It's Groovy Baby Music, Center Director and Teacher

Bettina attended Music Together classes while living in San Francisco. Amazed by the development and awareness brought about by the program she decided to become a Music Together® teacher and has been in the classroom for the last nine musical years and loving it! Music has always been an important part of Bettina's life. As a young child she wrote silly songs so her puppets could sing and dance for shows. She played her violin in the Los Angeles Jr. Philharmonic Symphony of Southern California and attended the Los Angeles Conservatory for the Gifted & Talented. Bettina graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Southern California. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and studied music under Paul Salamonovich, known as one of America's most inspiring choral conductors. Bettina has sung in professional and college choirs. She has studied many types of dance: jazz, modern, Hawaiian, and belly dance.

Bettina has worked in special education and early childhood education. On the weekends she can be found on stage in a local musical production or sharing her love for children and music by performing at a child's birthday party.

Debbie has always had a great love of singing, dancing, and children. She has worked with children in various capacities from being a nanny to teaching and tutoring children with special needs. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, a Masters in Early Childhood and Elementary in Waldorf Education and has certifications in Yoga Dance. She has performed singing in acoustic groups over the years as well. She is very excited to teach “Music Together” that brings together her great passion for children with her joy of music.

As a mother to a young daughter, Krista registered for Music Together classes and fell in love with the program. She truly enjoys watching her daughter and the other children in class express their new found love of music and therefore bringing back a love of music to their caregivers. Music has always been an important part of Krista’s life. She developed a love of music as a young child and has continued to express that love throughout her life by singing in choirs and musical theater and playing trombone and piano. Professionally, Krista has a Masters of Arts in Teaching with a certification in Secondary Mathematics from John Hopkins University and has worked with students in grades 6 – 12. She now truly appreciates the experience of working with younger children in Music Together classes and the joy these classes are bringing to her life.

Musical Birthday Parties are so much fun for both children and adults. The session lasts about 45 minutes. First we sing hello to all the children by name. Next we go through a set of songs, some familiar, some new, some requests, but all simple and easy to follow along with. Some songs will have movements that go with them; other songs will be sung while playing egg shakers or sticks. We will dance with ribbons to fun, upbeat songs. The highlight is the jam session toward the end of the program where everyone at the party finds an instrument to play from the assortment and we all jam together. We finish with the goodbye song and a grand finale of "Happy Birthday" to the birthday child. Our music specialist brings all the instruments, props and music. All you need to provide is a space for the party. $200 (birthday child will receive a $25 It's Groovy Baby class gift certificate and each child attending will receive a $10 gift certificate for a future It's Groovy Baby class (for Pikesville, Towson, Owings Mills, Mt. Washington and Westminster locations only). It's a blast for everyone at the party.

Singing songs, Moving with the beat, Sharing a love of music with eager little ones? What could be more fun? I am a graduate from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) with a degree in Music Education. As a Certified PK-12 teacher, I have taught at Glen Burnie Nazarene Christian Academy as a full time teacher, and since been a few years instructing music classes of all types and levels as a Carroll County Public Schools substitute. One week every summer I get a little bit crazy exploring World Music with middle and high school students at McDaniel College Band Camp. I love teaching my private music students and participating in the musical ministries of my church, including Handbell directing, singing in the choir, and sharing instrumental specials. My children's song books are always ready for whenever I get the chance to head off with my guitar or ukulele, or pull out a few shakers and drums, and maybe even get puppet involved to help get kids involved in music!

Nancy is originally from Southern California and has been happily living in Baltimore for the last seven years. Currently, Nancy teaches General Music Education and Choir at the Maryland School for the Blind in addition to having a private voice studio. Nancy holds a Bachelors in Vocal Performance from California State University, Fresno, a Masters in Music in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Penn State University, is Kodaly Certified and will have earned a Masters in Music Education from Loyola University in September, 2011. As a performer, Nancy has sung in several operas, operettas and musicals, and has given Art Song Recitals and lecture recitals spanning from California to Italy. She has several outstanding students performing regionally and preparing for auditions and competitions. Her love of Music Education led her to Music Together where she feels right at home, leading young children and their parents in music making, learning and especially, fun.

JoAnn is a life-long musician. A Kodaly trained and certified teacher, as well as a vocalist and pianist, JoAnn loves working with young children and sharing their enthusiasm for music. In addition to her day job in the Pre-Primary at Friends School of Baltimore, JoAnn teaches at the Children’s Chorus of Maryland, runs an after-school music class, and maintains a small private piano studio. She nurtures her own growth as a musician by singing in the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and studying voice with soprano Ruth Drucker.

Ms. Melissa has had a love of singing that began when she was a little girl. Being a mom of 3 boys, Melissa has lots of spirit and enthusiasm! After beginning Music Together with each child, Ms. Melissa fell in love with the program. She received her certification and has been teaching MT for over 2 years! Ms. Melissa is also a certified Early Childhood and Elementary Educator who has been working in the county for 10 years. She currently teaches part-time at a local Baltimore County Public School. Ms. Melissa is a native Baltimore resident and enjoys meeting new people at the wonderful Music Together classes. You will enjoy Ms. Melissa's energy and want to sing along to every song with her!