Keyboard West has a highly qualified and enthusiastic staff. Joyce Templeman and Karen Unrau, Consultants for the International Piano teaching Foundation, train and certify all teachers associated with Keyboard West. We are proud to announce our talented staff.

Jessica Anderson- has been teaching piano lessons for five years and will begin her first 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 received several awards for her solo performances and was runner-up at the Terrace Hill Governor’s Piano Competition.  Jessica is now a staff accompanist at Drake University and performs frequently as a freelance musician. She loves teaching and desires to cultivate musicianship and a love for music in each of her students. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys writing music, running, playing tennis, and reading.

Kim Baack - is looking forward to her eighth year at Keyboard West. Kim specializes in teaching music to pre-school and young elementary children and also teaches Wiggles N’ Tunes classes.  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 her free time she enjoys watching her boy's sports activities, knitting and walking.

Greg Brown - is a world-class guitarist with a passion for teaching. 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. 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. 

Jessica Conklin – recently moved to Iowa, and is enjoying her first year teaching at Keyboard West Studios.  She has been teaching piano for ten years.  Jessica received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from Converse College and a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.  Jessica is excited about instilling a love of music in her students.  She also enjoys hiking, yoga, and spending time with her friends and family.

Stephanie Coy- is the Director of Keyboard West Studios and is excited to begin her third year of teaching. She's a member of MTNA and Pacesetters where she enjoys being inspired by other teachers. Stephanie has been playing piano since age 5 and continues accompanying musicians for performances and competitions. She's a graduate of Drake University. Stephanie's looking forward to continuing to share her love of music with her students. Stephanie's hobbies include jogging, reading and cooking!

Steven Kennedy –  is currently a junior Guitar Performance major at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.  There he studies classical guitar.  He also has a wealth of knowledge and experience in other forms of music, such as rock, blues, and jazz.  Steven has performed in master classes with notable guitarists Jason Vieaux, Petar Jankovic, and Jerome Ducharme.  He has been playing the guitar for nearly seven years, and has been teaching guitar in the central Iowa area for over two years.   In his free time, Steven enjoys reading, playing disc golf, and fishing.

Jesse Kern –  is new to Keyboard West Studios and is enjoying teaching piano to groups of students because of the added stimulus and motivation that classmates provide.  He loves how the Pace Method teaches transposition, composition and a fluid experience of the whole keyboard from the very beginning!  Jesse is excited to see his students blossom in these creative endeavors.  Also with Keyboard West, Jesse teaches general music to preschool and Kindergarten children as well as the 4th through 8th graders at the Academy.  He loves sharing the joy of music and singing with these students.  Jesse also works as a sales clerk for Youngerman Music Company and accompanies the Hoover High School Vocal Music Program.  He holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Piano from Oklahoma Baptist University.  He is also the director and one of the teachers at the School of Metaphysics, which just celebrated 30 years in Des Moines.

Kim Nusbaum - graduated from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Sacred Music from The University of Iowa. Her work experience includes working for the National Association for Music Education, directing choirs and leading music activities for all ages. As a soprano with the Master Chorale of Washington, Kim performed several times a year at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C.  Kim loves composing and was blessed with a piano teacher who encouraged her to do so!  She looks forward to sharing her love of composing with her students. In her free time Kim enjoys dancing (especially folk and contra dance), reading, following news and politics, going on road trips, and of course, listening to music.

Christa Pearson- returns to Keyboard West after 7 years away working on a Masters degree in Music Theory at the University of Massachusetts and teaching music theory and ear training at Luther College.  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 Des Moines Symphony.  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.

Amy Saylor – is in her third year teaching at Keyboard West and specializes in pre-school and Wiggles N' Tunes 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.

Judy Sheldon - has been a Pace teacher for 20 + years.  She was an active member of Colorado Pace teachers for seven years as well as a member of Iowa Pace Teachers.  During her years in England she continued to teach and to accompany a community vocal choir both at the piano and the organ.  Judy is a substitute organist at West Des Moines United Methodist Church and a former owner of Youngerman Music Company.  She truly enjoys teaching adults.  She also enjoys golfing, reading, and traveling with her husband, Larry. 

Kelly Tabor – is thrilled to join the Keyboard West Studios team!  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.

Joyce Templeman - has taught piano for 40 years and is the Curriculum Director for Keyboard West. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Cornell College and a Master of Music degree from Drake University. Joyce is a consultant for the International Piano Teaching Foundation, belongs to the National Federation of Music Clubs and Music Teachers National Association. She also belongs to three local music teacher organizations: Pacesetters, Jr. Counselors (President) and Des Moines Music Teachers Association. She enjoys playing recitals with her duet partner, reading, biking, skiing, swimming and traveling with her husband Harold, to see their four grandchildren.

Karen Unrau – has taught piano for 30 years and co-founded Keyboard West Studios in 1988.  Karen’s Early Childhood and Music Education studies at Bethel College, Newton, Kansas, led her to Montessori Children’s House, West Des Moines, where she taught music for 20 years.  She currently serves as the Education Director for Keyboard West Studios. Karen is a consultant for the International Piano Teaching Foundation and the State Coordinator for the Music Link Foundation.  She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, and a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs.  Karen is an active member of three local music organizations, the Des Moines Music Teachers Association, the Federated Music Club of Des Moines, and Pacesetters of Iowa.  Her passion is teaching and watching young talent develop.  Karen enjoys live music, reading, writing, travel, and being a grandparent. 

Calla Whipp- is very excited to be teaching at Keyboard West. As a music business and marketing double major at Drake University, she is very passionate about music and its positive influences on the mind. Calla loves music and wants to see others love it just as much! She is a member of Drake University's Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Colorguard Calla is currently studying clarinet with Clarence Padilla and piano with Dr. Rika Uchida. She has also has begun playing keyboard at horse shows this summer, combining  two favorite aspects of her life - music and horses She also love working and showing horses, running and playing sports, reading, and drawing!

Lisa Wright- is new to Keyboard West Studios this winter. Lisa has a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa, and is a full-time elementary school teacher. Lisa studied voice as a minor at the University of Iowa during her undergraduate studies and has sung professionally. She plays the piano and organ for her church as well as the guitar, and drums.  Lisa is in the women's choir, handbell choir, and before she became the Music Coordinator for her church, she was frequently requested to perform solos.  In her spare time, she writes music of her own and for other people. A dream of Lisa’s is to play the harp.