My name is Joanna McDonald, and I am a guitarist, pianist, composer, and music educator who believes that curiosity is at the heart of learning music. I began writing songs at age six and picked up the guitar at age 10, discovering how music could bring the stories in my imagination to life.
As I continued pursuing music, I joined a local music school similar to Horizon, where supportive teachers encouraged my creativity and tailored my lessons to help me grow. Their guidance helped me become a 2018 and 2019 Luna Composition Lab Fellow, receive Luna Lab’s Sydney Striker Fellowship for my composition “Peace,” and win first place at Oklahoma City University’s Classical Guitar Competition.
I have since composed music for groups including the Virtual Guitar Orchestra, in partnership with the Augustine String Foundation and the May Festival, while performing in many concerts, competitions, and gigs. This experience has shown me how following your musical curiosity can lead to wonderful places, especially with dedicated music teachers at your side.
I also began playing the piano at age 13, and it has become a vital tool in my composition process. For me, the piano is an open field of possibilities for improvising, mimicking other instruments, accompanying, and arranging. Its broad range and visual layout provide a wonderful platform for understanding chord patterns and scales while exploring the creative process.
Whether you are interested in using the piano to compose, play and sing your favourite songs, improvise, accompany yourself or others, or learn introductory classical pieces, I would love to work with you, no matter your age or experience level.
I also study Alexander Technique, which has helped me develop a deeper awareness of posture, movement, balance, and unnecessary tension while playing music. This awareness can be especially valuable for students experiencing discomfort in their back, arms, hips, or other areas of the body. By exploring how the body moves and responds while playing an instrument, students can develop more comfortable habits, greater physical awareness, and a more natural connection with their instrument.
As a teacher, I aim to give my students the same encouragement I received. I tailor lessons to each student’s interests, goals, and learning style through games, personalized practice strategies, creative problem solving, and plenty of encouragement.
Most importantly, I want my students to feel comfortable asking questions, exploring their musical ideas, and discovering the joy of playing music. My goal is to help every student’s abilities, confidence, and musical curiosity flourish.