Keyboard West has a highly qualified and enthusiastic staff. Karen Unrau, Consultant for the International Piano teaching Foundation, trains and certifies all teachers associated with Keyboard West. We are proud to announce our talented staff.

Jessica Anderson - has been teaching piano lessons for nine years and will begin her fifth year of teaching at Keyboard West. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Northern Iowa , where she performed extensively as a collaborative pianist and choir accompanist. Prior to her time at UNI, Jessica was runner-up at the Terrace Hill Governor's Piano Competition. Jessica is now a staff accompanist at Drake University and an accompanist for several Des Moines area public schools. She has performed as a freelance musician for local venues such as the Grand Piano Bistro and the Des Moines Playhouse, and she regularly provides music for weddings and special events. She is a member of Music Teachers National Association, and Des Moines Music Teachers Association, and several of her students have won or placed in recent IMTA auditions. Jessica enjoys running, reading, and traveling. She also enjoys writing music, and several of her original works have been performed locally.

Kim Baack - is looking forward to her twelfth year at Keyboard West. Kim specializes in teaching music to pre-school and young elementary children. Kim enjoys young children because they come to class so excited to learn! Kim received her B.A. in Elementary Education at the University of Northern Iowa and is happy to combine her pre-school teaching experience with her love for music. Kim and her husband Brad have two sons. In my free time I enjoy reading, walking and spending time with family.

Laura Brill - is new to Keyboard West this year. She is in her third year of teaching at Christ the King school, where her students range from kindergarten-eighth grade. Laura attended Drake University , receiving a Bachelors of Music Education degree in the spring of 2008. She enjoys coming up with creative ways to help students learn and understand the fine art of music. Laura currently accompanies for Masses at Christ the King, and sings on the worship team at the West Town Church . In her free time, she enjoys singing, reading, and spending time with friends.

Greg Brown - is a world-class guitarist with a passion for teaching. He is beginning his fourth year at Keyboard West. His accomplishments include hosting a guitar TV show in Houston for several years, authoring more than 10 books, and producing several successful teaching videos and CD ROMs. Greg's years of research and learning culminated in creating Light Speed Guitar. The method creates outstanding guitar players. Greg's students have included many top players including Mark Tremonti from the hit band Creed. Many of his students are first chair in their high school jazz bands in addition to winning many awards. Greg moved back to Des Moines in 2006 to be with his family. His desire is to bring high quality guitar instruction to the Midwest.

Stephanie Coy - is the Director of Keyboard West Studios and is looking forward to her seventh year of teaching group piano lessons. She enjoys creating a positive, musical experience for and motivating students at each lesson. Stephanie is a member of the Federated Music Club and several of her students participate in their festival each year. She has been playing piano since age 5 and performs in the community at weddings and social gatherings. She's a graduate of Drake University . Stephanie's looking forward to continuing to share her love of music with her students. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and their new son, exercising, and cooking!

Denise Forney - is happy to return for her third year at Keyboard West Studios as a music instructor. Denise brings a passion for teaching and a positive energy to her classes, instilling a love for music in young children. She enjoys singing, playing piano & guitar, and is an early childhood recording artist. She and her family released a children's CD this past year. Her three children: Rachel (10), Kaitlyn (8), and Jacob (5), also enjoy music and are enrolled as students at Keyboard West. Denise has a graduate degree in education from Drake University and lives in West Des Moines with her husband John and their family.

Christa Pearson - Begins her eighth year at Keyboard West this fall. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from Drake University in 1999, studying with Chiu-Ling Lin. A highlight of college was winning the Drake Soloist award and playing Gershwin's, Concerto in F, with the Drake Symphony. She went on to study music theory in graduate school at the University of Massachusetts, and taught music theory and ear training at Luther College for four years before returning to the Des Moines area. She is an active instrumental accompanist with a particular love for modern music. When not teaching or making music, Christa enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her husband, Scott, and chasing after her sons Sam (2) and Oliver (1).

Emily Rasmussen - took piano lessons for eleven years starting in the first grade. She accompanied the high school choir for special events, accompanied for small group and solo contests, and played piano for the jazz band. She is currently majoring in computer-aided drafting and design technology at DMACC, and works full time at Omara Ag Services, a mechanical engineering firm in Hartford , Iowa . In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, cooking, and playing tennis and volleyball.

Amy Saylor - is in her seventh year teaching at Keyboard West and specializes in pre-school and Kinderkeyboard classes. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in business from Drake University . She studied oboe with Jay Light and piano with Chiu-Ling Lin while at Drake. She is an active alumnae member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity for women, serving on the national Philanthropies Board as Secretary. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading and she is a huge Chicago Cubs fan.

Kelly Tabor - is in her fourth year of teaching at Keyboard West. She began studying the piano at a young age and wishes to share her love of music with other young musicians. Kelly attended Drake University , graduating in 2003 with a BSBA in marketing and management and a minor in music, focusing on piano and vocal studies. During her four years at Drake, Kelly was a member of the Drake University Community Chorus and was also a student accompanist. Kelly has also recently begun playing the guitar as well. In her free time, Kelly enjoys running, biking, and spending time with friends and family.

Calla Whipp - is in her fifth year of teaching at Keyboard West. Her passion has always been music, and she desires to share that passion with her students. A recent Drake graduate, Calla has degrees in both Marketing and Music Business. While at Drake, she studied clarinet and piano, performing as often as possible in both ensembles and as a soloist. During the summers, Calla plays keyboard for horse shows throughout the Midwest , combining two favorite aspects of her life - music and horses. In addition to teaching and playing, Calla works full time as the Manager of Member & Donor Relations with the Des Moines Symphony and conducts bell choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church. She also enjoys co-coaching Roosevelt's Colorguard and Winterguard, riding and showing horses, running, playing sports, reading and drawing.