking a classical or original motif (short musical idea) and use it as introduction, interlude, modulation (key change) and coda (ending). The lyrics should guide the style of the arrangement. Sometimes simply changing the style, or creating a new melodic line, can greatly enhance and bring new understanding to the lyrics of a well-known song. A beautiful sacred arrangement will include warm, inviting secondary harmonies. Meter changes can be used to awaken the senses and spirit to the message of the song. Key changes can bring the listener to depth of thought and reflectiveness and gratitude, to heights of hope and joy and worship. Most importantly, I want my arrangements to bring glory to my Lord.
Who are your favorite composers and arrangers?
J.S. Bach who signed his music, "Soli Deo Gloria," ("To the Glory of God Alone"), is probably my favorite composer. What an incredible musician! I've never heard a Vivaldi piece I didn't love. Rachmaninoff is also a favorite composer. In the Christian realm, I am greatly blessed by the arrangements of Ron Hamilton and Mac Lynch. Joan Pinkston, long time teacher at Bob Jones University, is my favorite arranger. She has influenced the amazing sacred music of many contemporary arrangers, such as Dan Forrest, Mary Lynn Van Gelderen, Faye Lopez, Gina Sprunger, Mac and Beth Lynch, Rebecca Bonam, Tim Fisher, Glen Christianson, Shelly Hamilton, Molly IJames, and so many more. Julie Potter is a wonderful arranger. Ken Renfrow is a fantastic arranger.
Last question and very important – What is your favorite snack?
I love fresh organic fruit, particularly strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. My favorite chocolate is Lily's dark chocolate almond bar.
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