Our Location
Black Rock, St. Michael
(246) 243-8512
Call us Today
register@notesofpraise.com
send us an email for more information
Who we are
Notes of Praise is a Christian music school registered with the Barbados Accreditation Council, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth as a Cultural Practitioner and the TVET Council as an N/CVQ Centre. Notes of Praise is the first Barbadian institution to be approved to offer the CVQ in Musical Performance Level 2.
We offer courses in Bass Guitar, CXC Music, Drums, Flute, Keyboards, Kids Music, Kids Drums, Music Theory, Praise Ensemble, Rhythm Guitar, Sound Engineering, Violin and Vocals. Notes of Praise caters to families, churches and individuals. Students are accepted from three years up to eighty-five years and our cadre of exceptional musicians, tutor them from absolute beginners to an intermediate level.
There is also the option to pursue CXC Music and the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) exams. Several of our graduates have since attended the BCC Music Program and/or Music Directors at their churches and/or in the teaching profession.
Our History
Notes of Praise was founded by Vallis Jemmott in 2003 and commenced with ten keyboard students at the Nazarene Tabernacle in Eagle Hall. Within a year, the program expanded to include, Bass Guitar, Music Theory and Vocals. In October 2013, Notes of Praise Inc. moved to its current location in Stanmore Crescent in Black Rock.
Highlights for the School over the years include, winning the Massy Creative Award and the Jackie Opel Award for the Most Outstanding Original Musical Act, performing at the NIFCA gala a Silver medal at NIFCA 2014. We were nominated for a Sectorial Award by the Small Business Association and were one of the twelve finalists on the “Bank On Me” Season 2 television show.
In 2014 one of our students Patrice Gill was in the top ten students in the Caribbean CXC Music results and in 2015 Barbados received 4 Grade 1’s and Notes of Praise was the recipient of three of them. In addition, one of our students Sharyn Gittens placed 6th in the entire Caribbean in CXC Music. During December 2016, Notes of Praise participated in Carols by Candlelight at Ilaro Court and Christmas on the Boardwalk at Hastings.
Showcases are held annually, our 15th Anniversary was held at Frank Collymore Hall. Over the years, hundreds of students have grown musically and are recording, teaching, writing, playing and impacting their churches, schools and communities.
Our Tutors
VALLIS JEMMOTT
Founder & Managing Director
Vallis Jemmott is a classically trained pianist and is a graduate of the Barbados Community College with an Associate Degree in Fine Arts (Music). He is the Music Director at the Speightstown Nazarene Church and is also a cocktail pianist at a leading hotel. In addition, Vallis Jemmott is a qualified accountant and received his Fellow from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados. He has completed the Assessor, Internal Verfier and External Verifier Courses with the TVET council. Mr. Jemmott’s goal is for every church in Barbados, then the region and eventually internationally to have a surplus of trained Christian musicians and also to export the Caribbean style of gospel music to the world.
RICHARD EVANS
Rhythm & Bass Guitar
At age 13, Richard’s first introduction to the Electric Bass and ensemble playing started in the Queens College school band. Richard’s love of the Arts led him to the Barbados Community College where he acquired an Associate Degree in Graphic design and then his Associate Degree in Music. It was there that he was exposed to Jazz and Pop ensembles as well as the Double Bass and the Barbados National Youth and Chamber Orchestras. He then went to The National School of Music in the Republic of Cuba in 2004 and would then go on to play in various hotels, churches, Jazz Festivals and calypso tents, including opening for Shontelle, international pop vocalist and song writer for the Grammy award winning artist Rihanna, at the 2013 Naniki Jazz Festival in Grenada with the Caribbean jazz quartet c4.While not performing Richard can be found teaching privately, as well as part time at the Barbados Community College.
PETRA WELCH
Drums, Kids Drums & Kids Music
Petra is drummer who has a passion for teaching. She is currently a tutor at the Barbados Community College as well as various Secondary, Primary and preschools across the island including Notes of Praise Music School. Amongst the other instruments that she plays, she is very passionate about the keyboard and drums. Petra also writes, composes and arranges. She’s been nominated Instrumentalist of the Year – Flame Gospel Awards 2006. Throughout the years she’s had the privilege of playing for Mia Daniel, Sister Marshall, Paula Hinds, Toni Norville, Marvia Providence, Eric Darius, The Mighty Gabby and Elan Trotman, just to name a few and has played various Jazz Festivals, Gospelfest and conferences.Petra’s goal and mission is to continue to share with others her talents and reach out to the hearts of individuals by using the gifts that God has bestowed upon her in the Ministry of music, that she may have an indelible impact on people’s lives.
DAVID HEADLEY
CXC Music & Keyboard
David Headley is a graduate of the Barbados Community College’s Associate Degree in Music program and has has been teaching music for almost 13 years. He joined Notes of Praise 7 years ago to teach keyboard and most recently CSEC Music from September 2014. He’s a member of the Holetown Harmonites Steel Orchestra and Bass Player for the group Barhema.
KAREEM AGARD
Vocal Training
Kareem Agard is a vibrant, passionate 20-year-old singer, songwriter, and actor captivating local and international audiences with his God given talent. He has attained five NIFCA awards including a Gold award and the Earnest. P. F Roachford Award of Excellence. Kareem has completed two Associate Degrees; Theatre Arts and Music at the Barbados Community College and seeks to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Music.
MARGARET AUSTIN
Keyboard & Flute
Margaret Austin plays the flute, clarinet and piano. Flute is her strongest instrument, with a Diploma in Performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, a Bachelor of Arts in Flute Performance, and a Master of Arts in Flute Pedagogy. A former member of the Barbados National Youth Orchestra, Margaret is continuing her musical development, taking grade exams with the ABRSM on piano, clarinet and theory. She has taught music for over 10 years and began teaching keyboard and flute at Notes of Praise in 2016.
RICARDO BRYAN
Keyboard & Music Theory
A gift given by his encouraging mother began his long love affair with the keyboard. Initially self-taught, Ricardo enrolled in a class at Notes of Praise, and subsequently went on to complete his associate degree at the Barbados Community college. Ricardo has been blessed with the privilege of playing with artistes such as the band Promise, Sister Marshall and international recording artiste Kevin Downswell to name a few. A member of the Gospel Band Soul winners since 2004, he has toured and ministered at various churches and Gospelfest events across the Caribbean. Despite his many performances, arranging and teaching remain his passion. In everything he does Ricardo strives to do his very best, since he believes that God deserves nothing less.
DANIEL MARSHALL
Drums
Daniel Marshall started playing drums at four years old and studied under Jerry “Fish”. In addition to drums, he also plays keyboard and guitar. He has always had a love for music and is looking to produce and record in the future. He recently joined Notes of Praise in April 2017.