Ashley Finkelstein

Ashley Finkelstein has been playing music since she was 5 years old! She started taking music lessons with the flute, then quickly moved onto the oboe, where she found her true love for music. She was apart of her middle school and high school band in Southern California. She carried her love for music to college at Cal State Long Beach, where she majored in music education and played for the University's orchestra. After moving to Florence, Alabama, she got her masters at University of North Alabama in music education, while working at Richland Elementary, teaching music! Ashley also played oboe in the Shoals Symphony.

Beginning piano, band instruments.

Brittany Bandstra

Brittany Bandstra is a Music Teacher and mother of two boys. She graduated from Belmont University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. She is certified and licensed to teach General, Vocal, and Instrumental Music. In her 9 years of teaching, she has been a middle and high school band director, elementary music teacher, pre-k music teacher, and a private lesson instructor. Mrs. Bandstra and her family are relocating from Nashville, TN to Killen in January 2023 to be closer to family. She is so thrilled to be teaching at Fink's and looking forward to meeting everyone!

General Music, Mommy & Me Teacher

Stephanie Hayer

Ms.Hayes is a native of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and began her career as a music educator in 1992 teaching at Flintville Jr High School in Flintville, Tennessee for two years. She retired in 2019 after 25 years at Colbert Heights High School in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Stephanie assists many bands in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee. She is a drill writer specializing in small bands, a marching and concert band clinician, teaches band leadership training, and is currently teaching privately at Fink’s Music School in Florence, Alabama
She received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education and her Master’s of Arts in Education from the University of North Alabama. As an undergraduate she was an active member of the Pride of Dixie Marching Band, pep band, jazz band, brass choir, percussion ensemble, Collegiate Singers, and was a founding member of the UNA Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Ms. Hayes remains an active professional trumpet and low brass player, clinician, conductor, and church instrumentalist. In her free time she enjoys band instrument repair, playing ukulele, and teaching private lessons. She is a member of The National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Shoals Area Band Directors Association, and an Alumni of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. She currently lives in Florence, Alabama with her two college age children, Logan and Morgan and their dachshund, Shoeshine. If your instrument is not playing well, let Ms Hayes look at your instrument and give you an estimate on your repair.

Band Instruments, Piano, Ukulele

Idorenyin Parson

Idorenyin is a senior at the University of North Alabama studying Instrumental and Piano Performance. While pursing her undergraduate degree, she also teaches group class violin and beginning orchestra with FAFA within Florence Public School System. She also plays as a church pianist for FBC in Tuscumbia. Idorenyin has taught students in AL and TN for the past 5 years. I love to teach violin and piano to all age groups! My goal is to help my students of all ages learn how to play music on piano and violin whether it's classical or modern, or even something in between!

Violin, Piano

Instructors: Testimonials

Lily Kennedy

Mrs. Kennedy is currently a music teacher at Woodmeade Elementary and private instructor at Fink's Music School. She first became involved in music by taking piano lessons, then later joined beginning band as a percussionist and continued throughout high school. She continued on with her studies of music at the University of North Alabama, where she took part in many small and large music ensembles. She graduated from UNA in 2018 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Education in Instrumental Music, P-12. When not teaching or playing music, Mrs. Kennedy enjoys spending time at home with her husband, Jamal, and her family. She also likes reading, playing games, and watching her favorite TV shows!

General Music

Alexa Cortes

I am a piano and clarinet instructor here at Fink's Music. I've been teaching for almost a year. I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music and am now starting my Master of Arts in Education. Clarinet is my primary instrument as I've been playing it for about 12 years. In that time, I've also played other harmony clarinets in the University of North Alabama's clarinet ensemble, wind ensemble, and symphonic band. Teaching music has been a passion of mine since sophomore year of high school and I cannot wait to share this passion with your child(ren)!

Clarinet, Piano

Piano Instructor

Mary Elizabeth Howze

Hi, my name is Mary Elizabeth Howze. I am currently a senior Music Education major at the University of North Alabama and I play and teach the violin. I am in the Shoals Symphony Orchestra, the UNA contemporary ensemble, and the UNA Repertory Orchestra. I am also the President for the 2022-2023 UNA collegiate NAfME chapter. I have a private studio and I help co-teach an after school strings class at Kilby Laboratory School. When I'm not practicing or working on things for school, I enjoy relaxing in my hammock, playing games, eating good food, watching Broadway shows, traveling, and spending quality time with my family. My goal as a future music educator is to inspire students to be the best they can be and to teach them the importance of music education and how impactful it can be.