My name is Sonia (“Mrs. Sonny”) Hattaway. I have enjoyed teaching for over 30 years. I earned my Bachelor of Music Education - Piano Concentration degree from Brewton-Parker College. I am presently certified to teach Music K-12 and general elementary education in Georgia. I have taught private piano lessons for 30+ years. I have taught both elementary music and general education in the public and private school classroom for 13 years.
Teaching children, especially in the area of music, is an absolute joy and passion in my life. I have seen the benefits that children experience when music is incorporated into their early years of education. Music strengthens young students in many school subject areas, including Reading, Language, Math, Science, History, Geography, and the list goes on. Music education can also benefit young students as they develop fine motor skills and cognitive ability. The rich benefits of music education are endless, and I love investing these things in the lives of children.
I am married to my wonderful husband of 30 years, Don. Don pastors a local church and enjoys serving the people of this community. We have 3 children. Nathan is 28 and lives in Woodstock, Ga., Daniel is 26 and lives in Atlanta, Ga., and our precious daughter, Anna Lane, 21, now lives eternally in Heaven. We have two dogs named Zane and Annabelle. We live in the country and have enjoyed living in the Douglas area for six years. My hobbies include taking long walks with my husband and dogs in the woods, singing and playing the piano, spending time with my family, reading and watching mystery stories, and traveling.
If you allow me to teach your child the wonderful joy of music, I assure you that they will be in a safe and loving environment as they learn and grow as a young musician.
Teaching children, especially in the area of music, is an absolute joy and passion in my life. I have seen the benefits that children experience when music is incorporated into their early years of education. Music strengthens young students in many school subject areas, including Reading, Language, Math, Science, History, Geography, and the list goes on. Music education can also benefit young students as they develop fine motor skills and cognitive ability. The rich benefits of music education are endless, and I love investing these things in the lives of children.
I am married to my wonderful husband of 30 years, Don. Don pastors a local church and enjoys serving the people of this community. We have 3 children. Nathan is 28 and lives in Woodstock, Ga., Daniel is 26 and lives in Atlanta, Ga., and our precious daughter, Anna Lane, 21, now lives eternally in Heaven. We have two dogs named Zane and Annabelle. We live in the country and have enjoyed living in the Douglas area for six years. My hobbies include taking long walks with my husband and dogs in the woods, singing and playing the piano, spending time with my family, reading and watching mystery stories, and traveling.
If you allow me to teach your child the wonderful joy of music, I assure you that they will be in a safe and loving environment as they learn and grow as a young musician.
Testimonials
“Both of our daughters were blessed to be taught by Mrs. Hattaway from Kindergarten through 2nd grade. She made such a lasting impression on them both, so much so that our oldest daughter has expressed much interest in teaching music at the elementary level one day. Several years later, they reflect on the special musical programs they participated in under her direction.”
~Lon & April Harbin
"Mrs. Hattaway gave piano lessons to our daughter, Emily, for three years. Her friendly, patient teaching style got our shy girl excited about lessons and learning the piano. She reached Emily when others couldn't. She has a very encouraging, positive teaching style that makes lessons fun and a happy experience. Emily especially enjoyed playing songs together with Mrs. Hattaway. Piano lessons helped Emily gain confidence and boosted her willingness to try new things."
~Sean & Rhonda Ireland
“It was my privilege to have both Dr. Don and Mrs. Sonia Hattaway as students at Brewton-Parker College. Both were exceptional music students. Sonny has a heart for children with 30 years of experience teaching in public and private classes and one-on-one lessons. In her academy, she will grow your children into a lifetime of music.”
~Dr. Hildegard Stanley,
Former Music Chairperson & Professor
Brewton-Parker College
~Lon & April Harbin
"Mrs. Hattaway gave piano lessons to our daughter, Emily, for three years. Her friendly, patient teaching style got our shy girl excited about lessons and learning the piano. She reached Emily when others couldn't. She has a very encouraging, positive teaching style that makes lessons fun and a happy experience. Emily especially enjoyed playing songs together with Mrs. Hattaway. Piano lessons helped Emily gain confidence and boosted her willingness to try new things."
~Sean & Rhonda Ireland
“It was my privilege to have both Dr. Don and Mrs. Sonia Hattaway as students at Brewton-Parker College. Both were exceptional music students. Sonny has a heart for children with 30 years of experience teaching in public and private classes and one-on-one lessons. In her academy, she will grow your children into a lifetime of music.”
~Dr. Hildegard Stanley,
Former Music Chairperson & Professor
Brewton-Parker College
My name is Melanie Smith Summerlin and I am so happy to join Coffee's Kids Music Academy as a piano teacher. I recently retired from the Coffee County School system after teaching for 28 years in Pre-K, Kindergarten and 2nd grade. I am a graduate of South Georgia College and Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Education degree as well as a focus on Music and Fine Arts education. I received my Masters in Library Media from the University of West Alabama. I am so thankful for the years I spent as an elementary teacher because I had the opportunity to teach and influence young children and help them learn and realize how special they are in their own ways. I am excited to continue making a difference in the lives of children by teaching piano.
I loved and was surrounded by music from a young age. I truly wouldn't be the person I am today if it was not for my love of music and my ability to play and teach piano. I received piano lessons at Taylor Piano in Douglas from 3rd grade to 11th grade. I then became a piano teacher and taught piano after school for 22 years at Taylor Piano Company, as well as at home and church. I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to now share my love of piano and music with more children full time. I believe that as a child progresses through the years of piano lessons, they will continue to build not only their musical ability to become greater musicians but also their ability to express themselves with music. Being able to play an instrument gives children confidence, improves focus and concentration, elevates the ability to multitask and helps them develop other skills to help them both in creative and educational ways.
I play the piano at our church and have enjoyed playing for special events and weddings throughout the years. My husband, Neal, works in the medical/industrial delivery field, is one of the song leaders at our church and is a previous member of a gospel singing group. Our daughter, Camille, is a student in our local school system, loves to sing and takes piano as well. She loves her dog, Oakley. We live on the farm where I grew up and enjoy spending time outdoors, putting up fruits and vegetables, trying new recipes, reading and traveling. I also enjoy time with my Mother making sweet treats from treasured family recipes during the holidays as "Southern Specialties."
Learning to play the piano is more than just learning notes and rhythm, it is allowing music to become a part of you, a way to express yourself in your own unique way and is truly the gift that lasts your whole life through. I am looking forward to starting this rewarding time with your child and your family very soon!
I loved and was surrounded by music from a young age. I truly wouldn't be the person I am today if it was not for my love of music and my ability to play and teach piano. I received piano lessons at Taylor Piano in Douglas from 3rd grade to 11th grade. I then became a piano teacher and taught piano after school for 22 years at Taylor Piano Company, as well as at home and church. I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to now share my love of piano and music with more children full time. I believe that as a child progresses through the years of piano lessons, they will continue to build not only their musical ability to become greater musicians but also their ability to express themselves with music. Being able to play an instrument gives children confidence, improves focus and concentration, elevates the ability to multitask and helps them develop other skills to help them both in creative and educational ways.
I play the piano at our church and have enjoyed playing for special events and weddings throughout the years. My husband, Neal, works in the medical/industrial delivery field, is one of the song leaders at our church and is a previous member of a gospel singing group. Our daughter, Camille, is a student in our local school system, loves to sing and takes piano as well. She loves her dog, Oakley. We live on the farm where I grew up and enjoy spending time outdoors, putting up fruits and vegetables, trying new recipes, reading and traveling. I also enjoy time with my Mother making sweet treats from treasured family recipes during the holidays as "Southern Specialties."
Learning to play the piano is more than just learning notes and rhythm, it is allowing music to become a part of you, a way to express yourself in your own unique way and is truly the gift that lasts your whole life through. I am looking forward to starting this rewarding time with your child and your family very soon!
Hi! I am Crystal Murphy. I have been sharing my love of music with students for over 13 years. I began my musical journey in band playing clarinet through middle and high school in Blairsville, Ga. I also took both piano and guitar lessons. On my 14th birthday, I got a fiddle and quickly discovered this was the instrument for me. I played with several local bluegrass and country bands in the area traveling to many bluegrass festivals throughout North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
I earned my Bachelor’s of Music Education - Violin from the University of North Georgia in 2011. I then moved to Blackshear to work with the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra and also play with the Coastal Symphony.
In addition to the youth orchestra, I offer private violin, fiddle, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons at First Baptist Blackshear. I also work with students at the ROOTS Clubhouse in Waycross, which is part of Unison Behavioral Health. I’m excited to begin leading Coffee’s Kids Music Academy’s violin classes this year.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy performing at weddings and local venues and also playing with the worship team at my church. I love spending time on my farm raising cattle, goats, and chickens.
I earned my Bachelor’s of Music Education - Violin from the University of North Georgia in 2011. I then moved to Blackshear to work with the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra and also play with the Coastal Symphony.
In addition to the youth orchestra, I offer private violin, fiddle, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons at First Baptist Blackshear. I also work with students at the ROOTS Clubhouse in Waycross, which is part of Unison Behavioral Health. I’m excited to begin leading Coffee’s Kids Music Academy’s violin classes this year.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy performing at weddings and local venues and also playing with the worship team at my church. I love spending time on my farm raising cattle, goats, and chickens.
My name is Daniel Steele. I earned my Bachelor of Music in Music Theory/Composition at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. I have served as a Worship Pastor for over 30 years and am currently serving in a local church.
One of my passions is to equip young people to serve in their local church through music. I believe that investing in the next generation of musicians is so vital for our community. The study of music, in the area of instrumental music, increases motor skills as well as strengthening the student's ability in the classroom.
My lovely wife, Karen, and I have been married for 20 years and have 2 wonderful sons, Caleb, 18, and Logan, 16. We also have 2 fur babies, Jake and Sugar.
One of my passions is to equip young people to serve in their local church through music. I believe that investing in the next generation of musicians is so vital for our community. The study of music, in the area of instrumental music, increases motor skills as well as strengthening the student's ability in the classroom.
My lovely wife, Karen, and I have been married for 20 years and have 2 wonderful sons, Caleb, 18, and Logan, 16. We also have 2 fur babies, Jake and Sugar.