I believe that with passion and diligence, we as music educators can enhance the lives of others by infusing them with music.
— Clara McDonald
Who Am I? — Entrepreneur, music educator, wife, and mom of two
My Path — I started teaching private piano and flute lessons in 1996 while completing a B.A. in Music Education at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA. After also receiving a California Teaching Credential, I was hired to teach middle school choir, general music, and math, in a low-income, low-performing school in Southern California. But, I quit after two years because it wasn't my dream job. I went back to teaching private music lessons. I now live in Flagstaff, AZ, where I homeschool my two children as well as maintain a commercial music studio in which I teach two days a week and rent space to other music teachers.
My Path — I started teaching private piano and flute lessons in 1996 while completing a B.A. in Music Education at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA. After also receiving a California Teaching Credential, I was hired to teach middle school choir, general music, and math, in a low-income, low-performing school in Southern California. But, I quit after two years because it wasn't my dream job. I went back to teaching private music lessons. I now live in Flagstaff, AZ, where I homeschool my two children as well as maintain a commercial music studio in which I teach two days a week and rent space to other music teachers.
20 Fun Facts --
- In 2nd grade I played "Gertie" in our school play about E.T.
- Took accordion lessons for a year (thanks, Mom)
- Finally realized at age 9 that music actually has meaningful words (not just gibberish)
- Graduated from Ukarumpa High School on the Pacific island of Papua New Guinea
- Have only broken one bone in my body — the tip of my left hand middle finger — thanks to smashing it between two bowling balls
- Went to the same community college my Mom did (and had some of her teachers, too!)
- Owned a '67 VW Bug in college
- Graduated summa cum laude in 1998 with a B.A. in Music Education from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA (piano is my main instrument)
- Used to dread singing in German, so I took a semester of German at a community college
- Now I dread singing in French
- Am an ISTJ
- Raw food believer, though not always a raw food eater
- Love chocolate, especially dark
- Ran 22 miles of the Nashville Marathon in 2010 until they closed the course due to a tornado watch
- Would love to hang glide, but would never sky dive or bungee jump
- Knitted my son two stuffed animals while pregnant with him
- Love hiking
- Lived in Mexico (where my son was born) and owned a 39' sailboat and a 37' motorhome
- Had a home water birth for my daughter
- Homeschool my two kids