Instructors
Founder and Director: Carolyn Inabinet
| Piano | Voice | Guitar | Young Children |
| Carolyn Inabinet | Laura Hunter | Dave Buck | Carolyn Cates |
| Carolyn Cates | King-Wea Ng | Mara Hayes | |
| Shirley Hayes | Alex Zawilak | ||
| Laura Hunter | |||
| Garrison Jones |
Carolyn Inabinet is the owner/director and primary instructor at Music Works Academy, Ltd., a private music school in Phoenix, Arizona offering piano, guitar, voice and violin. Ms. Inabinet was a 1968 Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Tennessee with a major in piano and French. In addition, she has done extensive graduate work at both the University of Tennessee and Arizona State University in early childhood music, instructional design and technology, and music history as well as graduate study in piano and classical organ. She is co-author of Practice and Progress (1992) and The FJH Studio Organizer (2002).
Ms. Inabinet is a member of Phoenix Music Teachers Association (PMTA), Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA), Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA), National Guild of Piano Teachers (NGPT), and the Early Childhood Movement and Music Association (ECMMA). She has an extensive background in music education for young children.with graduate work in early childhood music at Arizona State University. She began teaching Kindermusik in 1980 and holds Kindermusik and MusikGarten teaching certification in all curricula as well as Levels I and II certification in Orff/Schulwerke. Ms. Inabinet has Harmony Road certification and most recently Music Works Academy became a licensed KiddyKeys facility.
Ms. Inabinet has received permanent professional certification with the Music Teachers’ National Association and has been a speaker at four national conventions. In 1988 and 89, she was a presenter at the first music technology symposiums held by MTNA. In 1996, her article “Beyond Piano Instruction: A Decade of Evolution and Revolution” appeared in The American Music Teacher, the national MTNA journal. This article addressed a nationwide problem with independent music teachers…zoning. In her 1996 MTNA National presentation, she shared her experiences and knowledge gained during a five-year zoning battle and subsequent resolution with the City of Phoenix. In 2003, Ms. Inabinet was a presenter in the MTNA National Conference Poster Session with PianoFonics®, resource materials for group and private instruction.
In addition, Ms. Inabinet is the author of The Cranial Connection, an introductory handbook to cranial osteopathy. She has received recognition from the American Academy of Osteopathy as well as the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association for her contribution to manipulative osteopathic literature.
After taking a guitar class in high school and later playing rock guitar in local bands for a few years, David Buck began to formally study classical guitar in 1992. In his first two years of study he won prizes in both solo and ensemble categories in the MCCCD Outstanding Performers Competition (1993-1994). He then went on to study under the direction of Frank Koonce at Arizona State University where he received his Bachelor of Music degree. Mr. Buck then attended the University of Arizona for a Masters Degree in Guitar Performance with Thomas Patterson. Dave is currently an adjunct professor of guitar at Paradise Valley Community College and Glendale Community College.
He has performed extensively both as a soloist and in chamber music settings since then and has received many honors including:
- 1st Prize; 3rd Annual Texas Guitar Competition, Dallas, Texas, 2004
- Prizewinner; Beeston Guitar Competition, Tucson, Arizona, 2003
- 2nd Prize; 2nd Annual Texas Guitar Competition, Dallas, Texas, 2003
- Prizewinner; Sholin Guitar Competition, Tucson, Arizona, 2003
- Prizewinner; Stevens Guitar Competition, Tucson, Arizona, 2002
- Semi-Finalist; Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition, La Jolla, California, 2001
- Prizewinner; Contemporary Music Society Competition, Tempe, Arizona, 1999
- Semi-Finalist; Portland Guitar Competition, Portland, Oregon, 1997
- Semi-Finalist; American String Teachers Association Competition, Phoenix, Arizona, 1996
- 1st Prize; Arizona Guitar Society Competition, Phoenix, Arizona, 1997
Mr. Buck was recently invited to give a performance at Arizona State University of the music for Guitar Solo by the Russian composer Nikita Koshkin. An all-Koshkin concert was also given at the 4th Annual Texas Guitar Festival. He was also invited to be part of the ASU Alumni Concert Series in 2004 and has performed for the Scottsdale, Arizona-based group Spirit of the Senses numerous times.
He has been active as a performer of chamber music as well, founding the Monsoon duo with guitarist Federico Reggiardo and the Romanza Duo with violinist Robert Dunger. He has been invited to perform with the Paradise Valley Chamber Ensemble, the ASU New Music Ensemble, and the ASU Guitar Orchestra and has been invited to play at ASU as part of the Showcase Chamber Music Series and at the Long Beach Guitar and Lute Institute Final Concert with guitarist Chuck Hulihan, and most notably, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. with guitarist Sean Beattie.
He has studied both in private and in master class with many world-class performers including Manuel Barrueco, Ricardo Cobo, Elliot Fisk, William Kanengiser, Nikita Koshkin, David Leisner, David Russell, David Tanenbaum, Scott Tennant, Benjamin Verdery, and many others.
Mr. Buck is currently an adjunct faculty member for the Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona.
Carolyn Cates graduated from Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota with a degree in music education in 1981. She has been teaching music in the Phoenix area since 1982 and joined Music Works Academy's staff in 1999.
Ms. Cates has been teaching piano for fifteen years; in addition, she has sixteen years teaching experience in general music. Ms. Cates taught general music for grades K- 6 at Valley Cathedral Christian School for ten years where she directed handbell classes, an elementary choir, Orff-Schulwerke classes and recorder. During that time she coordinated the regional ASCI Vocal and Instrumental Music Festivals. In addition, she taught general music at Grace community Christian School in Tempe for four years as well as three years in the Phoenix Elementary District.
Ms. Cates is a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA), Phoenix Music Teachers Association (PMTA) and the National Guild of Piano Teachers (NGPT). She has certification in Harmony Road Music as well as Levels I and II certification in Orff-Schulwerke.
In addition to teaching piano and young children's classes at Music Works Academy, Ms. Cates leads worship at Christ's Community Church and is the director of the senior handchime choir at Classic Residence by Hyatt in Scottsdale. Carolyn is a songwriter and a vocal entertainer, specializing in Broadway and 1920s-1940s standards. She is married and has one daughter.
"Music has always been a big part of my life and it's such a great blessing to me to see how it brings joy to people of ALL ages, from little babies to hospice patients. It truly is a language of the heart and I love sharing it with others."
Mara Hayes is a native of Arizona who grew up singing and playing piano at a young age. It was only natural that she would want to share her passion of music with her own children. In 2005, Mara came to Music Work’s Academy as a parent attending Kindermusik classes with her daughter Siena. Mara and her daughter continued in the MWA Prelude Program and enrolled in the first Harmony Road Toddler Tunes class in 2006. Receiving certification in the Harmony Road Music Course® in 2008, she now serves as the director of the PRELUDE Piano Program and is the lead instructor. Ms. Hayes is a member of the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA) through MWA.
In addition, Mara offers KiddyKeys® to preschoolers at Valley Presbyterian Day School and Christ Church School and also serves as the preschool music instructor at both VDS and CCS. She volunteers her time singing and playing piano at Calvary Church of the Valley in Paradise Valley.
Last but not least, she is the female half of the acoustic duo group, Just Jade.
was born in Parsons, TN and grew up in the small town of Lexington, TN. This rural area was in the Bible Belt where there were few piano teachers. Her parents traveled 130 miles one-way to Memphis, TN to provide piano instruction at Jack Marshall’s Piano Studio. Ms. Hayes started teaching at a very young age in her parent’s music store, Hayes Music Company. At 12 years of age, she started accompanying for the Marshalletts Trio who sang on a weekly television show for Doyle Blackwood’s Gospel Hour. Shirley continued teaching and performing as an accompanist with various singing groups. Ms. Hayes has a B.M. in Piano Performance from Memphis State University where she studied with Daniel Fletcher and later Joan Gilbert.
In 1976, Ms. Hayes married and moved to Arizona. She taught for The Institute of Music Education for several years and later had her own teaching studio, The Noteroom School of Music. She has been the pianist for Trinity Assembly of God Church in Scottsdale and Parkway Community Church of God and CVC Community Church in the West Valley. Shirley has a daughter and 3 grandchildren.
Laura Hunter is a Coloratura Soprano and is going into her 14th year of teaching voice and piano, as well as performing professionally throughout Arizona. Her students can be heard performing in all musical genres in venues around the world…including Eger, Hungary, where she was invited to perform as well as establish a music program at Esterhazy University. Miss Hunter began her early studies with her Mother, Elaine Hunter, and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Grand Canyon University.
White attending GCU, Miss Hunter was honored to accept one of the most prestigious awards the academic community can bestow – selection to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Continuing her education, she attended California State University, Northridge, where she was accepted into a very prestigious opera program, “Opera Works.” Graduating from CSUN with a Masters of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, she went on to teach Vocal Performance students at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Miss Hunter has toured with the sensational singing group “Joyful Sound,” and has sung numerous roles as a coloratura soprano. She was invited as a guest performer at Mamoth, California, Northridge, California and Eger, Hungary, as well as many others. Miss Hunter has taught at the University level for over five years and continues to perform in operatic venues throughout Arizona.
Garrison Jones, pianist, and native of Phoenix, Arizona has studied music for most of his life. He was a student of Carolyn Inabinet since age 7 and was a teacher’s assistant in her studio during high school. Garrison has also studied with Larry Loeber of the Phoenix Symphony and privately with Raul Yañez, and Andy O’Brien. Garrison is completing the music program at Scottsdale Community College and will be attending Arizona State University music education program in the fall. He has earned a number of music awards, most recently first place the SCC Bella Simons Memorial Scholarship and a piano award in the Maricopa Community Colleges Music Competition.
Garrsion is a student member of the Phoenix Music Teacher’s Association and the MusicTeacher’s National Association. Garrison has participated in the Annual Piano Ensembles for 10 years and now has students participating in the same event. Some of his students have also earned awards in piano festivals.
Garrison participates in a Jazz ensembles at SCC and directed the student organized jazz combo. Garrison is currently the keyboardist in the rock band Prague.
Garrison has a love of all types of music, particulary Jazz and Classical.
King-Wea Ng received his Master of Music degree in guitar performance from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Xian Conservatory of Music, Xian, China. He pursued post-graduate doctoral study at Arizona State University in guitar performance where he also received his Arizona Teacher Certification in Music K – 12. King was a scholarship student at Texas A & M, Texas Tech, and ASU.
In 1996, Mr. Ng was the Grand Prize Winner in the Malaysia Guitar Festival. In 2000, King was the winner of A Celebration of New Music 2000 Composition Recital at Texas Tech.
Teaching guitar and beginning strings since 1995, King has taught at Hin-Hua High School in Malaysia, Texas Tech University, Lubbock Christian University, Phoenix College, Arizona State University, and Estrella Mountain Community College. King has been on the MWA staff for two years offering lessons in guitar and violin. Since 2006, he has been employed by the Gilbert School District and services three schools with beginning strings instruction.
Mr. Ng is a dedicated instructor and says, “While I expect excellence from my students, I also respect their self-esteem. I use positive feedback and encouragement as motivation for improvement. Though I take music and my position as an instructor very seriously, it is my continuous goal to make learning an enjoyable experience for each individual.” As an accomplished performer, King demonstrates to his students the importance of reflecting expression and emotion in music. Several of his students have won first place and grand prize standings in competitions. “I attribute this, first of all, to their talent, and secondly to my teaching style.”
King is married and has two girls.
Alexander Zawilak received his DMA in guitar performance from Arizona State University and his Bachelor's and Master of Arts degrees from Manness College of Music. He is currently on the staff of Scottsdale Community College as an adjunct guitar professor.
Mr. Zawilak comes from an eclectic musical background. His first loves were jazz, fusion and blues. While in high school, Alex played in the St Johns University Jazz Band, and undertook jazz studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. While in high school, Alex also began to explore classical music. He played cello and up-right bass in the St. Francis Prep String Orchestra. With a lot of encouragement, Alex began to sing with various vocal groups. He discovered classical guitar as a way to intimately study the music of the great composers.
While studying at Manness College of Music, Alex studied guitar with Fredrick Hand, Benjamin Verdery, Terry Champlain and Michael Newman. He did work in composition and orchestration with David Loeb. A fundamental basis for his musical development was ear training and dictation taught by Frank Nuemhauser and William Needleman. Alex also took advantage of New York City by performing with various jazz combos in local music venues. He also spent his summers playing guitar, banjo and mandolin with the Light Opera Company of Falmouth Massachusetts.
While working on his DMA at ASU, Alex turned his attention to new music. He premiered Fantasy en Hussan by Nahla Matar for fretless guitar and Chamber works by Hector Martinez. He has participated in the George Crumb residency at ASU with the performance of “Night of the Four Moons” and was the only guitar participant in the Society of Composers conference held at ASU in April of 2001 with a performance of Rhapsodic Ignition for solo guitar by Karen P. Thomas. He has also,collaborated with ASU Dance, Drama and performed on the Baroque guitar in the ASU production of Telemann’s Dido and Aeneas.
Mr. Zawilak has an extensive teaching career, first in New York and then in Phoenix. When asked about a primary teaching philosophy, Alex states, “the goal of the instructor is to share an enthusiasm for the whole spectrum of musical expression. Music has given me many hours of enjoyment at home and has brought me to many fun places in the US and Europe where I was able to share it with others.” Alex stresses the need to be emotionally motivated by the beauty of the music and encourages the fun of making and sharing it.