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Contact Us:
Questions about registering, dropping, changing classes: info@heartlandmusictogether.com
Questions about marketing, hiring, potential new locations: katie@heartlandmusictogether.com
All our teachers have successfully completed the Music Together® training program, which is built on current research in early childhood music development. This training requires all potential teachers to pass a live audition, to demonstrate their musical and leadership abilities.
Following this training, all of our teachers also complete a teaching apprenticeship alongside an experienced teacher. We continue to develop our skills through workshops, continuing education, and advanced Certification in the Music Together curriculum. We're pros, and we love what we do!
It's a family affair at Heartland and takes a village to keep our community growing! You may notice our extended family members (grandparents, spouses, kiddos, etc.) helping around classes and events as well. Be sure to say hello! We couldn't do it without them, and they love meeting our Heartland families!
Scroll down or click the links to learn more about our Heartland family.
Katie O'Dea
Katie O'Dea: "I fell in love!"
Katie says, "As soon as I started the classes I fell in love. I immediately knew that being a teacher was something I wanted to pursue. I not only loved being in class with my own children, but watching all the other caregivers interact with their own children. The energy and the magic that is created in these classes, is an experience that you can't get anywhere else. Helping other families bond with their children through music is so fulfilling!" "Loooooooove Ms Katie. She's the best!!" "Our 22 month old twins enjoy the class so much! The class has been a real blessing to us. We LOVE Ms. Katie!" "We love Ms. Katie. My son prays for the teachers at night. It just goes to show how this program becomes your extended family" |
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Jean Walker
Jean Walker - "luckiest woman on the planet"
After years of loving our classes as a participant, Jean joined our organization to help make the magic happen. If you've had questions about class schedules or registration, you may have already talked to her; as our administrator, she manages communications, registrations, and day-to-day organizational work. Most recently, Jean has taken the plunge into teaching! She apprenticed as a new teacher in the fall of 2015, took the official teacher training, and now she's a registered Music Together teacher. You may see her as a sub on one of our classes, and even leading her own classes as we grow our program. Jean has a degree in journalism and marketing, and also a M.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She thinks maybe the most valuable part of all that in terms of her vocation to work with children is her empathy and communication skills. Mostly, she just loves it, and considers herself the “luckiest woman on the planet.” We feel equally lucky, and we sing Jean's praises daily! |
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Lorna Dries
Lorna Dries - A love of music and language: an ear for a song![]() Lorna's father loved to sing, and he shared this love for singing and music with all of his children. Lorna says, "We sang in the car, in amateur talent shows, in the shower. I took voice lessons and sang in my school's choir in high school. When my sister had her four children, I made up a personalized song for each of them." ![]() Lorna pursued her love of music and language with dual degrees in Music History and English, followed by a Master's Degree in Creative Writing. Shortly after her own daughter was born, Lorna discovered Music Together. She became an enthusiastic parent in our classes, sharing her love of music with her own child, and when an opening appeared for a Music Together teacher, Lorna jumped at the chance. She has been part of our Heartland community since 2007. Lorna finds fun ways to be creative with a range of ages in the classroom. She also has an unexpected wit, and an amazing talent for barnyard animal sounds - both excellent skills for a Music Together teacher! "I wanted to let you know that my daughter and I really loved the class this past Sat., and Miss Lorna was amazing." - Willa's mom "This music class is hands down Jacks favorite activity, and we adore Miss Lorna." - Jack's mom |
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Rachel Haboubi
Rachel Haboubi - a dream fulfilledRachel says, "I’ve been surrounded by music my entire life - my mother was an elementary school |
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Stephanie Sullivan-Whitten
Stephanie Sullivan-Whitten - born with a song in her heart
Stephanie believes in the power of music to unify families and lift people out of their circumstances. As she developed her career, she looked for ways to share her musical gifts in ways that serve others. She is a board-certified music therapist, and she has years of experience teaching music in the classroom and providing music therapy in hospitals and home settings. While working as a music therapist, she happened to experience Music Together in a developmentally challenged population and instantly fell in love. She taught Music Together classes in a preschool setting and LOVED that too! And now Stephanie is EXCITED to continue her Music Together journey with Heartland Music Together. (Almost as EXCITED as we are to have her!) Stephanie says: "Music gives my soul a voice, and it is the greatest gift that I could have received from above." |
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Brooke Asher
Brooke Asher - Excitement for music and a passion for working with children.
Brooke has always been drawn to music. She says, “I’ve learned from my own participation in Heartland Music Together classes with my daughter just how important it is to encourage her musical development and for me to be an active participant with her. Music has become so much a natural part of our everyday life, it isn’t just a class once a week, it’s become a part of our way of life and the way we explore the world around us. I cannot wait to share my excitement for music and passion for children with each family that I am privileged enough to meet in class!” Brooke looks forward to meeting you and walking alongside your family in your own musical journey! |
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Katie Duvall
Katie Duvall: "The Heartland Music Together family feels like home!"
Katie says, "Becoming a Music Together teacher has filled a space in my heart that had been somewhat lonely in recent years, perfectly blending my past loves: music and early childhood education. The Heartland Music Together teachers and families immediately felt like home, and I just wish I'd found them earlier! |
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Liz Hardy
Liz Hardy
Liz and her partner Harlo are the proud parents of two little girls, who you may also see in her classes.. along with Liz's parents! Three generations in one class?! These are our kind of people! Welcome Liz! |
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Miriam Klein
Miriam Klein - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friends...Miriam Klein is the founder and former director of Heartland Music Together. After more than a decade of singing and playing with children, families, and colleagues, she is now pursuing other adventures. If you listen carefully, you might hear her yodeling off in the distance. Helloooo everybody…. Miriam says, "The most important thing I've learned in my amazing journey is that music is for everyone! Music is one of the ways in which all of us - babies, children, and grownups alike - get to enjoy being human beings. Everyone can make music!" Miriam is pictured here with Ken Guilmartin, founder of Music Together.
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Parents & children - the heart of our community
You make the magic happen!
"In art, as in life, everything is possible, so long as it is based on love." - Marc Chagall
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All Heartland Teachers and Parents |