Janine de Souza
The Sea Ranch
Summary
Progressive, passionate, and highly-motivated, professional with a proven track record and commitment to implementing creative, child-centered, and engaging learning activities through music and movement to reach each student's highest potential. Committed to creating a joyful, effective, hands-on, collaborative, and multi-cultural learning environment for all.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER
Music for Minors
08.2024 - 06.2025
- Organized a very large and successful multi-cultural concert (Lunar New Year) showcasing students' talents and hard work.
- Familiarized students with basic concepts of music such as solfege, rhythm, note identification and values, tempo, dynamics, and the study of various composers.
- Incorporated child-centered, diverse, creative, and interactive activities into music lessons to improve student musicianship, engage students, spark interest, build confidence, and enhance students' understanding of music.
- Extremely hard-working and dedicated: Taught 32 classes with 700+ students per week at 4 different schools (2 Mandarin Immersion).
OWNER, SINGER/SONGWRITER
It's A Magical Day, LLC
10.2009 - 07.2024
- Composed original music and lyrics featured on Netflix, cable TV, ads (including a McDonalds commercial), and in a documentary.
- Received multiple awards for original songs.
- Worked exclusively with an American Idol Finalist (Season #17/2019) who commercially released 2 songs of the many we co-wrote together.
- Founder, leader, and vocalist of jazz bands that performed at various fundraisers, including on the U.S.S. Hornet for the Junior League in Alameda, CA.
- Managed own schedule efficiently between rehearsals, recording sessions, and shows.
- Collaborated with other musicians to write, arrange, and produce new songs.
- Made and participated in recordings in music studios.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER
Saint Columbkille Partnership School
09.2012 - 06.2013
- Created a positive learning environment with students, families, and colleagues.
- Used a variety of instructional strategies and musical resources to encourage active student engagement for PreK, K1, K2, and Grade 1 students.
- Familiarized students with notes, tempo, and other basic concepts of music.
- Incorporated multi-sensory, diverse, whole-child, and growth approaches into weekly lessons with music and movement activities and listening exercises into developmentally appropriate and fun learning experiences.
- Integrated creative activities into the curriculum to promote critical thinking skills.
- Collaborated with school administration and voluntarily initiated, organized, and supervised (along with another mother) the After School Instrumental Music Program and a theatrical music program called "The Alphabet Players".
- Initiated, wrote, and received a grant for $5,000 in 2011 from my alma mater, Berklee College of Music, that was utilized to purchase numerous musical instruments for the After School Instrumental Program and PreK, K1, K2, and Grade 1 students.
- Prepared and rehearsed students for school concert performances.
MUSICAL COORDINATOR/TEACHER/SONGWRITER
Kidstock Creative Theater Education Center
06.2005 - 08.2012
- Composed original songs and adapted popular ones for musical theater summer camp productions for 4-6 year olds that resonated with listeners and captured the emotions of the intended audience for Kidstock Creative Theater Education Center.
- Taught and rehearsed new songs thoroughly with the students as well as collaborated and coordinated with the Director for the final theatrical productions.
LICENSED KINDERMUSIK INSTRUCTOR
Isis Maternity / Two Independent Day Care Centers
09.2005 - 06.2008
- Taught, engaged, and encouraged active participation in Kindermusik classes for both parents/care givers and their children (newborns - 4 years old) through joyful, diverse, hands-on, multicultural growth and whole child activities using ASL, music, and movement.
Education
B.A. - Professional Music
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA12.2003
Skills
- Creative Vision
- Joyful, Child-Centered, and Project-Based Teaching Style
- Multitasker
- Team Player and Collaborative
- Time Management
- Melody/Lyric Creator, Singer, and Pianist
- Growth Mindset
- Positive, Motivated, and Flexible
- Coordinated Musical Theater and Choral Performances
Timeline
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER
Music for Minors
08.2024 - 06.2025
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER
Saint Columbkille Partnership School
09.2012 - 06.2013
OWNER, SINGER/SONGWRITER
It's A Magical Day, LLC
10.2009 - 07.2024
LICENSED KINDERMUSIK INSTRUCTOR
Isis Maternity / Two Independent Day Care Centers
09.2005 - 06.2008
MUSICAL COORDINATOR/TEACHER/SONGWRITER
Kidstock Creative Theater Education Center
06.2005 - 08.2012
B.A. - Professional Music
Berklee College of Music
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