At Palen Music Center, we believe that music makes a difference in the lives of people. One of our great missions is helping others learn how to express themselves through music. Not only are our instructors great teachers but they are also people of great character. Our Performance Week Program gives you the opportunity to perform what you are learning.

Questions? Give us a call! (573) 256-5555

Kaitlin Arellano

Piano

Kaitlin is a classically trained pianist originating from southwest Kansas. She began piano lessons at age 5 and continued taking lessons until her high school graduation. Within that time, Kaitlin furthered her music education through solos and ensembles on the bassoon, helping sixth grade band students as a teacher assistant, and studying music theory, history, and appreciation. Kaitlin graduated from Emporia State University with a BA in Music and minor in Psychology in 2021. During her time in college she participated in wind ensemble and marching band, taking on the challenge of Covid-style head drum major in Fall 2020. Kaitlin hopes to continue her education at UMKC for her masters in Music Therapy equivalency, but in the meantime is excited to share her musical knowledge with the Columbia community.

Josh Cochran

Drums, Guitar, & Piano

Josh began teaching at Palen Music Center in 2003. He began playing the piano in first grade, moving to drums in fourth grade beginning band and picking up guitar in Junior High. Since then he has played drums and percussion in University Concert and Jazz bands, studying Jazz under Andy Leask in Reading, England. He has performed and recorded on drums and guitar in many local rock, blues, and country bands. Josh received his BM in Music History from the University of Missouri in 2010 and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Musicology.

Robert Michael Cook

Drum Set, Snare Drum, Hand Percussion, Beginning Guitar/ Electric Bass

Michael is a drummer who works in the oddly unrelated genres of country western and metal. Finding that his graduate studies in Greek and Latin at the University of Missouri-Columbia did not allow him enough time to play drums, Michael left to carpe diem. At 24, Michael has been active over the last ten years, recording albums with A Hill to Die Upon, touring the US, and playing festivals in Mexico and across Europe. In 2014, a student of Michael’s, from Wataga, Illinois, released an album on Thumper Punk Records, and Michael hopes that the second album to be released by one of his students will be by a Columbia-based drummer.

Jack Falby

Saxophone, Guitar, Electric Bass, Beginning Drumset, Ukulele, Composition, & Theory Instruction

A graduate of the famed Baltimore School for the Arts in Baltimore, Maryland, Jack graduated with honors and scholarships after completing their four-year curriculum with an emphasis in saxophone performance. Upon qualifying for financial aid through the Berklee World Scholarship Tour, he began his studies at that renowned university during the fall of 2000. While at Berklee, Jack studied saxophone with professors Dino Govoni and George Garzone, music theory and composition with National Endowment for the Arts recipient Steve Rochinski, and was fortunate enough to study with Grammy Award-winning tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano for an entire year as part of the "Artist in Residence" series produced by Berklee. Opting to take advantage of Berklee 's renowned Music Production and Engineering program and facilities, Jack graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in that field, studying under, among others, Bill Scheniman, most notably credited with engineering Bruce Springsteen's legendary "Born To Run" album. Continuing to play professionally in Boston while in school, Jack was able to appear with smooth jazz impresario Walter Beasley, as well as play as a supporting act for hip-hop legends Talib Kweli and Common. Jack moved to the Columbia area in the summer of 2005, and began teaching at Palen Music starting in 2007. While in Columbia, Jack has worked with many area and national acts across a wide range of styles, including local punk-rock-soul revue "The Record Collector", as well as internationally renowned soul recording artist Roy C. Jack currently teaches students aged 4 to 74, and especially enjoys teaching beginners.

Tanner Jones

Guitar

Tanner took up the guitar at age 14, and was drawn first to Rock n' Roll after discovering artists such as Van Halen, AC/DC, Guns n' Roses and Ozzy Osbourne.In the fall of 2013, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from the McNally Smith College of Music. Tanner has played with various groups, including the metal band Cantharone, and the video game music bandDo A Barrel Roll, and has played in numerous musical stage productions as a member of those show's pit orchestras.

Emily Miclon

Piano/Keyboard, Percussion, Snare Drum, Drum Set, Mallets (Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone), Hand Percussion

Emily is an active and passionate music performer and educator based in Columbia, Missouri. At 4 years old, Emily fell in love with the piano and begged her parents to start taking lessons. She started as a young pianist at age 5 and transitioned to the world of percussion in her late high school years, but has always kept her love of piano as a powerful force in her life! Growing up in Enfield, Connecticut, Emily attended Eastern Connecticut State University for her undergraduate degree in Music Performance. Throughout her undergraduate career, Emily was an active participant in music ensembles and was a selected performer for the New England Intercollegiate Band Festival in 2018 and 2019. Emily is a spirited and experienced music educator, having taught at high school programs in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and continuing her teaching in Columbia, Missouri where she is currently pursuing her Masters of Music in Percussion Performance at the University of Missouri. At Mizzou, Emily serves as the Graduate Teaching Assistant in Percussion and is a member of University ensembles such as the Wind Ensemble, University Percussion Ensemble, World Percussion Ensemble, and Steel Band.

Cindy Segafredo

Piano & Voice

Cindy Segafredo teaches piano and voice lessons. She has been singing and playing for 40 years and uses her experience in many areas of music. She has participated in several organized choirs, including the Southern Illinois University Community choir where she sang at the St. Louis Opera House with the choir and the Philharmonic Orchestra. Presently, she sings with the Missouri United Methodist Church choir. In addition to teaching music, Cindy has been taking drum lessons for six years. Cindy taught Special education for 15 years, where she utilized her skills to teach music to special-needs children in the classroom and in private lessons. Cindy enjoys sharing her love for music with all ages.