Music Teachers

Faculty & Staff

Seth Traylor

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Instructor  – Piano, Violin, Harp, Ukulele, Guitar

Seth Traylor
Seth Traylor

Seth, a native to the Florida panhandle, graduated from Gulf Breeze High School in 2013. During these years, he performed with the Florida All-State Concert/Symphonic Bands/Orchestras as well as the All-State Reading Chorus and won several of his high school’s talent shows with his arrangements for various ensembles. It was during these years he formed and wrote for the Palafox Brass, a semi-professional brass trio that performed for churches and weddings for over five years as well as the ska-influenced Big Lizard and techno duo Oh! Yes.

He went on to graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in commercial music where he became a member of Florida State’s Audio Production Team  and performed with the Florida State Philharmonic Orchestra and Chinese Music Ensemble. During his enrollment, he served as the Program Manager for the 621 Gallery. There, he established the Gallery’s first connections to Florida State’s music composition department through producing an avant-garde performance combining film and indeterminate music and performed in dance collaborations using extended techniques on violin. He also served as a lead sound/stage technician for the university and Good Shepard Catholic Church during his time there. Shortly after graduating, Seth moved to Panama City to help his mother through Hurricane Michael where he now manages and teaches at his new home, Fine Arts at the Beach.

Don Brown

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Instructor- Cello, Guitar, Bass, 5 String Banjo

Don Brown
Don Brown

Don started playing violin in 2nd grade but switched to cello in the 5th grade. He continued to study cello through high school and as a senior he auditioned and became a member of the Houston All City Symphony Orchestra.This group was comprised of the top players from 30 area orchestras and performed both nationally and internationally. Don played with the St Andrew Bay orchestra starting in 1986 and is currently a member of the Panama City Pops.  Don also plays 5 string banjo, bass and guitar and has been the lead electric guitarist for a performing classic rock band as well as flat picking acoustic guitarist for bluegrass and folk bands.

Mike “Spike” Shipley

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Instructor Drums/Percussion

Spike
Spike

Michael A. Shipley was born in the Northeast country Baltimore, MD. He began his studies with private lessons in percussion from 1974 to 1977 under the acclaimed Senior Chief Jaun Vasquez (MM percussion performance from Boston Conservatory) who held the position as Navy Band principal percussionist in conert band and leader of Vibes/Bass Dou and Skipjack Quartet. In 1977, Michael continued his education with Dale Raushenberg the Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Towson State University Percussion Ensemble until 1978. At the St. Mary’s College (1978-1979), Michael furthered his intense studies in music and percussion and performed in both the Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble, directed by Robert Cameron. While attending there he also studied privately with percussion instructor, Nora Davenport. Michael is a global performer and well versed in all styles of music. Some of his professional performances outside of the United States include New Zealand, Caribbean Islands, and Brazil. Michael and his wife Rose, who is a Brazilian native, live here in Panama City Beach. They Continue to travel to Brasil where Michael studies and performs in Latin percussion.

Kim Miller

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Instructor – Piano, Guitar, Voice

Kim Miller
Kim Miller

Native to Bay County, I began piano lessons in the  2nd grade and fell in love with the keyboard! My mother and father, Inga and Gary Evans taught me guitar and pitch when singing Harmony, Percussion for timing, including spoons, cowbell and tambourine! In 1976 my grandparents and friends started Kingswood Baptist Church and I was the first Piano player and Sunday School teacher to a congregation of 7. 1981-1986 I attended Mowat Jr. and Mosley High Schools. I started percussion, but switched to French Horn marching, concert and All County Bands. I graduated Mosley High School in 1986. 1986-1990 played guitar at various school, church, museum and small venues in Tallahassee, FL.1990-1994 taught private guitar and piano lessons in North Carolina. 1994-1996 studied Music Theory and Performance at Caldwell Community College. I was inducted in the North Carolina Piano Guild in 1997. 2000-2005 In-Home Piano Instructor, played rhythm guitar, recorded collaborated album, played venues in Panama City, FL. 2008-1012 private Guitar and Piano Teacher in Vernon, FL aka Vernon Florida Music. 2012-1014 Piano Teacher and at Awesome Music. 2014-2019 Piano and guitar Teacher aka Kimberly’s Piano Lessons. My husband Oscar H. Miller and I enjoy playing and writing music together. His parents Bill and Nella V. Miller were gospel singers and musicians. Oscar is a talented pianist, guitarist, vocalist! The blessings roll in when our kids come to visit and we have a family jam!

Peny Turner

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Instructor Clarinet/Woodwinds

Peny Turner
Peny Turner

Peny was born in Cartersville, GA, the second of 4 girls. Her mother taught them to sing 3-part harmony and they performed in talent shows and churches through her early childhood. She began playing piano when she was 8 and has accompanied church choirs from the time she was 12. She began playing French Horn in middle school and has played in various church orchestras and a brass quintet called Stone Mountain Brass. Peny has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Carson-Newman College in Tennessee and a Master of Science in Reading and Language Arts from Florida State University. She has been married to Chris Turner for 36 years and they have 2 daughters and a son-in-law. She is currently teaching elementary music and 6th grade reading at Breakfast Point Academy. She is an active member of Woodstock Church where she plays keyboard on a praise team.

Jacob Henchon

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Instructor – Saxophone

Jacob Levi Henchon
Jacob Levi Henchon

Jacob is the most recent edition to the Instructor team at FAATB and is a saxophonist from Mount Sterling Kentucky. He studied music at University of the Cumberland’s and has been playing for a little over 12 years. He loves of all different kinds of music and loves working with people who share the same passion as himself.