Sarah Clarke Medina, Mechanical Engineer and Musician: Madeline’s Monthly Musical Tips Blog/Article & Radio Show for March 2025
Our blog article and Radio Show for March 2025 celebrated the life and work of Sarah Clarke Medina, Mechanical Engineer and Musician.
Many of the world’s engineers, mathematicians, scientists, authors, inventors, medical doctors, researchers, and teachers have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process. Learning a musical instrument teaches discipline, cooperation, teamwork, motivation, concentration and self-esteem. Studying a musical instrument develops millions of new connections, synapses, between nerve cells in the brain.
Our article of the month is Everyone Needs Encouragement by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Learning a musical instrument teaches discipline, cooperation, teamwork, motivation, concentration and self-esteem. Having trouble getting your child to do their homework? Play classical music in the background while your child is doing their homework! Try a Mozart Symphony in the background while they are studying.
Dr. Madeline Frank’s Musical One Minute Radio Show for March 2025: How does Classical Music play a part of Sarah Clarke Medina’s life as a mechanical engineer and musician and what musical instrument does she play?
https://madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-musical-radio-show/
Early years:
Sarah began studying the harp when she was six years old. Her first harp teacher was their neighbor who was a harpist and teacher. In elementary, middle school and high school, Sarah was an excellent student in math and science.
She began playing in the Massachusetts Harp Ensemble when she was 7 and in the Local Theater when she was 13. When she graduated from high school she decided to study engineering at the University and continue to play and study the harp.
https://www.facebook.com/p/Sarah-Clarke-Medina-Harpist-100085230863195/
University & Graduate School:
Sarah Clarke Medina at Columbia University earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering (2003-2007). At Columbia University Sarah was the harpist in the University Orchestra.
Sarah Clarke Medina graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Master of Science (MS) in Engineering Systems (2011-2013). She earned her MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management (2011-2013). LGO Intramural Hockey Team.
Sarah Clarke Medina has worked for Raytheon Technologies in Massachusetts for 20 years and 2 months. Today, she is the principal harpist of the Brockton Symphony.
“Raytheon Engineer by day, Harpist by Night”: Sarah Clarke Medina featured on Peabody TV’s “Fifteen Minutes of Fame” hosted by Jacky Ankeles. Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22dIwT8J-R
Sarah Clarke Medina, is a Mechanical Engineer and harpist.
Everyone Needs Encouragement by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Every person in life needs positive encouragement to motivate and inspire them for success. Dr. George Adams says, “Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul.”
Dr. John C. Maxwell, the number 1 leadership expert in the world says, “When I’m interacting with people one -on-one, I try to practice the thirty -second rule, which I wrote about in my book “25 Ways to Win with People”. Within thirty seconds of a conversation, I try to say something encouraging to the person I’m interacting with.”
He continues, “When my daughter Elizabeth was a youngster she once told me, “Dad I love the way you look people in the eye and say something positive about them when you meet them,”
He said, “that made my heart smile.”
George W. Crane, medical doctor, psychologist, professor, and author taught in Chicago in the 1920’s at North Western University. When he began teaching students in his evening classes, he found that his adult students were older working in businesses, stores, factories, and offices during the day. Each of them desired to improve their education at night. Some of his students told him they felt isolated and shy. He designed his first assignment to help his students connect with others.
Dr. Crane said to his class, “You are to use your psychology every day either at home or work on the streetcars and buses. For the first month, your written assignment will be the Compliment Club. Every day you are to pay an honest compliment to each of three different persons… for 30 consecutive days.”
Dr. Crane said, “At the end of the 30-day experiment, I want you to write a theme or paper on your experiences. Include the changes you have noted in the people around you, as well as your own altered outlook on life.”
As his students complimented others their lives changed and improved too! And by complimenting others they too were motivated, encouraged, and inspired as well. Dr. Crane said, “Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth.” (Compliment Club)
As a teacher I have watched my students, colleagues, family members, and friends blossom from words of encouragement. By giving them a sincere compliment, they have the energy and the desire to try harder at whatever they are working on. Everyone in life needs positive encouragement to help them grow, inspire and motivate them to succeed. The “Power of Encouragement” gives us hope that we can succeed and everyone needs it!
A fabulous story of motivating and inspiring students is “All the Good Things” by Sister Helen P. Mrosla. She was teaching her eighth-grade math students a very difficult math concept and her students were very frustrated. This is when she asked her students to write down all the students’ names in the class, on two sheets of paper, and to leave room to write, “the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates”.
After class, Sister Mrosla made a separate list of these wonderful compliments on two sheets of note book paper for each student and handed them out to her students the following Monday. Her students were all glowing with happiness after reading their sheets. Many years later she would be asked to attend Mark Eklund’s funeral by his parents.
Her former student was killed in Vietnam. When she spoke to his parents after the funeral they shared with Sister Mrosla the two sheets of notebook paper that she had written down “all the good things” his classmates had written about him. These two sheets were well worn and were in his pocket when he died.
Mark’s mother said, “Thank you so much for doing that. As you can see, Mark treasured it.”
These words of praise can last a lifetime. In all of life, people need praise and encouragement to improve, to be inspired, to learn, and to grow. When President Abraham Lincoln died, among the items in his pocket were 8 newspaper clippings on positive things said about him during his re-election campaign. During his Presidency, Lincoln was maligned many times by the newspapers.
These 8 newspaper clippings, President Lincoln read and re-read just as Mark Eklund read and re-read “all the good things” said about him by his classmates. Both men “treasured” their sheets. Words of praise can last a lifetime!
Compliments I have given to others:
“The carrot cake you made for me was so delicious.”
“Your smile lights up the room.”
“You are so optimistic and cheerful.”
“Your blouse looks so lovely on you.”
“I am so proud of you for the work you have done”
So, what are the three simple things you can do beginning today, for your ten-day challenge to inspire, encourage, and motivate others around you?
1) As Dr. George Crane said, “Every day pay an honest compliment to each of three different persons.” Coach John Wooden said “Be specific with your praise.”
2) Follow Dr. John Maxwell’s “30 second rule” and say your inspiring and encouraging words within 30 seconds of talking to someone. Dave Sheffield, motivational speaker and author says, “Happy employee’s equal happy customers”. This should be your motto for connecting with your students, family members, your colleagues, and anyone else you are around.
3) Every evening at home think of several “honest compliments” you can give to “3 different people” you will be coming in contact with the next day. They can be family members, business co -workers, students, friends, and strangers. Happy people are inspired and motivated to do better work. Give the gift of compliments and you will be given a gift in return.
So, begin today to train your mind to look for the good in people to brighten their day and your day. Always begin with an “honest compliment”! Remember words of encouragement motivate and inspire us to do a better job, to improve our skills, and work at a higher level. © 2025, 2013 Madeline Frank
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Dr. Madeline Frank’s book “Leadership on a Shoestring Budget: Timeless Principles for Everyday Use, helps businesses stay afloat in times of trouble. She calls her innovative observations, Tuning Up Your Business. For over 25 years she has helped countless people create their great image brand, and communication style that makes them irresistible. Click on the following Amazon.com link to order your copy of “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget”
“The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music” shares scientific evidence, medical evidence, test results, and true stories of the world’s scientists, medical doctors, and mathematicians who have studied and played musical instruments since they were children by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. Click below:
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“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun easy way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award is available in book form, newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook.:
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Wishing you and your family a happy Saint Patrick’s Day from Your Non-Invasive Medicine Music Expert, Madeline
For over 30 years, Dr. Madeline Frank has helped children and adults overcome problems through Classical music. Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an award-winning teacher, author, researcher, speaker, conductor, and concert artist. She has discovered a scientific link between studying a musical instrument and academic and societal success. Madeline Frank earned her Bachelor and Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. Her education has included scholarships at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the University of Cincinnati and she has a violin performance diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts. (C) 2025 Madeline Frank