South County Profile: Adrienne Jacoby

ADRIENNE JACOBY

Adrienne Jacoby grew up in Southern California, where she learned to play a musical instrument even before she started attending school. Her mother was a high school choir director and believed strongly in the importance of music education.

"My first recollection of performing was at two-and-a-half-years old, I have been performing ever since," said Jacoby.

After graduation from Escondido High School in 1955, it took Jacoby 18 years to graduate from college while performing, raising two children and going to school. She finally graduated from Illinois State University in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education.

The Jacoby family then moved to Shasta County so that their two children could attend school.

While on the road, Jacoby played the keyboards, bass and sang four hours a night, five nights a week at Mike and Eddie's Dinner House in Chico

At 23, Jacoby began teaching piano and then moved on to teaching other instruments.

After teaching school in the Enterprise School District for 27 years, Jacoby retired. She taught choir, history, English and guitar. Jacoby was also instrumental in getting the show pop group Enterprise Starship started as a way to help students wanting to further their musical talent in a live performance setting.

Jacoby retired from teaching seven years ago and has started teaching music at Keys and Strings Studio in Cottonwood where she works with early childhood violin and beginning and intermediate piano students.

Jacoby enjoys living in the North State because she is able to see people that she knows in stores, restaurants, banks and other places. Jacoby also likes the cultural development that she has observed in the area, from the shows that are being held at the Cascade Theater, Riverfront Playhouse and the music being taught in local schools.

"Shasta County is small enough to care about the arts and large enough to do something about it," said Jacoby.

Jacoby has been teaching music for a total of 59 years, and has two children, Jayson, 44, and Janna, 45. She was married to the late Bill Jacoby for 21 years. He was the first music teacher at Happy Valley Elementary School.

Name: Adrienne Jacoby.

Born where and when: Stockton.

Occupation: Retired from teaching, but currently teaching music at Keys and Strings studio in Cottonwood.

Marital Status: Single.

Family: Son Jayson, 44, living in Tokyo and daughter Janna, 45, living in London.

Pets: None:

My worst job: Working as a mail girl at Federal Reserve Bank.

My first job: Working as a mail girl at Federal Reserve Bank.

In my spare time I: Read.

My favorite book: A Bridge Across Forever.

My favorite movie: Keeping the Faith.

My favorite recording artist: Jackie Kane and Roy Krall.

My dream car: A Mercedes 300SL.

My friends like me because: I'm funny.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: Water, books, food and a girl friend.

The one thing in life I've learned is: Life is too short to waste on worry and anger.

The best advice my parents gave me: If you've done a good job with your kids by the time they are 12, you don't need to worry. If you haven't, it is too late anyway.

My most embarrassing moment: When I fell up the stairs in between college classes.

My most irrational act: The list is too long to put on this paper.

My most valuable material possession: My home.

What I like best about the North State: The topography and the climate.

My hero is: My daughter.

My pet peeve is: People who believe and forward unchecked e-mail.

My fantasy is: Getting lots of money.

If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Be skinny.

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: High speed rail to Sacramento.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: My friends.