Paula Marie Jones ~ Biography of Singer Songwriter

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Ventura, CA

Meet Me at the Twilight Star - Cayucos, California

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©Paula Marie Jones 2010

Ventura, CA

Hawk and Owl Personal Empowerment Company

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Ventura, CA

Paula Marie Jones was born with a powerful voice and taught herself to play guitar at age 14. As a young girl she was always fascinated and interested in witnessing the impact of music in all ways and by the age of 16 was singing for weddings and memorials.

Paula began formal music training in college at the age of 20 in both classical and stage singing which started her career to becoming a music therapist. She taught stage singing for 15 years to hundreds of star struck students and also taught voice privately and for a local community college. In 1981 Paula was part of the classical touring company 'Performing Arts Abroad' in conjunction with the London Chamber Orchestra performing in the major cities of Europe. She has also performed as the featured soloist with Santa Barbara Symphony.

It was many years before she began writing original music again in 1996 and has since written many compositions that families use for memorials and tributes as well as other songs of personal expression and healing.

Paula holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Music Therapy. She has been a Music Therapist for over 25 years and her many ways of working with music in therapy have been shared with children, adolescents, adults and seniors. She's worked in various environments such as YMCA, Diabetic and Cancer camps, convalescent homes, board and care homes, psychiatric hospitals as well as educational settings.

Paula created the music therapy program for the Palliative Care Services at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California and for Buena Vista Hospice Care in Westlake, California.

Her songwriting began after visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in 1991 with a friend who lost her brother in the war. She was moved to write her first original song about that experience called “Brother of Mine”. She submitted this first song to an organization seeking original music for the Tenth Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. called “Songs of the Wall”. Her song was chosen for the 10 artist collection to be recorded for this project and she was honored to perform her song, along with the other artists and their songs, near the Lincoln Memorial and Veterans Wall in November 1992. This song has been a very powerful healing tool for many who have been affected by the Vietnam War.

Paula is trained in the Helen Bonny Method of Guided Imagery in Music™ (GIM). She is also a Practitioner of the Energenesis ™, Original Bio-energetic body work developed by Annemarie Poulin. This imagery and energy work led her to the powerful tools of Crystal Singing Bowls for which she creates meditations for Healing and Visioning.

Paula performs publicly when the spirit moves her...
which is here and now!

Education

M.A. Degree in Psychology & Music Therapy
Antioch University, Santa Barbara, CA 1993

B.A. Degree in Music and Certification in Music Therapy
California State University, Long Beach 1985

Guided Imagery & Music™ (GIM)
Helen Bonny Method

Energenesis ™ Bio-Energetic Vibrational Medicine Practitioner
Annemarie Poulin

Professional Experience

Music Therapist
Buena Vista Hospice Care, Westlake Village, CA
Staff Training & Patient/Family Care 2006-Present

St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, CA
Palliative/End-of-Life Care & Intensive Care Units 2003-2006

Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
Adult Education /Omega Program 1996-1999

Pacific Shores Hospital, Oxnard CA
Adult & Geriatric Psychiatric Population 1990-1994

Anacapa Adventist Hospital, Port Hueneme, CA
Children & Adolescent Psychiatric Population 1989-1990

Crossroads Hospital, Van Nuys, CA
Adolescent Psychiatric Population 1985-1989

Downey Community Health Center, Downey, CA
Adult Psychiatric Population 1984

Bereavement
Counselor
St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, CA
Buena Vista Hospice Care, Westlake Village, CA
Individual Counseling & Group Facilitator

Voice Instructor
Private Voice Practice & College Instructor
All Ages—Beginning 1987

Music Director
Spiritual Living Center, Ventura, CA
Center for Spiritual Living, Camarillo, CA

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