All of our teachers are passionate about music and recognize the importance of music in early childhood development. They create a fun, non-formal setting that spurs engagement and supports each child's musical development. Our teachers have all completed the Music Together® teacher training, internship and have on-going support from our center as well as from the national program.
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Amber Hale
Amber is a formally trained vocalist, conductor, actress, and director. She received a BM in Church Music and a MM in Performance, Choral Conducting emphasis, from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX. Amber has performed professionally with various musical and theatrical organizations. Her teaching experience includes private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages, as well as secondary theater and choir classes.
Amber discovered Music Together following her recent move to Phoenix from west Texas. She loves watching her son's musical growth through the Music Together program, and is excited to share that opportunity with other families!
"Teacher Amber was AWESOME; very upbeat and fun. She has a great rapport with the children"
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Katie McGowan
Music and movement have always played a very important role in Katie’s life with piano lessons, playing the French Horn, dance classes, and training in vocal performance. After becoming a stay at home mom to raise her three kids, Katie decided to return to college to pursue an education in music. She comes to Music Together with a BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance, and a BA equivalency in Music Therapy from ASU.
Katie continues to raise her teenage kids while also working as a part time music therapist for young children with developmental disabilities and singing in her church band. She found out about the Music Together program through a fellow music therapist and knew immediately that she wanted to be a part of sharing the richness and joy of music making while bringing families together to discover the music inside them.
"Teacher Katie made an amazing experience for our family! We will look forward to her next semester!"
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Laila Hirtz
Laila has been singing and making music her entire life. Her family says she sang before she could even speak. Laila's love of music lead her to years of private voice study, choral experiences in both high school and college, as well as deep involvement in community children's theater. Currently, Laila enjoys singing with family and friends, playing gigs with her boyfriend, and has recently learned to play ukulele!
Laila found Music Together trhough her mother and is excited about teaching Music Together and combining her passion for music and young children. She has successfully completed the Music Together teacher training and an internship with the center director and now ENJOYS joyfully teaching her own classes!
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Sarah Miller
Sarah began her musical life playing violin at a young age. With years of piano lessons, formal ballet training, gymnastics, and dance classes, music and movement have played a huge role in her life. She earned a BA in Music Therapy and worked with young children with disabilities using Music Therapy for five years before becoming a full time mom. Sarah has played violin through college with the Evansville Philharmonic and continues to play in Arizona with several local semi-professional orchestras.
She began her Music Together experience bringing her daughter to classes at the age of one and fell in love with the philosophy and the whole Music Together experience. Sarah is thrilled to share her diverse musical background with Music Together in Phoenix to musically nurture families with young children.
"Sarah was great! So good with the kids and parents, too!"
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Debra Podjed
The joy of teaching rhythm and music to children brought Debra to Music Together. After completing a BA in Music Theory and Composition from San Francisco State University, she studied tabla at the Ali Akbar College of Music, doumbek, tambourine and tar with Mary Ellen Donald, and frame drums with John Loose. Debra developed and taught K - 6 rhythm workshops in the San Francisco schools . She records and performs world music with Devotional Fusion, Europa, Phoenix Rising, Copus, and Prema Rupa.
We have been very blessed to have Debra part of our teaching team for many years! Debra is re-joining our team for special help with preschool projects and subbing. Appreciation to Debra!!
"My kids love this class and Debra makes every child feel comfortable and helps engage them! My son is usually shy but enjoys participating in music."
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Kathy Rowe
With a MA in music education, Kathy plays flute and has joyfully taught many years of general/vocal music to preschool through eighth grade, as well as band and choir. Music Together brings together her passion for teaching and small children. She began Music Together in Phoenix in the the fall of 1999 and as the center director, she is excited to see Music Together touching so many families' lives.
Currently Kathy has developed and teaches Drum Sing Dance, an Orff-Kodaly program for 7 to 11 yr olds. She has completed both the Level I and the Level II Certification from Music Together LLC, studied classical guitar under Gabriel Cornella and really loves to tend her small flock of chickens, garden, and ZUMBA on the weekends!
"Kathy is amazing and playful, very authentic in spirit. We really enjoy her."
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