The Studio of Piano Fine Arts, Inc.

The Studio of Piano Fine Arts, Inc. is a teaching school located deep in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, in a small town called Harlan. Founded in 1980 by Clara Atkins-Pope, the studio provides private and group music lessons to children and adults in piano, violin, celtic harp, guitar, cello and other folk instruments. Teachers come from a variety of backgrounds, but share a common knowledge, love and desire to communicate their art of music to students.

TEACHERS
	Clara Atkins-Pope

Founder of the studio, Clara Atkins-Pope received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Centre College in Kentucky, as a Music Major. She returned to Harlan after graduation, and opened The Studio of Piano Fine Arts the following autumn. Since this time, the studio has grown to employ 4 associate teachers of beginning/intermediate piano; 3 of whom also teach beginning violin. The string program (violin and celtic harp) were added approximately 1990. Guitar was added to the curriculum in 2001. Cello was added in 2006. In all instrument instruction, solid traditional classical techniques and theories are employed; while offering great respect to the existing tradition of "playing by ear", improvisation and "folk music" i.e. traditional fiddle & celtic tunes, that exist inherently in the music of remote parts of Appalachia.

Clara Atkins-Pope

Clara Atkins-Pope was born Harlan County, at the head of what is known as Catrons Creek. Her formative years were spent at the foot of three mountains, in a house surrounded by creeks on three sides. Here Clara came to understand the "music of nature": the sounds of the breeze through the rain forest foliage; the rustle of water as it traveled down the mountain through the brooks; the swish of "creek creatures" as they worked to escape Clara’s grasp. A child of the mountains she was and remains. For these many reasons, upon graduation from Centre College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Music Major, Clara returned to open a teaching studio, where she could share her love of music and help continue the long standing tradition of musical excellence that her small community boasts.

Clara began her piano studies at age 9 with teacher Linda Bell. A wonderful pianist and musician, Mrs. Bell was allowed by the local school system, to have students leave school during the school day, and walk to her house (less than a block away from the elementary school door), come for a half hour piano lesson, and then return to class. A simpler, more innocent time than today, it surely was. Upon graduation from Harlan High School, Clara enrolled at Centre College where she studied piano with Mimi McClellan and Robert Weaver; voice with Marilyn Somville and Carol Spragens. The highlight of her college career in music was her performance with the college orchestra of Edvard Grieg's "Piano Concerto in a minor" and her senior seminar recital which explored the use of Folk Music by Classical Composers. This interest in folk music has been a foundation stone for Clara her entire musical career. In 1993 her studio founded The Pleasant Mountains Music Festival: a festival for children and adults held yearly which stresses the importance of memorization in musical performance, but constantly examines and reinforces the idea that all great musical traditions have been founded upon a strong understanding and tradition of folk music. In 1991 Clara added violin and Celtic harp to the list of instruments she teaches. In 2001, guitar was added. In the midst of studio growth, Clara was awarded an Encouragement Grant from The Kentucky Foundation for Women and two Individual Artist Project Grants from the Kentucky Arts Council. Results of these grants can be viewed by visiting the sister publishing company of the Studio of Piano Fine Arts, Inc., Pleasant Mountains Publishing.

Clara began composing at an early age, and found steam for her creative energies while in College. Among her original compositions are

"The Shulamite’s Plea", a work for SA choir and piano; "Soothing Melodies on Ancient Modes" 15 original works for harp ensemble that explore the "healing ethos" of ancient Greek music; and "Jubal’s Song", a work for SATB choir and harp, first performed by Southeast Community and Technical College Choir under the direction of Ann Schertz, in 2002. These and many more of Clara’s original compositions for harp, organ and voice can be viewed by visiting Pleasant Mountains Publishing.

In 2005 Clara was asked by a Leslie County community to open a music studio in their remote area. The result has been "The Music Box." Please check out associate teacher Matus Betko’s biography page to learn more about The Music Box and our work in Leslie County.