Teacher Profile: Natalie Menendez
About Natalie Menendez
Driven by a passion for music, creativity, and education, Natalie Menendez has dedicated herself to creating meaningful musical experiences for students and audiences alike. As a multi-instrumentalist, she explores music through drums, percussion, cello, violin, ukulele, and guitar, bringing a broad and varied musical perspective to her work as both an educator and musician. She received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies from the University of South Florida and is professionally certified to teach music in K-12. At the heart of her teaching philosophy is the belief that meaningful learning begins with meaningful relationships: “They don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.” She strives to create an environment where students feel encouraged to explore, create, and develop a lasting connection with music.
Natalie enjoys performing for a wide range of audiences in a variety of musical settings. Her experience encompasses both classical and contemporary music, including performances with ensembles throughout Tampa and Orlando. She has performed with the South Shore Symphony, Orlando Concert Band, Last Minute Ensemble, Valencia’s Early Music Ensemble, and Peacock Wind Ensemble, as well as with the Ancient City Ensemble in Open Class Indoor Percussion. In addition to her ensemble experience, Natalie has performed numerous professional gigs at restaurants, wedding venues, private events, and other functions. These diverse performance experiences have allowed her to explore a variety of musical styles and settings while developing a love for collaboration and connecting with audiences through music.
Teaching music is Natalie’s strong passion. She finds great meaning in opening the door to creative possibility and helping students discover their own musicality. Her experience includes teaching K–5 music at Tangelo Park Elementary School and completing instructional internships at both Chiles Elementary School and Benito Middle School. She has also worked as a substitute teacher and volunteered with Instruments of Change. Through this work, as well as her classroom experience, Natalie has had the opportunity to help make music education more accessible to students and communities. Teaching students of different ages and abilities has strengthened her belief that every student has the capacity to engage meaningfully with music when given encouragement, patience, and the opportunity to explore. Fostering curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of music is an ongoing journey—one she continues to pursue both for herself and for her students.