These are always the hardest pages for me to write! I would rather just sit in my living room with you and get to know you while you get to know me and our kids play in the backyard or upstairs with LEGOs!!!
Since this is the music blog, I’ll give you the low down of the musical part of me (which is a big chunk!) I have always sung or played an instrument – both my parents and my grandparents influenced my musical passions and tastes! I am a second generation homeschool student. One of the benefits to a homeschool schedule was allowing for the extra time that music lessons and ensembles required. I started out on violin and then switched to cello and played in our youth string orchestra for several years. I begged and begged my parents to allow me to quit so I could take piano and when they enrolled me with the kindest piano teacher from our church, I knew I had found my purpose!
I spent hours practicing and developing a love for the piano and music theory. My junior and senior years of homeschool high school were spent traveling to different colleges and auditioning for the music programs. I knew when I stepped foot on the campus of Lee University that it would be my new home. I had the best mentors and professors that were more like friends and family to me and still are! While in college I assisted the University Children’s Chorale, played in several ensembles, sang in several choirs, and flourished in the music education field.
After graduation, I found my calling in elementary music! I taught K-5 music in the public schools, developed a choral program and festival, instrument ensemble, and grew as a clinician – giving workshops for other music teachers at the county and state level.
My calling to be a mother led me away from teaching in the public schools, but not from teaching music. I led Mommie & Me music classes and taught music and movement in a local preschool to ages 2-6.
This phase of my life now as a busy homeschool mom is one of the most rewarding gifts. I’m so thankful for my life’s experience and I love sharing my passions with other moms and teachers! I hope you’ll let me know how I can help you as you lead your children in musical experiences! At the top of this blog menu I have links to both my homeschool blog and Solfa Sofa which is a free curriculum for teaching the basics of singing and sight reading music! It’s a wonderful companion to learning about music history and listening to classical music!
Thanks for reading!
-RaeAnna Goss
Composer Study Companion 