Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Jessie Welsh, DMA, NCTM, is an active teacher, performer, clinician, author, and presenter. She received her doctorate in Piano Pedagogy from Texas Christian University, where she was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award for TCU’s College of Fine Arts. Jessie completed her dissertation—“Student–First Piano Pedagogy”—on the topic of the student–teacher relational connection in the private piano studio. Jessie also holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University, where she received the Paul Vellucci Award based on the nomination of the piano faculty. Additionally, Jessie completed undergraduate degrees in both Piano Performance and Music Education from the University of Central Florida, graduating magna cum laude. She has performed in master classes and lessons for well–renowned pianists, including Alessio Bax, Olga Kern, Rebecca Penneys, Veda Kaplinsky, and Adam Golka. Formative teachers include Harold Martina, Carol Leone, Sam Holland, Ann Gipson, and Cathy Lysinger.

Jessie has a wide array of group and private teaching experience, including early childhood, K–12, university, and adult education. Currently, she is serving as Pedagogical Assistant Professor of Piano at Western Kentucky University, where she coordinates the group piano program and teaches pedagogy and accompanying classes. Jessie has also served as an instructor at both Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University; prior to her position at WKU, Jessie operated a thriving studio in Dallas, TX, served as the pianist for Mercy Presbyterian Church, and held a longstanding collaborative position with The Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas. Jessie continues her work with The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy as the Manager of Digital Programs.

Committed to advancing the field of piano pedagogy, Jessie has been a featured presenter at the College Music Society National Conference, the MTNA National Conference, the MTNA Collegiate Pedagogy Symposium, and The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. She has been published by Piano Magazine, American Music Teacher, and MTNA e-Journal. MTNA named Jessie as the recipient of the 2019 MarySue Harris Studio Teacher Fellowship Award and recently as the 2022 recipient of the American Music Teacher Article of the Year Award. She is the chair of MTNA’s Pedagogy Saturday New Professionals Track for the 2023 National Conference, a member of the 2022-2023 MTNA Task Force on Young Professionals, Collegiate Chapters, and Collegiate Members, and a member of the New Professionals Committee for the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in 2023. Upcoming performances and engagements include a residency at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL; a faculty silent film recital at Western Kentucky University; collaborative performances at the inaugural Greater Dallas Choral Society concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX; and presentations at MTNA’s 2023 National Conference. When not at the piano or in the classroom, Jessie enjoys reading, running, and outdoor adventures with her family.