Participant Biographies and Project Descriptions

Barbara Banks
Barbara is an exceptional pop/jazz pianist and music teacher with over 50 years experience. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and she is certified to teach music to adults by the California Community Colleges. Barbara studied jazz theory and improvisation in private workshops with jazz greats Dave Brubeck, Joe Sample, and Anita O’Day. She also taught at San Diego Community College for several years. Barbara performs as a piano and organ accompanist for choral groups and as a free lance pianist in public and private settings.

Barbara will lead an interactive music program with clients at Tri City Medical Center Outpatient Behavioral Health Services and North County Adult Day Health Care Center in Vista. Clients receiving services at these programs have few opportunities to experience the positive benefits of music. She hopes to encourage self expression, improve physical and mental skills while providing an antidote to the loneliness and depression severely disabled adults often experience.