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BIOGRAPHY

"Melonie Grinnell took one rewarding piano solo after another..."

-Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene

Melonie Grinnell   

Jazz Pianist

Active as an educator and performer, she began studying piano at an early age and  

has since been recognized not only for her versatile skills as a pianist, but also for her abilities as a vocalist, music educator, and musical director. Melonie received her Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education with jazz emphasis from the University of Miami and a Masters of Music performance degree in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University.

Melonie has been a music educator at the collegiate level for 24 years and is an Assistant Professor at Grossmont College where she serves as a co-chair and director of piano studies and the vocal jazz ensemble.   

Classes include Music Theory and Practice, Class Piano, and and Piano Performance Studies.  She teaches traditional face-to-face classes as well as online classes.

Additionally, she is on the faculty for the Francis Parker/KSDS 88.3 Summer Jazz Workshop where she teaches jazz piano and co-directs middle school to high school student ensembles.  She is also active as an adjudicator for instrumental jazz festivals including the Coronado/COSA Jazz Festival and the KSDS Jazz 88/CMEA festival.

 

As a freelance musician, she is based in the San Diego area and performs throughout the jazz community. She has also subbed as a keyboardist with the San Diego Symphony during their pops season.

 

See calendar to view upcoming performances.

 

Melonie-59.jpg

Kristy Walker Photography

Feb 2020

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