Trinitas School of Music

Private music lessons at Trinitas Christian School

Piano and strings for K5 to 12th on our Pensacola campus. Lessons are open to the wider community, not only to full-time Trinitas students, within the same Christ-centered classical program.

Explore the full school (K–12 academics)

Private lessons

30 per year

Annual tuition

$990 (or $110/month)

Registration

$45 one-time

Grades

K5 to 12th

Music on campus, year after year

Pensacola-area families are welcome whether or not students attend Trinitas full time. Lessons run K5 to 12th on campus during the school year, alongside families whose children are here every day.

Interested in full-time enrollment? Read about admissions and plan a visit. For lessons only, use the inquiry form or call the office. Current Trinitas families use the same paths for openings.

Why families choose this program

  • Steady practice

    Weekly lessons and clear expectations at home build attention and perseverance, virtues that carry into schoolwork and daily life.

  • Reading and listening

    Students learn to read music, listen well, and perform with care, from first lessons through advancing repertoire.

  • Recitals and events

    Performances on campus and other suitable events give students a goal to prepare for and a chance to serve others with their music.

Instruments we teach

Private instruction is available in the areas below. If you are unsure where to begin, ask us. We help families match students with the right studio and repertoire.

Music students and instruments during instruction on the Trinitas campus in Pensacola.
  • Students with instruments during a School of Music lesson at Trinitas Christian School in Pensacola.

    Piano

    Keyboard skills, reading, and repertoire for beginners through students who want to keep growing.

  • Student musicians performing during a School of Music program on the Trinitas campus.

    Strings

    Violin, Viola, Cello, with attention to posture, tone, technique, and listening.

How lessons work

Structure, home expectations, and tuition in one place. Confirm current details with the office when you inquire.

The lesson year

What families experience week to week and across the school year.

  • Weekly private lesson

    One-on-one time with a teacher who tracks your student’s repertoire, technique, and next steps.

  • Practice at home

    Families receive guidance on how often and how long to practice so each lesson builds on the week before.

  • Performances

    Recitals and similar events give students a date to prepare for and a chance to play for family and friends.

  • On campus, school-year rhythm

    Lessons follow the academic year at Trinitas. Enrolled students join chapel and classroom music as part of their day; students from other schools or homeschool are welcome in the studios in the same classical, Christ-centered setting.

Tuition, schedule, and practice

Summary figures for planning; the office confirms specifics when you reach out.

Annual tuition

The annual cost of tuition is $990 (or $110/month) , which includes 30 private lessons. Tuition is billed monthly through Blackbaud beginning in August. There is a one-time $45 registration fee per student.

We are an Authorized Service Provider with Step Up For Students SUFS and we accept the Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarships

The schedule

Students receive 30 private lessons throughout the academic year. Families commit to the full year and attend scheduled lessons.

Practice

Progress happens at home. Students play a minimum of five days per week, thirty minutes a day and complete weekly assignments.

Instructors

Each studio is led by a teacher committed to classical training and to the mission of the school.

  • Director of Music and Choral Programs

    Ed Varela

    Ed Varela

    Director of Music and Choral Programs

    • M.A. in Music (Choral Conducting), Pensacola Christian College
    • B.A. in Church Music (piano), Pensacola Christian College
    • Graduate of Chenaniah Summer Music Institute, New Saint Andrews College Conservatory of Music

    Ed Varela has been teaching music for twenty years and joined the Trinitas staff in 2013. With a bachelor's and master's degree in music, he has taught from preschooler to the college level. He serves as the president of District One for the Florida State Music Teacher Association, and serves in his local church as a pianist and music director. In July, 2022, Mr. Varela completed Kodaly Music Certification from New Saint Andrews Conservatory of Music. When he is not teaching music, he can be found planning his next trip and hike to a national park. He and his wife Miranda have three children at Trinitas.

  • Private Music

    Becky Richards

  • Private Music

    Dr. Sandra Durr

    Dr. Sandra Durr

    Private Music

    • E.E.D., Education Leadership and Supervision, University of West Florida
    • E.d.S., Curriculum and Instruction, University of West Florida
    • M.E.D. Middle Level Education, University of West Florida
    • B.A. in Music Education, University of West Florida

    Dr. Sandra Durr has taught music privately for over 50 years, has served on a church music staff for almost 60 years, and is currently on staff at First Baptist Church. She retired from the Escambia County School District in 2014 with 40 years of experience, the last 13 as the District Fine Arts Specialist, and has taught as adjunct instructor at UWF for over 10 years. Sandra is married to a former Marine pilot turned banker, Jim, who is now retired. They have three children and four grandchildren, have traveled multiple times to Europe and Canada, and are now trying to see more of the United States.

  • Private Music

    Gwendolyn Strickler

    Gwendolyn Strickler

    Private Music

    • B.S. in Music Education, Pensacola Christian College
    • Chenaniah Summer Music Institute, New Saint Andrews College Conservatory of Music (in progress)

    Gwendolyn grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was classically trained in piano from the age of six. She began teaching private piano lessons and beginner music classes in high school through a homeschool co-op in her area. In 2020, Gwendolyn continued pursuing her music education at Pensacola Christian College. There she received opportunities for involvement in the piano, strings, and voice programs and several music ministries on campus. She is grateful that the Lord directed her path to Trinitas to instill in her students a passion for music in service to God. In addition to teaching private piano lessons, she is also assisting in our string classes and working in the front office. In her free time, Gwendolyn enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time at the beach. She also attends the Cross Church and enjoys her active involvement there. 

  • Kindergarten

    Kyna Beresh

    Kyna Beresh

    Kindergarten

    • A.A. Clark Community College Vancouver, WA

    Kyna Beresh became involved in classical education when she was looking for homeschooling options for her family. She homeschooled her four children for ten years using the Classical Conversations program as a backbone for her children's education. Since being introduced to the classical method of teaching she has become a dedicated promoter of the classical method. Before joining Trinitas in the fall of 2025, she served as the lead kindergarten teacher at a classical school. She enjoys music and teaching piano lessons. Kyna is an active member of her church, enjoys backpacking, scuba diving, camping, traveling, gardening, and learning about natural remedies to support her and her family's health and wellness.

  • Private Music

    Megan Andzulis

    Megan Andzulis

    Private Music

    • M.S. in Music Education, Pensacola Christian College
    • B.A. in Music Performance, Pensacola Christian College

    Megan Andzulis has taught music both privately and communally to a variety of ages over the
    last twelve years. She has had the opportunity to teach and perform not just in the United States
    but internationally as well, including in Curacao, the Bahamas, and Quebec. Mrs. Andzulis
    currently serves as the principal accompanist for the Pensacola Children’s Chorus and is an
    adjunct music instructor at the University of West Florida. She and her husband have two
    children, one of whom is a grammar school student at Trinitas Christian School.

  • Private Music and Group Strings

    Michelle Hamilton

    Michelle Hamilton

    Private Music and Group Strings

    • M.A. of Music Education- USF Tampa
    • B.S. in Music Education with violin proficiency, minor in Spanish- Pensacola Christian College

    Michelle Hamilton has over fifteen years of combined teaching and administrative
    experience in private schools and music studios. She has taught in New Mexico,
    Hawaii, Guam, and Florida. Mrs. Hamilton has taught varying subjects, ranging from
    secondary English and Spanish to Bible and home economics. She has directed school
    orchestras, bands, and choirs, as well as prepared many private lesson students for
    competitions and college auditions. As a musician, she plays violin and piano at her
    church, as well as violin in the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. Michelle and her
    husband Ted have two young girls, Evelyn and Rosalyn, the elder of whom is in second grade this fall at Trinitas. When not at school, they enjoy traveling, hiking, scuba
    and surfing.

  • Private Music

    Sadie Reed

    Sadie Reed

    Private Music

    • B.A. in Violin Performance, University of West Florida (in progress)

    Sadie Reed attends the University of West Florida and is half way through getting her BA in Violin Performance. She has been playing the violin for seventeen years. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.

Music at the heart of the school

For Trinitas students, music is part of the school day through worship, memory work, and singing in class. Private lessons add weekly coaching, steady practice, and performance goals suited to each student.

Students who take lessons but are not enrolled in the classroom program receive the same care for technique and repertoire on campus. All students work toward discipline and attention at the instrument, in line with the virtues we pursue in Scripture, great books, and the classical subjects.

Students with instruments during a School of Music lesson at Trinitas Christian School in Pensacola.
Trinitas School of Music student performance in Pensacola, Florida.

On stage

Performance opportunities

Recitals, festivals, and other suitable events give students a reason to polish a piece and play for others. Teachers help match opportunities to each student’s age and skill. Dates and registration are announced each season. Ask about the current calendar when you inquire.

Ready for the next step?

Share your student’s grade, instrument interests, and experience. We will reply with availability and practical next steps, whether your student attends Trinitas full time or joins us for lessons only.

Inquire about lessons

Tell us about your student. We welcome Trinitas families and families whose students take lessons only. We will follow up with availability for piano, strings, voice, and handbells.

Instrument of choice (select all that apply) *
Current skill level *
Do you have an instrument at home? *