Allow us to Introduce Ourselves...
Melinda
Registered Teacher
I am so happy to be living in the Bellingham area now, after several years teaching Music Together in Spokane. What a fabulous community I am finding here.:)
How wonderful that Music Together classes are all about bonding with your child. Those little moments that happen spontaneously through music are a beautiful way to connect to each person in your family and circle of friends.
My own circle includes my husband, Steve (a Marriage and Family Therapist) and our two boys, Sam and Benny (ages 8 and 6), as well as Buddy, the Chocolate Lab.
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy from Florida State University and taught early childhood music in public school special education classes. Later, I utilized my training working with people with Alzheimer's Disease. The power of music is indeed very real and very accessible to everyone!
Jen Mallet
Director
My daughter recently told me that she's so glad I'm not like a lot of other grown ups...."you're still so silly mom!" I not only believe in the Music Together® philosophy that ALL children are musical, I also believe that it's vital for both their musical development and personal development that we as adults relax and get down on the floor to play with our children. The sillier the better!
I became involved with Music Together when my daughter was just 18 months old. As a Music Together parent I learned to let go of my inhibitions about my singing voice and just jump in and have fun with my daughter. Enrolling her in a Music Together program was one of the best decisions I ever made. After moving to Bellingham in 2003 and getting involved with the 0-5 crowd through my Sign-by-Sign Program infant sign language buisiness, I saw a need for a Music Together program in B'ham. So Music Together by the Bay was born and now after the birth of my second child and three years later, we are excitedly meeting more parents and caregivers and sharing the gift of family music. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do work that fills me up in so many ways. It is one of my greatest joys to teach this program.
Heather Carter
Teacher
My family joined Jen’s Music Together class in Spring 2008. I learned to put aside my self-consciousness about group singing when working as a program director for the Girl Scouts in my late teens and early twenties. I wanted my children to grow up confident and comfortable in their innate musical abilities, but I’m not a trained musician. I didn’t know how to bridge the gap between music appreciation and making music with my children on a level they could relate to. Music Together provides the tools that I need to bridge that gap, and gives our family a solid musical foundation that we can grow from as our children develop.
I have a degree in Recreation, so I know how to have fun and help others in their leisure pursuits. From working in camp and scouting settings to supporting a city-wide network of youth service providers in Long Beach, CA, my professional career has always focused on service to children and youth. My family moved to Bellingham in 2007 and I have spent the last couple of years focused on raising my three kids and volunteering in our new community. During a Music Together class in Winter 2009, a light bulb turned on in my head. I thought, “I could teach Music Together.” The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is what I really want to do. Though this is my first formal teaching experience with infants and toddlers, I have lots of practice with my own three children, ages 9, 4, and 2. My family loves this program so much, and I am honored to be able to share Music Together with all of the wonderful families in our community.
