At Kudzu Music, we have experienced, highly qualified instructors for piano, guitar, violin/viola/cello, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, and voice. Whether you are just beginning or want to improve your skills as a seasoned musician, our instructors can help you achieve your goals.

Diane Rydell – voice and piano

Diane and her husband, Stephen, are the previous owners of Rydell Music Center. She has taught piano and voice in Boone 27 years. She also taught piano and voice to students at Lees-McCrae College in Banner Elk for 9 years. Diane earned a Masters in Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in NYC and performed there several years. As the Music Director at Banner Elk Presbyterian, Diane is the organist/pianist, directs the Men’s Choir and the Handbell Choir. The church music program is very active and includes adults from 18 to 92 years of age. “Music has been and continues to be a way of life and sharing it through teaching is a joy and a blessing.”

Terri Miller -piano, music theory

Music has been a vital part of Terri’s life since the age of 6. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano and Music Therapy from West Texas A&M University and certification in Instrumental Music Education from Appalachian State University. She has over 40 years of teaching experience – including preschool music, church music directing and accompanying, middle school band and orchestra, and private piano. Terri loves sharing her passion for music and strives to pass it on to her students. She and her husband, Richard, are the owners of Kudzu Music.

Jim Greene – guitar, banjo and harmonica

Jim Greene began his musical career at his Palatka Florida High School Senior Day. He performed an Elvis Presley impersonation of “Hound Dog”, complete with sideburns, cape and guitar. Well he lost the cape and sideburns, but the guitar has been a rock steady friend all these years, providing funds for college tuition and living allowances.

Jim has taught guitar for the last seven years at Kudzu Music of Boone. Learning how to play and perform in the times before the “internet” and YouTube, Jim is proud to be able to offer practical real lessons to make anyone a better player from beginner to advanced.

Cindy Tate – piano, music therapy

Cindy is a native of Burlington, NC. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from ASU and  completed her Master of Music Therapy degree at ASU. She is trained in the Suzuki Piano method, Music Together, and the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music and has taught private and group piano lessons in Raleigh, Lenoir and Boone since 2000. Cindy currently provides music therapy services to school-aged children in Caldwell and Watauga counties and piano instruction to people of all ages and abilities. “I am especially interested in the healing nature of the arts. I feel that participation in music and arts provides a benefit that goes beyond the classroom, beyond the modality itself. Music is often a strength for the children I work with. I love that their musical ability provides them a way to share their voice with the world.”

Beth Jones—guitar, fiddle,
mandolin, banjo

Beth has been playing and
teaching music in the High
Country for many years. She
has played with many of the
areas finest musicians—as
well as being a soloist— at
concerts, festivals, recording
projects, and local eating establishments.
Folk, country, bluegrass, and
old-timey music are her favorite
genres and she enjoys using
time-worn favorites to
teach her students.
Beth delights in teaching
adults and loves seeing them
become confident, wellrounded
musicians.

 
Jon Cheney - guitar, piano, voice, mandolin, ukulele

Jon Cheney is a Fayetteville, NC native and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in theory and composition at Appalachian State University. After completing his undergraduate work at Campbell University, Jon taught private music lessons on a full time basis at the Cary School of Music and the Dunn School of Music from 2013 to 2018, offering instruction on the piano, guitar, voice, mandolin, bass guitar, drum kit, and ukulele to students of all ages.
In addition to his teaching activities, Jon has performed as vocalist/guitarist for East Coast Entertainment exclusive artist Bantum Rooster, an Asheboro-based dance band that specializes in beach music, Motown, and classic rock. Jon also serves as composer/arranger for the group. Jon has a passion for crafting lessons to the needs of the student and for helping people meet their musical goals in a way that is fun and enjoyable.