Meet Our Teachers
David Love: Director and owner
Hablo Español
David is the co-owner and founder of Love Family Piano. He moved to Rexburg in January 2009 to study music at BYU–Idaho with an emphasis in composition and piano performance. The Love Family Piano Studio opened its doors in 2010, and Love Family Piano, LLC was born in 2013. In 2011, he and his wife, Denae, lived in the Dominican Republic where he taught music classes to under-privileged youth. He has studied music for 21 years, and has now been teaching private piano lessons for six years. David's recent projects include: a men's choral piece in Latin, the underscore for a student-directed documentary, original hymns, Christmas piano arrangements, and a three-piece suite of duets based on Dr. Seuss characters. David also recently performed his Senior Piano and Composition Recital, which was held in October of 2012. In Rexburg, he has studied piano with Brent Jones and Dr. Stephen Thomas. Composition instruction has been given by K. Newell Dayley and Daniel Kerr. David teaches piano and composition lessons in his home in Rexburg, ID. He graduated in July of 2013 from BYU-Idaho with a BMA emphasizing Piano Performance and Composition. Currently, David enjoys consulting for his favorite music education app company, JoyTunes, the creators of the award-winning app, Piano Maestro. David is a member of UVMTA and MTNA. On the side, David enjoys spending time with his wife and sons, going to plays and concerts, and eating at Costa Vida with Denae. Learn more about David by visiting the Love Family blog. Contact David
Denae Love: Director
HABLO ESPAÑOL
Denae loves music and education. As a teacher and the manager of Love Family Piano, mama to an energetic toddler and newborn, and an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University-Idaho, Denae is always on her toes! She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, and taught fourth and fifth grade at Henry's Fork Elementary in Saint Anthony, Idaho for three years. She also studied Spanish, and has endorsements in Spanish and TESOL. She has had many other teaching experiences as well. While serving an LDS mission in Spain, she taught daily religious lessons and weekly English and piano lessons in the Spanish language. After returning home, she taught missionaries at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT for three years. She spent 2011 with David in the Dominican Republic, teaching youth how to read in Spanish, and gave literacy teaching workshops to local teachers. This is her sixth year teaching piano in Rexburg, ID, and now gives lessons at her studio with husband, David. Denae has studied music for 26 years, and continues her studies by taking lessons, attending local and national music teacher conferences and workshops, and researching the most current and innovative teaching ideas. She spent nearly 10 years in choirs and private voice lessons, frequently serving in leadership positions including section leader and choir president. Under the direction of Loren Wenz, her choirs placed first in state several years in a row. Denae began accompanying her school choirs on the piano as early as 6th grade, and continues to enjoy accompaniment today. Denae enjoys playing with her handsome sons, teaching in the Elementary Education department at BYU-Idaho, reading, eating out in Rexburg, blogging, and organizing. Denae is a member of UVMTA and MTNA. Learn more about Denae by visiting the Love Family blog. Contact Denae.
Seth Norris: Guitar
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- Seth is a man who has been passionate about music his entire life! As a student of BYUI studying Biomedical Science, in his freetime Seth enjoys playing and teaching music. Ever since he started kindergarten his grandfather began teaching him piano lessons. Later on Seth learned to play the guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, and violin. Growing up in school he became the lead guitarist for Jazz Band, and later on became his high school’s guitar teacher. Teaching many students at a time, Seth learned more about how to help students grow and learn better when it comes to playing instruments. Throughout his highschool experience, Seth played in many bands: a country band as a bassist, a rock band as a guitarist and lead vocalist, and as well as in two metal bands as the rhythm guitarist. He has played countless shows throughout his experience and even recorded 2 full albums with his main band “Prosperous”. Because of how much Seth loves music, he owns 17 guitars, 4 ukuleles, a drumset, 2 pianos, a keyboard, a banjo, 2 violins, and a bass guitar. Before leaving to serve an LDS mission, Seth recorded his first solo album, which consisted of soft rock/alternative songs on the piano and guitar. As he is in school, he is currently working on his second solo album, and 3rd album with one of his old rock bands. Seth is excited to help others learn how to express themselves through the power of music at Love Family Piano.
Shayla Watson: Piano and Voice
Music has been an important part of Shayla’s life ever since she asked for piano and voice lessons for her birthday 13 years ago! Her family’s involvement in community theater sparked her love for music and performing when she was in second grade. She’s been in production favorites such as Annie, The Sound of Music, and It’s a Wonderful Life to name a few. She recently graduated from BYU-Idaho with a BA in music, vocal emphasis. At university, she was able to further her piano lessons, study classical and musical theater vocal techniques under Audrey Lambert, and study choral instruction under Dr. Kevin Brower and Atina Coates. Shayla and her husband, who is studying music composition at BYU-Idaho, love to play board games, go on hikes, and of course perform together! Shayla currently enjoys singing in the Chamber Choir of Idaho: Anam Cara and directing her church’s choir. In her free time, Shayla likes to read, practice music, and arrange sacred hymns. She loves teaching all ages, and has a firm belief in the connecting and healing power of music.
Easton Millet: Guitar, Ukulele, and Voice
Easton is a loving extrovert. He loves working with kids and is currently studying at BYU-Idaho in Elementary Education with a minor in music.
Music has been a huge part of Easton's life. He has been a part of the top choirs in his high school, and one of the more prestigious student run choirs at BYUI, Apollo Acapella. He's also participated in countless festivals and collaberated with many talented musicians.
Easton has also been playing the guitar and ukulele since he was about 11 years old. When speaking about the guitar he said, "It has been an important part of who I am and I feel if I can just have a guitar in my hands I can express myself in ways that I otherwise would not be able to."
Easton is currently attending BYU-Idaho with his wife, while raising his sweet baby girl! We love having him be part of the team!
Music has been a huge part of Easton's life. He has been a part of the top choirs in his high school, and one of the more prestigious student run choirs at BYUI, Apollo Acapella. He's also participated in countless festivals and collaberated with many talented musicians.
Easton has also been playing the guitar and ukulele since he was about 11 years old. When speaking about the guitar he said, "It has been an important part of who I am and I feel if I can just have a guitar in my hands I can express myself in ways that I otherwise would not be able to."
Easton is currently attending BYU-Idaho with his wife, while raising his sweet baby girl! We love having him be part of the team!
Ashlee Thomas WATT: Piano and Flute
Ashlee has been a teacher at Love Family Piano for four years, but it started long before that. Ashlee was actually Denae’s very first student back in 2010 when Denae moved to Rexburg! She later took from David and then many other amazing professors along her path.
She teaches piano and flute lessons. Her favorite part is working with the students. She believes that every student is unique, so she adapts her teaching to each student's needs. She also believes that music lessons need to be fun! That's the best way to learn music!
She's been playing the piano for 17 years and the flute for 12 years. During this time she has performed in countless ensembles, bands, recitals, and symphonies. She also has won numerous awards for her performances. She specializes in classical and contemporary music. Her favorite composers are Kevin Olson and Vivaldi.
Ashlee is a local from Rexburg. She is also currently attending BYU-I with her amazing, kind, and witty husband, Kade. She is studying English Education and will graduate this upcoming December. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family.
She teaches piano and flute lessons. Her favorite part is working with the students. She believes that every student is unique, so she adapts her teaching to each student's needs. She also believes that music lessons need to be fun! That's the best way to learn music!
She's been playing the piano for 17 years and the flute for 12 years. During this time she has performed in countless ensembles, bands, recitals, and symphonies. She also has won numerous awards for her performances. She specializes in classical and contemporary music. Her favorite composers are Kevin Olson and Vivaldi.
Ashlee is a local from Rexburg. She is also currently attending BYU-I with her amazing, kind, and witty husband, Kade. She is studying English Education and will graduate this upcoming December. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family.
Ellie Hathaway: Piano and Voice
Ellie has been playing and loving the piano for over 14 years. One of her favorite things
about music is the power it has to evoke different feelings and emotions. She has a
deep love of music and people, which helps make her a wonderful teacher! While she
was in high school she accompanied her school’s madrigal choir and even sang with
the advanced women’s choir. Ellie is currently a student at BYU-Idaho and working
towards her Bachelor’s degree in Music with Piano emphasis. She has studied piano
under Dr. Stephan Thomas, Dr. Stephen Allen, and is currently studying with Dr.
Michael McQuay. For the last two years she has been the TA for the piano pedagogy
courses on campus and the Piano Lab Coordinator for BYU-I’s Community Piano Lab.
One of Ellie’s goals as a teacher is to help foster a love of music in her students. While
technique and theory are of great importance, she thinks Beethoven said it best: “To
play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” Ellie looks
forward to learning, having fun, and sharing a love of music with her students!
about music is the power it has to evoke different feelings and emotions. She has a
deep love of music and people, which helps make her a wonderful teacher! While she
was in high school she accompanied her school’s madrigal choir and even sang with
the advanced women’s choir. Ellie is currently a student at BYU-Idaho and working
towards her Bachelor’s degree in Music with Piano emphasis. She has studied piano
under Dr. Stephan Thomas, Dr. Stephen Allen, and is currently studying with Dr.
Michael McQuay. For the last two years she has been the TA for the piano pedagogy
courses on campus and the Piano Lab Coordinator for BYU-I’s Community Piano Lab.
One of Ellie’s goals as a teacher is to help foster a love of music in her students. While
technique and theory are of great importance, she thinks Beethoven said it best: “To
play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” Ellie looks
forward to learning, having fun, and sharing a love of music with her students!
Olivia Manwill: Piano and Voice
At a family Christmas party when she was 6 years old, Olivia spontaneously gathered everyone together and announced, “I will now perform Silent Night”. In the middle of the living room she proceeded to sing acapella all 3 verses. The applause that came when she finished sent chills down her spine and she was hooked! Since then, music and performing have become a huge part of Olivia’s life. Olivia took piano lessons for 8 years from a piano teacher who is now one of her best friends and mentors. Piano came very easily to Olivia, and when she was 13 years old her teacher recommended that she start teaching students on her own. In addition to piano, Olivia took 7 years of private voice lessons, participated in multiple vocal competitions, including qualifying for region in high school, and enjoyed being a member of her high school Madrigals Choir, who won first in the state competition her senior year. She was in 6 musical productions in junior high and high school, playing multiple lead roles, including a Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Olivia is from Layton Utah and is attending BYU-Idaho, studying pre-nursing. Olivia is engaged to her fiance Joshua, who is also a fabulous pianist. They look forward to creating a home filled with music, like the one she grew up in. Olivia is so excited to share her passion for music and performing with the students of Love Family Piano.
Elise ellsworth: Voice, PIano, and Ukulele
Elise has always been in love with music! She has been involved in choirs since she was very young which soon developed a desire to study privately to better develop her skills as a musician and vocalist. Her goals as a learner and as a teacher are to make and achieve goals that enrich everyone on a musical, emotional, and personal level, and have fun doing it.
Elise has graduated BYU-I as a choral music educator and has a great deal of experience teaching in a classroom and private setting. She has a passion for teaching, conducting, and performing! Elise has had many opportunities to shadow and teach at many elementary, junior high, and high schools and is currently the music teacher at Henry's Fork Elementary School and works as a vocal coach at Madison Junior High and High School. Her fun-loving personality makes her feel at home with all ages! She continues to learn as much as she can about music and loves to share and help people progress and succeed!
Although she studied classical opera in college, Elise's guilty pleasure is musical theater. She has been a vocal coach for community events and has performed in many Broadway reviews, popular musicals, and oratorios.
Elise is very excited to be a part of the Love Family Piano team and all the fun experiences that it will surely bring!
Elise has graduated BYU-I as a choral music educator and has a great deal of experience teaching in a classroom and private setting. She has a passion for teaching, conducting, and performing! Elise has had many opportunities to shadow and teach at many elementary, junior high, and high schools and is currently the music teacher at Henry's Fork Elementary School and works as a vocal coach at Madison Junior High and High School. Her fun-loving personality makes her feel at home with all ages! She continues to learn as much as she can about music and loves to share and help people progress and succeed!
Although she studied classical opera in college, Elise's guilty pleasure is musical theater. She has been a vocal coach for community events and has performed in many Broadway reviews, popular musicals, and oratorios.
Elise is very excited to be a part of the Love Family Piano team and all the fun experiences that it will surely bring!
Remington Burton: Piano and Voice
Remi loves everything about music. She has been playing the piano and taking voice lessons since she was six years old. In high school, she was apart of her school’s elite choir performing in festivals and Solo Ensemble. Her passion for music helped her as she competed in the Miss America Scholarship Program, holding the title of Miss Pocatello and placing at Miss Idaho in 2017. Her love of learning and working with children helped her choose her career path. Remi is in her senior year of college studying Elementary Education at BYUI. She loves helping students find success and confidence in music, all while having fun.
Alex Watson: Piano
Alex is an experienced musician and composer with almost 17 years of experience playing the piano, as well as dabbling in percussion and cello. Currently working towards a degree in music composition, he loves to help others who sincerely desire to learn and work towards being excellence in music performance or composition. With equal parts focus on technique, theory, and genuine enjoyment, as Handel would say “I wish to make them better."
Credentials: 17 years of experience taking lessons from various teachers. Was mentored by concert pianist Michael Allen Harrison from Portland and as a finalist in a music competition got to perform in Michael Allen Harrison’s Ten Grands. Served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Currently studies piano performance and music composition at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Has studied piano under Dr. Michael Mcquay, Dr. Ryan Kelly, and currently studies under Dr. Steven Thomas.
Credentials: 17 years of experience taking lessons from various teachers. Was mentored by concert pianist Michael Allen Harrison from Portland and as a finalist in a music competition got to perform in Michael Allen Harrison’s Ten Grands. Served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Currently studies piano performance and music composition at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Has studied piano under Dr. Michael Mcquay, Dr. Ryan Kelly, and currently studies under Dr. Steven Thomas.
Landon Lewis: Piano
Hablo Español
Landon loves music and sharing it with other people. Having been mesmerized by the piano since before he was tall enough to reach it, he has continued to develop an ability to express emotion through music. He studied piano from a very young age under his mother, and is now pursuing a music minor with his chemistry degree at BYU-Idaho. There, he has participated in Dr. Stephen Allen’s Piano Pedagogy class, taken private lessons from Lori Ann Morris and Dr. Stephen Allen, and been enrolled in various musicianship, music theory, and collaboration classes. Landon enjoys composing and arranging, performing impromptu pieces, and learning other pieces from different time periods. His goals as a teacher include helping to create confident musicians rather than merely competent pianists. He aims to help students use their study of the piano to develop a deep appreciation for music, gain learning skills that can be applied to all of life, and gain confidence by recognizing their own potential. Students can expect him to be devoted to their success.
camille craft: Piano
Since Camille was 5 years old she’s been playing piano and violin. Music has always been one of her greatest passions. At a very young age she would sing herself to sleep every night. She loved playing the piano and violin any chance she could. In high school she played in her school orchestra for 4 years and was the lead chair for 2. Camille has accompanied others in auditions, performances, etc. since she was 12. When she turned 12 she began organ lessons. That soon became another one of her favorite instruments! While studying at BYU-I she minored in music and enjoyed her piano pedagogy class as well as the organ classes. One thing that Camille valued was the many opportunities she had to play for the BYU-I weekly devotionals and often being called at the last minute.
Music has always been a part of her life and she hopes as she teaches music to others she can instill that same love to her students!
“When words fail, music speaks!”
Music has always been a part of her life and she hopes as she teaches music to others she can instill that same love to her students!
“When words fail, music speaks!”