Author Archive
An innovative new Arts and Music therapeutic Center has opened in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
You can find the studio at www.madcapcenter.com
A little bit about myself…
I’ve enjoyed many professional careers in my life….
* Playing the French Horn professionally. I had many unique opportunities as an audit student at Otterbein College as a young teen to the age of 18 years old. Upon High School graduation , I graciously accepted a full scholarship to Morehead State University in Morehead , Kentucky. I transferred to Ohio state University where I added a focus on Choral music and graduated August 1987 with a Bachelors in Music Education.
* Singing professionally…from Opera to Gospel Music to Jazz in Kentucky and Central Ohio. I’ve sung in Cantatas, Oratorios, Musicals, small Jazz groups, in formal and Contemporary Church services.
*Teaching General Music, Choir, Band and General Music ( k-12)in the public and private school districts in Central Ohio
*Creating Music Therapeutics ( 8-1987 to the present) as a company to meet the needs of children and adults with various educational, physical and emotional challenges.
Through Music Therapeutics I act as an Educational Consultant and Advocate for students grades k-12. Just some of my services include working with teachers ,parents and students on how to develop a successful individualized I.E.P for students.
I also teach students -from beginners to professional how to play the Piano, Voice,, Upper and Lower brass instruments.
On a personal note…
I am blessed with one beautiful 13 year old daughter-Emily . We share many common interests. I have been completely surprised about how much I’ve enjoyed being a “ Mama”.
I live in the beautiful country resort of Apple Valley.
I love to fish, enjoy the outdoors ( except for mosquitoes), riding horses, love a variety of animals and especially love to train therapy dogs for those in need.
*My daughter and I love to volunteer our services to a variety of organizations.
For the last two and a half years I’ve worked as a Brass instructor and a Marching Assistant to the Ohio State School for the Blind’s Marching Band. Emily has volunteered as a Marching Assistant for the same length of time.
We recently completed a 7 day tour of Los Angeles and participated in the “Tournament of Roses Parade” activities.( 1-1-10)
Not only did we successfully complete the 6 mile parade but also witnessed the awesome Buckeye football game victory. While in California , we accompanied our blind students on a tour of the L.A Grammy Museum, the Santa Monica Pier, a High school dance, a trip to trip to the Universal Studios and a lovely dinner at the Hard Rock Café.
The marching band also competed in the traditional “ Band fest” along with three other bands representing the State of Ohio.
People do best what they love best. Throughout my career, I have poured into the hearts of children, an appreciation and love for music. Whether as an entrepreneur or professional educator, I have been extremely successful in communicating technical and historical knowledge to students in an interesting, stimulating, and effective manner.
As C.E.O/Founder of Music Therapeutics, I enjoy serving 40 children (10 of whom are special need) as I deliver individual piano, voice and brass instrument lessons. With an enthusiastic teaching style and sound pedagogical approach, I have consistently raised the musical performance standards of my students within a 4 to 6 week period. Despite the challenges of working with special needs students, the joy cannot be overstated. I am proud to share that I have located and secured county/state funding pay for services for special needs and developed special needs programs that were incorporated into physical, occupational, psychiatric, psychological and medical therapies.
Working as an entrepreneur has afforded me the opportunity to excel in a variety of administrative projects including advertising, fees and tuition, and policies/procedures as well as creating and distributing pricing and policy packets. I have evaluated student needs, selected both conventional and progressive instructional resources while customizing lesson plans to correspond with individual learning styles. In order to achieve objectives, I combine innovative teaching methods and philosophies such as the Tomatis method (electronically modified music to achieve non-musical goals) and the Kodaly philosophy (believes every person has right to high level of music education early in life and everyone has ability to sing, dance or play music).
Aside from my entrepreneurial success, I have as also served as General Music Teacher and Choir Director for Lancaster City Schools. Within two schools, I guided elementary and junior high school students through courses covering general music, music theory, music history, and music reading skills. During this time I was the first teacher in the district to mainstream learning and physically disabled children into music classroom.
In both public schools and the private sector I have enjoyed collaborating with parents, teachers, and health care providers to ensure optimized lesson plan adjustments. As you know, school districts are increasingly growing with populations from other nations most of whom are learning English as a second language. As I have always embraced diversity, I will embrace the opportunity to welcome those unfamiliar with their new home.