Nita L. Smith

Choral Music & Class Piano Instruction

Class Schedule:
    1st      7:15 -   8:11    Piano I
    2nd     8:18 -   9:18    Mixed Chorus
    3rd      9:25 -  10:21    Chamber Choir (Sophisticats)
    4th     10:28 - 11:24    Planning
                            5th     12:16 -  1:24    Advanced Piano
                            6th       1:19 -- 2:15    Piano I

In her second year as a member of the Hillsboro Music Department, Nita has enjoyed returning to her alma mater to pass on the legacy of musical excellence she received to her students.  A 1980 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Nita received a Bachelor's of Science in Music Education with a vocal concentration.  Two years after receiving the Masters of Art in Music Education from Tennessee State University, Nita was hired as a Music Specialist for Metro Public Schools.  Starting out at Tulip Grove Elementary, Nita has taught general, choral and piano instruction to metro students at Bass Middle, Meigs Magnet, Hunters Lane High and now Hillsboro High School. 
Mrs. Smith is active member of MENC (Music Educators National Conference) and the Middle Tennessee Vocal Association.   As a consequence of these memberships Hillsboro choral students are encouraged to audition for Mid-State/All State Choral Adjudication.  Additionally the mixed choral students and advanced choir participate in local university high school mass choral festivals.  Piano students come with varied backgrounds in music; many have studied privately and some are learning from scratch.  Piano recitals are presented each semester for peers, parents and faculty to witness the musicianship that is cultivated in new and experience student pianists. 

The Hillsboro Chamber Choir is also known as The Sophisticats, a group founded in the early 1980's by Bobby Jean Frost, retired Metro Music Educator.  The Sophisticats are musical ambassadors for Hillsboro with a national reputation that has brought pride and excellence in choral performance to the school.  The music department enjoys tremendous support from both the administration, Hillsboro community and alumni.  An example of this support is a most recent purchase of a grand piano for the music department by a local alumni/parent supporter.

"The music exposure I received as a student in metro public schools has shaped and developed my vision to be the music educator that I am today.  I give credit to my parents for having the insight to know the importance of private piano lessons and as patron's of the arts, they made sure I had exposure to arts activities, entertainment and opportunities that were happening in the Nashville Community at large.  I feel that every child should be given the chance to sing and to learn how to play an instrument.  Music brings out the very best in all of us, through the arts we can push aside our differences and connect in a way that brings all humanity together in harmony."

In addition to her work with Hillsboro students, Nita is an Artistic Associate with The MET Singers Honor Choir.  This is a community youth choir that is offered through Metro Public Schools Community Education Program.  Students from public, private and home school settings come together to receive vocal training from teachers who volunteer their time to provide music as an extracurricular activity after school.  The MET Singers participate as part of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra's annual concert Let Freedom Sing! - A Tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Other membership/activities:  American Choral Directors Association (ACDA.)

Mrs. Smith is married to Attorney Robert Smith and they are the proud parents of Melissa, a junior at Tennessee State University and Elizabeth, a freshman at Hillsboro this year.