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Dr. Mary Jo Pembrook, listens intensely with her head bent toward 12-year-old Kadarius McCollum, who is in the five-finger position while deciphering musical notes on the page in front of him. 

Pembrook, volunteer piano teacher at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) Performing Arts Program, smoothly goes from instruction, to patience, to cheerleader in a matter of seconds. 

“You know this one. … Good. Good,” says Pembrook, who has been teaching piano part-time at the ESLC since October 2016. Students are learning a range of pieces from Bill Withers' Lean On Me to Beethoven’s Fur Elise. 

Pembrook, wife of SIUE Chancellor Dr. Randy Pembrook, has a bachelor’s in piano performance from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, a master’s in piano performance from the University of Kentucky and a PhD in music theory from Florida State University. Pembrook’s work as a part-time piano teacher at the ESLC is part of efforts to revitalize the Center’s Performing Arts Program. 

“I like playing the five-finger patterns, and I like playing for Mary Jo, because she’s fun,” said McCollum, who started taking private piano lessons 2½ years ago. Since working with Pembrook, the ESLC Performing Arts student says he’s playing faster and reading music better. He also plays the drums, trumpet, saxophone and bass guitar. 

“But it’s always good to learn how to play the piano before any other instrument,” McCollum explains, who attends Lincoln Middle School. 

Twelve-year-old Gysai Sylla started piano lessons with Pembrook approximately 10 weeks ago. “I’m picking up the piano relatively fast, because I have a good teacher, and because she breaks everything down step by step,” said the ESLC performing arts student, who also plays the drums, the bass guitar and electric guitar. 

Pembrook is able to get the best out of her students, according to Greg Sallie, an accomplished musician who helps Pembrook in the musical classroom. “Mary Jo is a great teacher. She has a lot of patience and with students who have varying skills, you need that,” said the 2015 SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School graduate. “She can also teach music theory the right way – it’s her passion.” 

“The SIUE East St. Louis Center has a rich legacy of teaching performing arts through rigorous and engaging instruction,” said Executive Director Jesse Dixon. “Mary Jo continues in that tradition by holding high standards for our students and inspiring them to meet those goals through her motivation and enthusiasm. We are so grateful for the time she is taking to work with our students and the vibrancy she brings to the SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts.” 

Pembrook began playing the piano at the age of seven, under the instruction of her mother, Laura, who taught all of her five children the basics. 

“When I heard my older sister, Barbara Jo, play the piano, I really wanted to learn how to play,” Pembrook said. “She really inspired me to want to play. I was the one who would practice without being made to.” Pembrook passed along her skill by teaching her two daughters, Sarah and Rachel, how to play the piano as well. 

“Piano is the basis for all other instruments,” Pembrook said, moving to the edge of her seat, eyes dancing. “There are numerous studies that talk about how playing the piano and learning to read music develops the brain.” 

The positive effects of reading music and playing the piano were reasons Pembrook said she quickly accepted the opportunity to teach SIUE East St. Louis Center students. 

“I’m a born teacher. I prefer teaching piano lessons,” said Pembrook, who has performed with the Fayetteville North Carolina and the Raleigh North Carolina symphonies. “It’s important that music students learn how to read music and understand music theory.” 

Music can have an impact on a person’s life and can enhance it in many ways, the piano teacher continued.  “It can change your mood. It can calm you down. It can rouse you or revive you. It can also open up a whole world of opportunities.” 

“Mary Jo is sweet. She enjoys teaching us, and she has a PhD,” said Sylla. “It’s good to learn music from someone who knows it and loves it.” 

With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals—from pre-school through adult—in the Metro East region. The Center offers programs that give the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. It does so by providing comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts. 

Photos:

Dr. Mary Jo Pembrook, volunteer piano teacher at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) Performing Arts Program. 

Twelve-year-old Gysai Sylla (left) listens to directions from Dr. Mary Jo Pembrook, piano teacher at SIUE ESLC. 

Twelve-year-old Kadarius McCollum (left) lines his fingers up on the keys under the direction of Dr. Mary Jo Pembrook.