Teachers at Catskill Mountain Music Together

Each of our teachers has successfully completed the training offered by Music Together^® LLC and has a fundamental understanding of the Music Together approach to early childhood tonal and rhythmic development. Our teachers lead the class activities, and guide parents and caregivers through the rediscovery of the joy and educational value of informal music making with young children and their families.

First offered in 1987, Music Together pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes adult participation. Children learn most easily from their parents and primary caregivers. The basics of music can be most easily absorbed in a child’s earliest years. A child’s work is a child’s play and a child’s play is a child’s work….play is an integral part of our music making together.

		Rachel Rhodes-Devey Rachel is a singer, actor, and new mom. After performing as musical theatre actor for over a decade in New York City, she moved to Kingston to start her family and has loved calling the Hudson Valley home. She has performed in multiple Broadway National Tours, performed at Lincoln Center and New York City Center, and has performed in regional theatre houses across the country. Her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performace is from the Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. Before becoming a Music Together teacher, she was a Music Together parent! She looks forward to bringing music to families and communities across the region, and she can't wait to make music with YOU!

		Rebecca Graham Rebecca Graham is an experienced, playful educator with a passion for both music and education. With over 10 years of experience working as a special education teacher in Brooklyn, Rebecca has developed a deep understanding of how to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students. Rebecca holds a Bachelor degree in both Psychology and Studio Art from Hunter College as well as a Master of Science in Special Education from Long Island University. She is thrilled to be joining the team at Music Together and bringing her love of music and education to children and their families. Rebecca fell in love with Music Together after attending with her own son, and can't wait for other families to experience the same thing with their children!

		Sarah Fassett Creative, compassionate, and caring music therapist with practical experience working with elderly adults and children with special needs. Versatile musician skilled in theory, improvisation, conducting, composing, and arranging. Extensive repertoire in both classical and jazz. Instrument proficiencies: voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, and viola.

		Kaeli Heffner Kaeli Heffner is thrilled to be working with Catskill Mountain Music Together after previously teaching MT in Manhattan. She received her BFA in Theatre from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is currently working toward her master’s degree in Elementary Education. She has performed as an actor, dancer, and singer in amateur and professional theater since she was 5 years old, and began teaching and mentoring young children the moment she became a teenager. One of her favorite adventures was as a Touring Actor and Director with Missoula Children’s Theater, which allowed her to see the country, as well as Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Portugal, and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Her work with children from various demographics solidified her beliefs that arts education is a universal human right and that all children deserve to live in rich musical households, just like she did. Kaeli has perfect pitch and dabbles in a variety of instruments.