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Are you interested in joining our music program?
Click here to find out more about our upcoming Instrument Day at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church!
Instruments of Southeast Texas is an instrumental music program for students in 5th -12th grade, who homeschool or attend a school without an instrumental music program. We strive to honor Christ while providing a welcoming, family-friendly musical experience for student musicians of all levels! Inst. SETX started in 2015 as Stones Crying Out Band & Strings with the support of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, the vision and musical expertise of Vanissa Mills, and their shared passion for instrumental music education. In 2025, SCOB became the Instruments of Southeast Texas. The program continues to grow and serve the Southeast Texas homeschool, private school, and charter school community.
We hope you consider joining our musical family!
Meet the teachers Dani K Photography
Vanissa Mills
Vanissa is a local musician and teacher, who also homeschools her two beautiful children. She's the wife of her smart and funny high school sweetheart. Vanissa attended Lamar University to earn her Music Education degree. She's a former public school band director of Goose Creek Consolidated ISD in Baytown, Alvin ISD, and Hardin Jefferson ISD. She's currently in her 28th year of playing horn for the the Symphony of Southeast Texas. During the last 25 years, she's enjoyed teaching band, elementary music, children's choirs, percussion classes, elementary history, 10th grade literature, and tutoring children in reading skills. Vanissa is passionate about Christ, her family, homeschooling, and music education. She enjoys serving at church in Awana and VBS. Vanissa loves music, music history, the outdoors, deep conversations, canning, and spending time with her family.
Shannon Copeland
Shannon was raised in Beaumont and is a proud graduate of Forest Park HS (‘82). He attended LSU (Bachelor of Music Education ‘87) and Lamar University (Master or Music Education ‘91).
Mr. Copeland enjoyed a successful 28 year career in public schools, teaching young people the importance of the fine arts, and the lifelong friendships, memories and life skills music builds. He performed as a semi-professional trumpet soloist and with the “Processional Brass” quartet for many years. While he has taught students of all grade levels, the majority of his career was spent as the Associate Director of Bands at West Brook HS (‘93-‘17), working with thousands of aspiring young musicians.
Currently he enjoys golf, cooking, yard work and spending precious time with his beautiful wife, sons and daughter, as well as two amazing grandchildren!
He is excited to contribute to this Christ-driven effort of parents, students, families and teachers, as part of its success.
Bethany Rench
Bethany Rench is a musician and violin teacher in Lumberton, TX. She and her husband have five beautiful children whom she homeschools part time. Earning her Music Education degree at Baylor University, she is a former middle school orchestra director at Denton ISD. She has taught private violin and piano lessons for 14 years taking a break while her children were younger. She has enjoyed performing with local classical groups, churches, and folk artists and recording professionally. Having begun playing violin at church when she was 14 years old, she still enjoys accompanying services at her church on violin and piano on a regular basis and leading their children and youth choirs. Outside of music, she stays busy taking her children to soccer, going on dates with her husband, spending time walking trails, puttering with plants, and reading the classics.
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