I am so pleased to be a member of the Blue Valley Community at Cedar Hills Elementary!  My name is Carey Bowden, and I am the general music teacher for CHE.   

I grew up in a small town in rural Kansas called, Great Bend. I come from quite a musical family.  My mother played the piano, clarinet, and is a wonderful vocalist-she is always singing. My father played the trombone while growing up, and has taught himself the flute and violin by ear in his later years. While my father was always playing in the marching band, during the high school football games, my mother cheered him on. My siblings have all played instruments as well.  When it came time to decide what to play, I knew it would be the violin!  I have been playing the violin now for over 20 years, and it is my pride and joy; but even so, I did not stop there.  I also took several years of harp lessons.  I have experience with piano, guitar, some woodwinds, and some brass.  While growing up, I desperately wanted to be a percussionist.  So, while in college, I took percussion lessons and it became my secondary instrument for my degree in music education.

 After completing high school, I attended Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, where I received my Bachelor of Music Education Degree. My attendance at Baker University lead me to the Blue Valley School District, where my student teaching experience took place.  This is a wonderful learning community and I am so proud to be a part of it- since 2006!

I also love to pick up a new instrument and teach myself how to play it. I like to travel and I love to do activities outdoors. Spending time with my family is a priority.  My husband, Jacob, and I can not get enough of our girls: Kella and Sadie!  We love being parents and experiencing the new things we learn every day.   My oldest daughter will be starting Kindergarten in the 17-18 school year.  She has been ready for this for a couple of years now. As parents, we will be starting a new journey ourselves.  We have many nieces and nephews, and adore spending time with them.  I love being a mom and an aunt!