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.
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 ISFJ
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