Metropolitan Church is proud to offer the Metro Fine Arts Academy. Through this school, students will be able to take lessons and learn the gift of music from gifted teachers. To inquire about lessons, fill out the registration form below and someone will contact you.
Music Instructors
Melody Jones
Piano
With over 25 years of experience, Melody has taught private piano lessons in DeKalb County Schools, Plainview, Fyffe and various music schools in the Metro area.
Melody has studied Piano at Snead State Community College (Boaz, AL); Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL); National School of Music; and Alabama School of Gospel Music. She was fortunate to study directly under Piano Instructors such as Southern Gospel Hall of Famer, James D. Walbert of Birmingham, AL; Gospel Music Instructor, Eloise Phillips of Roswell, GA; and Jack Clark of Cleveland, TN. Continuing her education, Melody has attended a variety of workshops focused on the latest teaching methods.
Melody also currently serves as the Sanctuary pianist at Metropolitan Church of God in Hoover, AL and is a Member of the Birmingham Music Teacher Association (BMTA).
Melody has studied Piano at Snead State Community College (Boaz, AL); Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL); National School of Music; and Alabama School of Gospel Music. She was fortunate to study directly under Piano Instructors such as Southern Gospel Hall of Famer, James D. Walbert of Birmingham, AL; Gospel Music Instructor, Eloise Phillips of Roswell, GA; and Jack Clark of Cleveland, TN. Continuing her education, Melody has attended a variety of workshops focused on the latest teaching methods.
Melody also currently serves as the Sanctuary pianist at Metropolitan Church of God in Hoover, AL and is a Member of the Birmingham Music Teacher Association (BMTA).
Rick White
Trumpet , French Horn, Brass
With over 40 years as a band director, Rick holds a B.M.E, University of Montevallo, and a M.M.E. University of Montevallo.
His experience includes serving as Interim Director of Bands at Birmingham Southern College (one Semester), Director of Bands at Sumiton Christian, Bessemer Academy, Walker County Schools of Parrish and Curry High Schools, Tarrant High School, John Carroll High School, Minor High School, and Gardendale High School.
Rick retired from the 313th U.S. Army Reserve Band in Birmingham, Alabama with 27 years. In addition to playing Trumpet, he played French Horn in the Concert Band. During his tenure, he held the positions of Trumpet Section Leader, Brass Group leader, and Training NCO.
He is a member of The Joe Giattina Dance Orchestra, Alabama Blues Machine, Aria Brass, Supper Jazz Big Band, and Power and Glory Christian Jazz Band. He has performed as substitute Trumpet for the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra,
Canterbury Brass Quintet, and Big Daddy’s New Band.
Rick has performed in the pit for Vickey Carr, Tom Jones, and Kathy Rigby in
“Peter Pan”, Holiday on Ice, and Ringling Brothers Circus.
His experience includes serving as Interim Director of Bands at Birmingham Southern College (one Semester), Director of Bands at Sumiton Christian, Bessemer Academy, Walker County Schools of Parrish and Curry High Schools, Tarrant High School, John Carroll High School, Minor High School, and Gardendale High School.
Rick retired from the 313th U.S. Army Reserve Band in Birmingham, Alabama with 27 years. In addition to playing Trumpet, he played French Horn in the Concert Band. During his tenure, he held the positions of Trumpet Section Leader, Brass Group leader, and Training NCO.
He is a member of The Joe Giattina Dance Orchestra, Alabama Blues Machine, Aria Brass, Supper Jazz Big Band, and Power and Glory Christian Jazz Band. He has performed as substitute Trumpet for the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra,
Canterbury Brass Quintet, and Big Daddy’s New Band.
Rick has performed in the pit for Vickey Carr, Tom Jones, and Kathy Rigby in
“Peter Pan”, Holiday on Ice, and Ringling Brothers Circus.
Dane Lawley
Guitar, Wind Instruments
Dane is a retired educator with over 44 years of experience teaching music to all ages. He is certified in grades K-12 with a Bachelors of Music Education degree from Troy State University. He has also done post graduate studies at the University of Montevallo and taught Distance Learning through the University of Alabama. His teaching duties included concert band, marching band, guitar and general music.
He was the Director of Instrumental Music as well as the Fine Arts Department Chairman at Chelsea High School in Shelby County for 38 years before retiring in 2016. Prior to his retirement he was the Chairman of the Shelby County Band Directors' Association for 25 years. Part of his responsibilities as chairmen included coordinating the Shelby County Honor Band Festival and the related tryouts for the Honor Band. Dane is the former choir director at New Life Assembly of God in Westover, Alabama and he presently plays bass guitar on the praise and worship team. Dane is currently an adjunct instructor teaching music classes/lessons at several public schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
He is also the Educational Director at Scrollworks which is a part of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Central Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama and teaches instrument lessons, guitar class and conducts the Chamber Winds. His present music teaching duties also include teaching music classes at the Metropolitan Church of God located in Birmingham, Alabama. Dane's professional affiliations include National Association of Music Educators,
Alabama Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.
He was the Director of Instrumental Music as well as the Fine Arts Department Chairman at Chelsea High School in Shelby County for 38 years before retiring in 2016. Prior to his retirement he was the Chairman of the Shelby County Band Directors' Association for 25 years. Part of his responsibilities as chairmen included coordinating the Shelby County Honor Band Festival and the related tryouts for the Honor Band. Dane is the former choir director at New Life Assembly of God in Westover, Alabama and he presently plays bass guitar on the praise and worship team. Dane is currently an adjunct instructor teaching music classes/lessons at several public schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
He is also the Educational Director at Scrollworks which is a part of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Central Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama and teaches instrument lessons, guitar class and conducts the Chamber Winds. His present music teaching duties also include teaching music classes at the Metropolitan Church of God located in Birmingham, Alabama. Dane's professional affiliations include National Association of Music Educators,
Alabama Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.
Andrew Sapp
Piano, Worship Keyboard
Bio coming soon.
Hunter Champion
Drums
Hunter has been playing drums since he was three years old. He has been the primary drummer at Metropolitan Church for the past six years. During his time at Metropolitan Church, Hunter has played for many state music events and different visiting artist.
For Hunter, playing drums is more than keeping time for the band or having cool beats, it is an act of worship.
For Hunter, playing drums is more than keeping time for the band or having cool beats, it is an act of worship.
Arts and Tutoring
Kellie Morrison
Elementary Tutoring
Kellie graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She is certified to teach Kindergarten-Sixth Grade. In the fall of 2005, she began her teaching career and taught Kindergarten, First, and Third grades at Castlen Elementary School in Grand Bay, Alabama from 2005- 2013. While there, she became Nationally Board Certified in Early Childhood and was teacher of the year for two years. After school, she would tutor children in math and reading and loved to see the growth the students would make.
In 2013, Kellie moved to Birmingham, Alabama to become the children’s pastor at Metropolitan Church of God. She has tutored multiple children in math and reading while in Birmingham and takes continuing education courses to keep up with all of the up and coming pedagogy to integrate into the curriculum.
In 2013, Kellie moved to Birmingham, Alabama to become the children’s pastor at Metropolitan Church of God. She has tutored multiple children in math and reading while in Birmingham and takes continuing education courses to keep up with all of the up and coming pedagogy to integrate into the curriculum.