The Natalie Clark Memorial Voice Scholarship

Hi I'm Holly Tate, a music teacher at A Cup of Rainbows in Mableton, GA. I created this fundraiser to be able to offer a scholarship in memory of my former voice & piano student, Natalie.

This scholarship supports students ages 5 years & up who need help paying for lessons, especially those who need extra encouragement, empowerment, support, and stress relief. It's open to teens and adults too since mindset coaching & therapeutic arts are included in lessons. I believe that should be available for all ages.

Your support can make a difference far beyond music skills.

Music lessons and performances also build self-belief, promote resilience, and nurture self-care. They help students feel happier, calmer & more confident - both onstage and off. A student once called me "the voice teacher who's also an inner voice teacher" because of the holistic approach & mindset methods I use in lessons... and that all started with Natalie. (Story below)

Natalie would have loved a project like this!

She was an active volunteer in her community from an early age. I remember her often playing piano at a nursing home, and later she volunteered with Girl Talk- supporting young girls who struggled with mental health. She continued to serve her community at UGA where “she was known for her kind heart and adventurous spirit” and “was remembered as a talented singer, a gifted writer and a proud advocate.”

If you’re a music lover or loved Natalie, please donate what you can, share our mission, and encourage others to help us share the gifts of music, joy, and inner peace.

I'll be matching donations with my time, so your donation makes double the impact on their lesson tuition. You can donate any amount - every bit adds up!

*Recitals are optional for nervous students who need to to build confidence first, or those who simply need music lessons for stress relief.

Together, we can make a big difference in a student's life!

And this scholarship can impact even more than one student as we spread the funds into partial scholarships if a full scholarship is not needed (e.g. college students paying for their own lessons, or when a parent finds a new job and no longer needs the scholarship).

If you know me personally and would prefer to use Zelle, Cash app, Venmo or a check to bypass GoFundMe processing fees, just contact me and I'll send details.

Scholarship details are below, but first a little about Natalie.❤️

ABOUT NATALIE CLARK

Natalie Clark lit up my early teaching days with her sparkly personality & heart for the arts. She was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed voice & piano student with a big smile (or sometimes a mischievous grin). Smart as a whip and witty to boot, she was just a joy to teach.

We had many lessons together, but one unforgettable lesson changed my teaching trajectory forever - and for better.

It’s 2006… a normal teaching afternoon and a precious 7-year-old Natalie enters her voice & piano lesson. Within moments, a typically spunky, silly Natalie breaks character & bursts into tears. Not just little tears. Overwhelmed, stressed-out, sobbing tears.

She recounted the challenges I still hear too often today:

… too much homework

… too many tests

… harsh, judge-y teachers

… busy rush of life

… missing out on playtime

… SO. MUCH. STRESS!

... at only 7 years old.

Before she finished, my own tears fell as I consoled her. It broke my heart seeing a child struggle with so much overwhelm. And in that moment, everything shifted for me.

I resolved right then and there: I refuse to contribute to the stress fest.

My lessons will relieve stress from a student’s week, not add more to it.

Thanks to Natalie, I embraced a holistic, "fun first" teaching philosophy, prioritizing joy, love of learning, and well-being over all the traditional music goals & practice expectations.

Life skills before music skills was my new method

(and to my delight, the music skills improved too!)

That day with Natalie also reminded me that music lessons aren’t only for enjoyment & education.

For some students, they also hold therapeutic value.

For me growing up, music was mostly joyful, but not always. Sometimes it was my safe haven - an escape from the world.

Or a way of expressing my depression or calming my anxiety.

Music (along with arts and nature) was my peace when life felt overwhelming, ugly, or hard—just like Natalie felt in that lesson.

To quote a Sarah Bareilles song, music was my “Safe Place to Land”. (Amazing vocals, btw! And definitely therapeutic music!)

Well, I was determined to create a safe place for Natalie to land & give her and other students the opportunity to feel supported and to relieve stress - or at least not have it compounded.

Nat inspired me to make my music lessons a refuge & sanctuary from the unnecessary pressures & unhealthy expectations that are so prevalent in our society.

Because music has superpowers.

Music heals.

Music nurtures.

Music empowers.

Music inspires.

Music expresses every emotion.

So with this scholarship, I plan to share the music, mindset, and self love practices that can make a difference in a life.

We lost Natalie too soon, at only 22 years old, but her flame shines bright in my heart. And her photo in my studio reminds me daily of my big WHY: to make a difference in the lives of my students & let them know how valuable, loved & supported they are.

I hope Natalie’s story inspires you to remember the butterfly effect that you can make with even a small donation. Natalie changed my life, which changed the lives of many students to follow her over the years. Your compassionate contribution can perpetuate that cycle.

If these values align with your own, or if you remember Natalie as fondly as I do, please contribute what you can to her memorial scholarship - every dollar makes a difference!

And please share this fundraiser to give voice students the gift of music, joy & peace.

THANK YOU for your kindness & generosity and for helping me fulfill A Cup of Rainbows' Mission: to share good vibes and magical moments through the power of positivity, creativity, meditation & inspiration!

If you know someone who struggles with mental health & emotional wellbeing, please feel free to contact me or refer them to my website A Cup of Rainbows for meditation, hypnotherapy, therapeutic arts coaching, spiritual counseling, or for free mental health resources.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

This scholarship provides weekly 30-minute voice lessons for singers of all ages. Students can also participate in quarterly performances in our community.

Our performances include fun recitals and events that benefit the community, like our February performance at a long-term care center for senior citizens. We also have occasional vocal workshops & masterclasses learn together!

In addition to musical training & performance skills, each lesson also includes self love & mindset coaching to improve self esteem, build self confidence, and cultivate a positive relationship with challenges, resilience, and perseverance.

Why I decided to include college students & adults

Natalie's influence is part of my journey into advocacy for self-love and mental health. Since she lost her mental health battle at only 22 years old, and I struggled with an anxiety disorder & annual depression until age 48, I wanted to make this scholarship available to college students & adults (in addition to kids) for the purpose of therapeutic arts.

My voice lessons often include tips for stress management, confidence coaching, or therapeutic tools for anxiety and depression. I often integrate and intertwine music with mindset, meditation, breathwork, and other holistic practices.

Many adults seek a creative outlet to nurture self-love, self-esteem, and self-respect, so I wanted to make sure this scholarship was available to anyone who needs it, regardless of age.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

How it works:

Scholarships will be given to one or more students, based on the number of applicants, the amount of financial need, and the amount of funds available.

Students will be chosen based on

Recipient Benefits: This scholarship offers weekly 30-minute voice lessons for all ages, plus opportunities to perform in fun community recitals, like our February event to entertain seniors in a long-term care center. Lessons also include self-love & mindset coaching to boost confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. Students are also invited to fun workshops & advanced masterclasses.

Why I decided to include college students & adults

Natalie’s story inspired my advocacy for self-love and mental health. After losing her at only 22 years old and finally overcoming my own struggles with anxiety and depression at 48 years old, I created this scholarship to support college students and adults (as well as kids) through vocal coaching which includes therapeutic arts & mindset coaching.

My lessons blend vocal skills with life skills like stress management, confidence coaching, and holistic tools like meditation and breathwork, offering a creative outlet for self-love and healing. I want that to be available for any voice student - regardless of age.

THE FUTURE...

I envision expanding from 2 scholarships (see also the David Elliott Piano Scholarship), into a nonprofit organization that can serve more students in various creative & inspirational programs including music, arts, meditation & more.

But for now, we start where we are - and like the starfish story, we make a difference for one student at a time.

THANK YOU for your kindness & generosity and for helping me fulfill A Cup of Rainbows' Mission: to share good vibes and magical moments through the power of positivity, creativity, meditation & inspiration!