ikigai /ˌi kiˈgaɪ / noun
One’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation.
One’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation.
Crystal Hosea
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I love inspiring grown folk and wee folk to explore music and discover (or REdiscover!) the beauty of their own voices. I have been on a musical journey myself for nearly my entire life! I began studying piano when I was four-years-old, and later attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) as a vocal music major. It was at LACHSA that I profoundly fell in love with music and the beautiful and universal form of communication it provides.
I continued to study with incredible musicians and professors at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Long Beach State University, where I earned a Bachelors degree in Choral-Vocal Studies, and later a teaching credential in music. After graduation, I taught elementary and secondary music in classrooms, co-directed after school programs, hosted music masterclasses and clinics, and taught private voice lessons for several years before taking a hiatus from classroom teaching for a season to focus on homeschooling my children. After enjoying homeschooling for several years, I saw a need for helping to empower home educators to explore music-making with the children in their lives. In 2016, I released a book series and music curriculum called Legends of the Staff of Musique, which explores music literacy (how to read music) holistically through singing, storytelling, movement, and visual art. Before a worldwide pandemic caused the world to become tiny and enormous all at the same time, I serendipitously decided to adapt the lessons from my curriculum into live online classes in January of 2020. I enjoyed teaching these Magical Language of Music classes for nearly 3 years, and treasure the global connections I made with those beloved wee folk and their families. Since moving to the magical city of Santa Barbara, CA I have enjoyed teaching private and group voice lessons here at Musica Anima LLC, and am honored to be one of the choral directors of the wonderful Sing! Children's Chorus at the Music Academy of the West. https://musicacademy.org/sing/ A self-professed student of Life, I am always looking to grow and evolve as a human and as an educator. For this reason, I maintain memberships in NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), SCVA (Southern California Vocal Association), and NAfME (National Association for Music Education). Aside from music I love food, art, dance, literature, nature (especially clouds), and the many extraordinary sentient beings with whom we share this beautiful planet. I am admittedly an "analog girl in a digital world," but am learning as I go about the wonders of technology. When I am not teaching music, homeschooling, or writing, I enjoy living the simple life with my family on a beautiful ranch surrounded by cows, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and my own little wild things... my children. |
Below is a short video where I share my philosophy of music education.
Need a boost of serotonin?
Have a good laugh while listening to this little ditty I wrote during the height of quarantine!
Have a good laugh while listening to this little ditty I wrote during the height of quarantine!
