Juanita Brightbill has been on the music faculty at Saddleback College since 1975. In addition to teaching beginning and intermediate piano classes she has served as the Fine Arts representative on the Academic Senate, the Faculty Association and has taught courses in Music Appreciation, and Music Fundamentals, She was the Coordinator of the Applied Music Program for ten years and also during that time established the day time Concert Hour Series which featured guest performers, student recitals, and master classes which were well attended by students and the community.
Before computer access was available to students as it is now she published the “Music News’ for Saddleback music students to keep apprised of all the music activities and performances and compiled what was called the ‘Music Guide’ which was used by SCC students for many years outlining the courses and resources for the music majors and minors.
Juanita graduated with an AA degree from Diablo Valley Community College in northern California, earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Chapman University in Music Education and a Masters of Arts in Group Piano Pedagogy from California State University at Fullerton. Her Masters Thesis was cited in the “Keyboard Companion” Magazine as a source for teachers who work with the older adult piano student. She has served on the board of the California Group Piano Association, been a clinician at the CMEA-Southern California Conference and been a member of MTAC since 1980.
Ms. Brightbill is a dedicated teacher who not only enjoys teaching but also feels an enthusiastic commitment to help students establish a strong foundation in their basic studies upon which their skills can grow. Students who take her classes can feel prepared to move forward in the sequence of piano courses whether they are music majors or non majors who are just interested in pursuing a life long dream to play the piano.
Juanita has two grown children and lives with her husband, Alvin Brightbill in Laguna Niguel.