“Discover joy through music and dance. Share that joy with others.”
-Sharon Simon
Since 2004, I have had the pleasure of introducing young children and their caregivers to the joy found in music and dance. Specializing in early childhood music and movement for so many years, I have come to understand that finding joy through creative expression is where the magic happens. In my experience, this is also when true learning begins.
Realizing that my instructional approach offers a uniquely accessible path to finding joy through creative expression, I founded Rattle & Roll as an option for families who simply want to instill an early love of music and movement in their children. Rattle & Roll has also proven to be a perfect next step for families who encountered methodological or instructional barriers in other music and movement programs. It’s never too late to find joy where it’s waiting for you!
I received my training in early childhood music education through Music Together, an internationally recognized music program for young children. My background also includes training in piano, flute, voice, dance and musical theater. Having grown up in a household where music-making was key to every family gathering, I am so thrilled to be able to bring that kind of experience to the Rattle & Roll classroom.
Under the mentorship of Laura Sabini, Director of Groovy Baby Music, I taught in and around Boston, MA, before returning to my roots in Annapolis, MD, where I joined Music Together Chesapeake. My students have ranged in age from newborn to preschoolers, and their caregivers have spanned multiple generations.
In Boston, I teamed up with a fellow music teacher, Vanessa Trien, to form the band “Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys” – yes, I was a Jumping Monkey! We performed sold-out family concerts in the Boston area and produced “Carnival Day”, an album that won Parents’ Choice and iMedia awards. It was a treat for me to have my husband, Ira Baron, on bass and my kids, Sophia and Max, in tow, both on stage and in the studio.
As Founder and Director of Rattle & Roll, I invite you to come rock the rattle with me, and delight as you share in your child’s discovery of the joy found in music and dance.