Angela Carey – Music Teacher

Location: Lakeridge Elementary

Job Description: Angela teaches the study of music, instruments, and musical performance.

Typical Day: Angela’s schedule varies from day-to-day. At 8 a.m. she might have 4th-5th grade choir. After that, she might see different grades in half-hour increments the rest of the day. Angela’s 1st and 2nd grade students recently studied Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute. Her 3rd graders are getting ready for their Fine Arts Showcase performance. Her 4th graders are learning to play the recorder and will eventually study music composition. Her 5th graders are doing a song-writing unit and recently performed their Operetta ‘Horton Hears a Who.’ Angela teaches about 200 K-5 students per day.

Best part of the job: “Sharing my love of music with the kids.” Angela knows first-hand how exposure to music can influence a child’s interest—she fell in love with music as a three-year-old in Maltby, WA when she received her first instrument, a miniature organ. Angela went on to learn the piano, guitar, drums, and other instruments. “My 4th graders are learning to play the recorder right now,” she says. “I can hear them tootling away at recess! It is really gratifying to watch my students spread their wings and share their enthusiasm for music with others.”

Something people may not know: Angela tries to make time during lunch hour to play music with the other Lakeridge music teacher, Rachel Pesis. Angela also performs in several local bands: Yaamba— a marimba band, and an accordion band. She got her Music Ed degree at Western Washington University.
Years in district: Nine years.

Outside interests: Angela enjoys reading novels, and likes to hike Snoqualmie Pass and travel with her husband Aaron (their most recent trip was to Cozumel, Mexico, where a stranger at the airport taught her to play ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ on her ukulele). Angela and Aaron are collaborating on a video game music project.