"The only times when I have witnessed a state approaching the brotherhood of man have been moments of music, when hundreds of hearts beat to the same rhythm and lifted to the same phrase and when all hate, all envy, all greed were washed away by the nobility of sound. To learn the language of music, or at least to respond to it, one need only an ear and a heart." -- David Mannes (1866 - 1959)

"Your dreams determine your destiny. To accomplish anything, you must first have a mission, a hope, a vision. 'Where there is no vision, the people perish.' " -- Rick Warren (Proverbs 29:18)

"We believe that every man, woman and child should learn to read and play music. Our three year pilot program of Piano Wizard Academy in the School of Music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale inspired our founding of Johann Appleseed and a state of the art music course for every college student and every family of the Southern Illinois community. From the seeds of music, may we become the beautiful orchard of harmonious humanity that we were intended to be." -- Don and Delayna Beattie

Be a part of the inspiration and mission!

College courses for students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, family classes for children and parents, summer camps and community outreach programs have launched Johann Appleseed. In keeping with the tradition of the great pianist and teacher, Franz Liszt (1811-1886), lessons with the Beatties are free to families and children in the Appleseed Program. While Johann Appleseed is bringing together a global community of music teachers, unaffordable cost must not stand in the way of music education for all.

Donald Beattie joined the piano faculty of the School of Music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1979. He is beloved by his students for his piano teaching and known throughout the world for his founding and leadership of the Beethoven Society for Pianists. He and his wife, Delayna Beattie, are best known as a joyful and enthusiastic couple devoted to music and teaching. Their careers have been highlighted by leadership in the World Piano Pedagogy Conference and Music Teachers National Association, publications with Warner Bros. and Edition HAS and appearances in all fifty of the United States, Canada, Germany and Austria.

Piano Wizard was invented by Chris Salter, a student in Don's 1979 piano class at SIUC. The game, the technology and philosophy of Music Wizard Group is contemporary with our culture and is realizing a vast new potential for music education. Since founding Piano Wizard Academy, Don and Delayna created a 200 song lesson library for the game and authored piano books and DVD piano lessons that make up a state of the art curriculum for piano instruction. Requiring only a computer, the game has opened a new gateway to the joys of music and the piano and may be personalized for every teacher and method of instruction.

• Planting the Seeds
• Growing the Trees
• Harvesting the Fruit
• Johnny Appleseed - A Pioneer
• Apple Facts - Wit and Wisdom