I earned my master's in Applied Voice from the University of South Dakota. I have entertained audiences at Six Flags Over Georgia and Texas, the Windmill Dinner Theatre in Houston and Dallas, and the Country Dinner Playhouse in Denver. While teaching music at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, I co-wrote and produced five original children's musicals. I also sang in a four-member musical comedy troupe, Broadway Express, for 20 years, and for the last 9 years I have been performing with Take Five, a group that performs jazz, Broadway, and popular old standards. I directed the Austin community show choir River City Pops for 12 years, and I presently teach private voice lessons to high school students and adults. For three years I directed the McCallum High School jazz choir. I have directed the Women of Heartsong choir, a group of Heartsong moms and other women who sing for retirement/nursing homes, church groups, and private parties, since 2006. In 2004, I played LaTrelle Williamson in Sordid Lives at Arts on Real Theater in Austin, and in September and October 2008, I will play Louise in TexArts' production of Always, Patsy Cline. I have been married for 33 years and have four grandchildren, who have all benefited immensely from Music Together^® classes at Heartsong.

As far back as I can remember, music has been a part of my life. One of my earliest memories is of being in Vermont with my father's extended family and gathering in the living area after a great meal for a jam session. The sound of guitars, banjos, washboards, spoons (just about everything was an instrument!) and boisterous singing filled the air. What fun it was! Another memory is of my parents, my brothers and I huddled around a cassette recorder singing our hearts out. We would make tapes to send to my grandparents while we were living in Japan. It was a great way for us to stay connected with them and now the tapes are such a treasure!

I just love to sing and have done so in choirs and on my own all my life. I've definitely carried on the joy of music making that my family experiences instilled within me. I now play the guitar and have been composing songs. I have also been a grateful and enthusiastic parent participant of the Music Together program with my two sons, Jason and Ryan. I completed the Music Together teacher training program in Jan 2005. I am so excited to be working with your families and making music together!

I was born in Austin to ex-hippies with an extensive vinyl collection. As a result, I grew up listening to the live soundtrack of Austin and the rich music of the 60s and 70s. I also was lucky to have musical models in a mom who sang lullabies, a dad that broke-it-down on the dance floor, and a granddad who rocked the harmonica.

I became deeply engaged with music during my undergraduate studies at Wellesley College. A songwriting exercise in a music theory class introduced me to the idea of melody as a storytelling element and prompted me to dust off my guitar and write my first songs. During my last year at Wellesley, I had the fortune of studying with National Laureate Poet Frank Bidart. This experience heightened my respect for wordsmithing and resulted in several of the songs I later recorded on my debut CD, “The Will to Turn“ (2005).

Without a doubt, the most significant presence of music in my life currently is Music Together. I have been on Heartsong’s teaching staff since shortly after the school hung its shingle in 2005. I completed the Music Together training in the summer of 2005, and received my Level 1 Certification in the summer of 2009.

My experience of Music Together grows richer every semester and fuels my passion for building community and connecting with others through art. I believe in the beauty, joy and wonder that art brings into my life, and am pleased to be engaged with a curriculum that shares the beauty, joy and wonder of music with Austin families.

Music has been a constant in my life, at times background, at others foreground, but always there. The foundation was laid for me with my mother’s nightly lullaby ritual, Rafi sing-a-longs in the car on family vacations, and sounds of folk classics from my parents’ vinyl collection. From there, it was in me; whether singing, listening, dancing, writing, playing, recording, performing or teaching, I cannot imagine life without music.

I studied Theatre at The University of Southern California and The British American Dramatic Academy in London.  Post-collegiately, I entertained a career in education, and taught pre-kindergarten in the Dallas area before moving to New York. In New York, I worked at a private preschool where I designed a drama program called,“First Stage”. I also  lead the after-school program there, and infused both endeavors with holistic musical experience. During this time, I attended The Diller-Quiale School of Music Teacher Training Institute, and received certification in Early Childhood Music, Level 1. I find myself now in Austin, wanting to make and share music however I can. Music Together feels like a very natural step for me…

The first time I observed a class at Heartsong, it actually brought tears to my eyes! I could not be more excited to be a part of this beautiful program!

My first musical memory is of my grandmother playing her piano while my sister and I sang songs. When I was 6, I began piano lessons and continued for 10 years. I was heavily involved in choir, theater, band and even some color guard from grade school through high school. Music is a constant in my life and I have used it effectively throughout my career with teaching thus far.

I have been working with children my entire life. For the past eight years, I have been a professional nanny for 4 different families. I have a degree in early childhood education and have worked in daycares and schools. In all of my experiences and relationships with children, I have used music as a development and learning tool as well as for fun. At first this was because of my personal love of music and then it became obvious that it was a wonderful way to teach kids and have fun at any time, in any situation.

I recently moved to Austin from Seattle and was ecstatic to find Music Together. I moved to Austin with my very handsome fiancé and 5 year old (soon to be) step son. I have a quirky, 2 year old dog named Maggie. I spend my down time listening to music, reading books, watching chick flicks and being crafty.

I really am blown away by the opportunity to offer my service as a teacher in the best way I know how. I look forward to being a member of the staff and seeing you in class!

I have been involved in music all my life. My mother had 4 children in 5 years and would sing us every song she knew at naptime in order to stay sane! My father played the ukulele and guitar and we would sing all the time – especially on road trips. My parents were not professional musicians – they just loved singing and music. As a result, all 4 of us are singers and performers as adults, and music is a central part of our lives. When we get together for family reunions we gather around and sing! That is what we do together! In teaching Music Together, I have the opportunity to guide families toward music making in their homes. It is the joy of my life.

I have a degree in vocal performance from Austin College, Sherman, TX. I am a certified A.M.I. Montessori teacher for 3 – 5 year olds and am a certified M.W.E.I Montessori teacher for 5 – 7 year olds. I have been involved in teaching children and youth choirs for over 25 years. I have performed in choirs and in musical theatre from 1977 – 1997. I took the Music Together Teacher Training in May, 2001, and Music Together Certification Level I training in 2003. I completed the final Certification Level II Music Together training in May, 2005. I play the guitar and have been teaching Music Together full-time for 5 years.