Phone:
212.358.3801

Email:
musictogethernyc@gmail.com

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November 1993
Rosanna's daughter's
fourth birthday
Labor Day 2001
   May 2005

Rosanna Magarelli, Director and Teacher
Rosanna Magarelli brings a depth of experience to her leadership role as Music Together Director – as a performer, a parent, and a healing practitioner. For the past ten years, she has created a nurturing environment for musical exploration, playfulness, and skill building for her Music Together students, families, and teachers in the Lower Manhattan and Murray Hill centers.
   Rosanna holds a B.A. in Theater and Dance from New York University. She trained at the Joffrey Ballet School and had a dance career for seven years, including two years with The Bristol Ballet Company. She then studied acting at Circle in the Square and acted professionally in film, television, and theatre for more than ten years.
   Following the birth of her daughter, Rosanna's attention turned to working with children. She became a Music Together teacher and witnessed the enrichment that "making music" can bring to a child's development and well being. She also introduced her daughter to Music Together (beginning at age 1-1/2), which provided the foundation for her daughter's later study in piano, ballet, and voice.
   Rosanna values the healing properties of music, as well as other forms of the healing arts. She currently has a private practice as a Polarity Cranio-Sacral Therapist and an Integrated Kabbalistic Healer.

Teachers:
All teachers are professional performing artists and certified Music Together teachers trained at the "Center for Music and Young Children" in Princeton, New Jersey.

Erin Lee Kelly
Erin Lee began performing as a teenager in Kingston, Ontario, moving to New York to study at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Upon graduation she spent ten years as an actress and choreographer, performing in musicals, plays, and films before choosing to focus on music and theatre for children. Her first CD, Someone’s Gotta Wanna Play, recorded with fellow songwriter Marci Appelbaum, was awarded Best Recording for Younger Children, 2005 by the Children’s Music Web. Her follow up CD, Snowdance, was honored with two ASCAP Awards and the Family Choice Award for 2006. Erin Lee & Marci (www.gottaplay.org) are currently performing family concerts throughout Manhattan. Erin Lee is a member of the Actor's Equity Association (AEA) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). She was recently elected to The Children’s Music Network Board of Directors.

Robbin Schwartz
Robbin comes to Music Together with a background in dance, music, and acting. She has worked with children since she was a child herself and has been a teacher for several years. Her lifelong fascination with language and language-learning led her back to music, when she realized that music is itself a powerful language and can sensitize a child to the nuances of rhythm and tonality in speech. She also enjoys playing, and is grateful for the chance to do so with the scores of children she teaches each week. Her greatest attribute as a teacher is, in fact, her playful nature. Additionally, she plays the flute and autoharp and sings in simple, pure tones.

Nikolai Moderbacher
Having never quite abandoned the kid in him, Nikolai Moderbacher's enthusiasm in class is usually only superceded by that of a child or two. His earliest memories of music involve sitting on the back of his mother's bike, singing folk songs. He now plays guitar and percussion, dabbles at the ukulele, and has always enjoyed "hammin' it up", as his wife Pyeng kindly puts it.

He discovered his love and talent for making music with children while teaching Bilingual Kindergarten in the Bronx through Teach For America. Ever since then it's been "a moo-moo here and a quack-quack there". This is especially true since Nikolai became a father in March, 2004 to his lovely daughter Luna. Having a child has taught him a great deal about the depth of interaction adults can have with infants and toddlers, particularly through music.

Over the past two years, Nikolai has also completed an MFA degree in Wood/Furniture from California College of the Arts (CCA). Not surprisingly, the concepts of play and experimentation feature prominently in his artwork, echoing the innocence and honesty of children. But, as Nikolai proclaims:"Gallery owner's cheeks usually aren't chubby enough and I can never get them to sing "gaa gaa, goo goo" with the proper spirit!"
Peter Sloan
Music plays a major role in Peter's life. He has been playing guitar for 15 years in bands you've definitely never heard of, as well as enjoying a storied solo career, full of legendary performances which only his two young boys were fortunate enough to have witnessed. He also enjoys acting and, as long as his body holds out, a good game of basketball. For three years Peter has watched his children thrive and grow musically in the Music Together environment. And he looks forward to watching other children, new or old to the program, thrive in that very same way.
Shaina Murphy
Shaina Murphy, passionately describes her two favorite things as being music and children. She earned a BA in Voice Performance from Syracuse University and a Masters of Music in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory. She has studied voice, piano, acting and dance extensively. Shaina completed her training with the Center for Music and Young Children in 2005.

Shaina has performed in musical theatre and opera productions, as well as doing extensive concert and church work around the US. When not performing or teaching Music Together, Shaina can be found directing the youth choir at St. John's Episcopal Church in McLean, VA and teaching voice/music lessons to children and teens.
Jessie White
Jessie White is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who has recorded and performed throughout NYC. Being the proud mother of a 6 month old baby girl, Jessie is presently working on writing and recording her first children's album. Teaching Music Together classes over the past several years has allowed Jessie to share her love for music with many children and their families. With a degree in Theater and a background in dance, Jessie brings alot of creativity and movement to her classes. Her loving and energetic spirit generates an
environment full of fun and wonder!
Frank Rathbone
Dancing in the living room to Paul Simon's "Graceland" and then falling asleep to his mother singing "Bushel and a Peck" is how Frank's musical life began. Since then, he has pursued the learning of music, the making of music and the sharing of knowledge. At age 13, he started writing songs and studying jazz guitar, and at age 18, he began performing and teaching in San Francisco. For six years, Frank has taught music privately with a patient and enthusiastic approach. He also spent four years working with children ages 2-12, stimulating their curiosity through science enrichment. His passion for music and ability to relate to children has made Frank feel right at home as a Music Together teacher.
Craig Howe
Growing up with with a jazz trumpeter father and a Dylan-loving mother made it easy for Craig to decide to study music. Touring Europe with a youth show choir and singing in various bands before he finished high school, Craig went on to earn a BA in Music Industry from SUNY Oneonta. Afterwards, among other things, he worked as the music editor for a popular website, toured the country with various rock bands, recorded a few albums, and helped run the legendary CBGB & OMFUG until it closed. Finding that teaching music was far more rewarding than life in the music business, Craig now teaches at Power Chord Academy at St. John's University, Studio Creative Play in Park Slope, and Music Together in Manhattan. He resides in Brooklyn and sings/plays guitar in a band with his sister.
Mike Gold
Mike Gold has been making a living performing in NYC for the past 15 years. As an actor he has been seen in the NY Fringe Festival, Orlando Fringe Festival, many theaters throughout NYC and in films and commercials. Mike also studied and performed improv in NY for 10 years. He's performed at Carolines Comedy Club, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and Gotham Comedy Club among many others. The past 5 years Mike has been a member of the kids music group FunkeyMonkeys. They recently performed Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth Theater to rave reviews. Big Apple Parent called Mike a "standout performer… hilarious!" Mike also works as one of NYC's premiere balloon twisters, The Ballooniac. He has delighted kids and adults with his amazing balloon creations. Mike is excited to be teaching at Music Together because it combines 2 of his favorite things, kids and music.
Caleb Clardy
"Wild Thing" by The Throggs became the first song that Caleb performed as a toddler in his home. It earned him a nickname from his mother that only stuck around a few years, but the song began a love of music that is still going strong. Caleb has been singing and performing ever since.

Caleb is a husband, father of one and one on the way, and plays in a folk rock band in Brooklyn. He was introduced to Music Together by a fellow musician at a show and was immediately intrigued. It turned out to be a great fit. Music Together provides an opportunity to combine some of Caleb's greatest loves: music, dancing, kids, and being ridiculous. He is a strong believer in the benefits Music Together because has seen his son Elijah grow in his own happiness, comfort, and competence with music through the classes.

Caleb sees his degree in theatre, his experience in acting, improv comedy, performing with his band, and his adventures in fatherhood as all helping to prepare him for the fun and joy teaching Music Together.
Ilusha Tsinadze
Born in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, Ilusha Tsinadze immigrated to New Jersey with his family when he was 8 years old. He went to school for music and can
frequently be heard performing on the guitar with his bands around NYC. He’s been happily teaching music to kids for the past 7 years.