Music Teacher

Mrs. Tami Hopwood

Biography

It is with pleasure I am returning to St. Catherine School as the Music Director for my 11th year. I truly believe that Music affects and reflects our lives, as our lives and times reflect our music.

I graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Business. I spent 16 years as a corporate executive traveling the world, and 7 years as a stay-at-home mother. I then began my career as the Music Director at the school. I have over 49 years of musical experience, including piano, flute, guitar, voice, theatre, church and various types of performances. I have a passion for music and for children to learn. I believe that music adds to a child's education in many different ways. My greatest accomplishments as a teacher are the tiny ones: The one student who lost shame of being from a foreign country when I invited her to share her music with us; the one student who discovered that he did not stutter when he sang; the one student who convinced his parents he loved the guitar more than sports; the one student who knew I cared. I have great enthusiasm for not only the subject of Music, but for St. Catherine School and church community.

My curriculum includes a wide variety of learning methods that encompasses basic music theory, cross curriculum lessons, instrumentation, rhythm, understanding the mass, and fun singing many different types of music throughout the year. The highlights of the year include our production of the Advent program in December, and the Sending Ceremony in June for our graduates. The recorders are another exciting part of the curriculum for the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

My family and I have been active members of St. Catherine church for over 20 years. We have two sons, both graduates of St. Catherine, now attending Bellarmine - one a Senior, and one a Freshman.  I am also the Liturgy Director for St. Catherine Church which allows me to bring a lot of the Catholic teaching and spirituality into the Music classroom.