Miss Donna 4 Music

Hi! I’m Ms. Donna!

I have always had a love of music as far back as I can remember. I first realized that music came easy to me when I was in the 5th grade, learning to play recorder and sing. Even though I was a very shy kid, I had opportunity to sing my first solo with my 5th grade choir.

Middle & High School Music…

When I reached middle school, I joined the school band playing flute, and I continued to sing in the choir as well. I started singing more solos and participating in talent competitions. Again, being a shy child, I dealt with some stage fright but quickly realized that when I was on stage I could be whoever I wanted to be and that allowed me to set my shyness and anxiety aside and just enjoy the music.

My journey to being a music teacher…

I knew throughout middle school and high school that I wanted to pursue music as a career but I didn’t know exactly what path that was going to take. When I was in 11th grade, my band/choir director fostered my love of music and gave me the opportunity to be a part of the community band as a singer/performer with the band. They had several performances at the local elementary schools where I got to interact with the children there and help teach them a few things about music. That sparked my passion to want to be a music teacher.

I went to college at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA, near my home town, which started as a music conservatory. There I received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a Choral/General Music focus.

My first teaching experience…

While in college I began to give a few private piano lessons to some kids at my church and also started playing piano for the children’s church chapel services. My lesson studio continued to grow as I also began teaching general music to the K-8th grade children at my church school.

Now I’ve been teaching music for over 25 years! I offer online private lessons for piano, voice, and flute, and I am continuing to teach in a general music classroom for my private church school. I enjoy creating music with kids, as well as many adults, and watching them grow in their musical skills. I hope the resources on my page will help you grow as a musician too!

Other facts about me…

-I have been married for almost 25 years to the most wonderful husband

-I own 2 rabbits and I foster rabbits for my local shelter

-In addition to music, I also love to draw, paint, hike, do puzzles, and read mysteries

-I opened my own teacher store on Teachers Pay Teachers in September 2023 where I create and sell resources to other teachers