Lizz Hodgin, Director of MusicalMe, Inc. is a professional opera singer and musical theater performer who has performed locally, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in New York City, and beyond. Lizz has studied Early Childhood Education at Cabrillo and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater (Acting Emphasis) from UCSC. She has studied voice with some very gifted teachers, among them: Adrienne Angel, Blanche Thebom, and her best teacher ever, her Mom.

She is also Daniel's Mom!


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Alexandra has been around music since the day she was born. She started taking piano lessons at the age of four and began studying classical piano in first grade at Bucharest School of Music. As a child, besides her regular piano practice, lessons, and performances, she joined Voces Primavera, a children's chorus that performed opera shows on the stage of the Romanian National Opera. In Santa Cruz, Alexandra worships her time singing in the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus which she joined right on her birthday in 2009. With the chorus, she performed in “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff and “The Creation” by Joseph Haydn with the Santa Cruz Symphony and sang on the stage at the newly-opened Cabrillo Visual and Performing Arts complex and also at Davies Symphony in San Francisco. Her almost five-year old daughter has been in Music Together since she was fourteen months old and lately has been helping Alexandra with the Music Together curriculum by offering great song development suggestions. A firm believer in the power of doing music together, Alexandra loves offering families the same gift of music that her family has consistently and blissfully received for many years.


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Alma Carlson is a Santa Cruz native and a proud mother of a beautiful boy named Umi and a professional singer and saxophonist for two bay area bands (Serendipity Project and Sultradelix). She was first introduced to Music Together as a nanny for a little boy who was enrolled in the program and she fell in love with the idea. She has been teaching since the Summer of 2010 and is in awe of the sense of community, arts appreciation and family bonding this program brings to those enrolled. As far back as she can remember music has been a huge part of her life. She has been recording professionally since the age of 15 and continued to play music in and out of school professionally and recreationally. In college she studied under renowned saxophonist Leo Potts at CSU Long Beach and graduated with a BA in Communication Studies and a Minor in Music. She has played and toured with many artists such as: KRS One, Del The Funkyhomosapien, Dj Zac Hendrix, APlus and Pharcyde just to name a few. The music she creates herself and with the amazing people she works with have characteristics of multiple genres and a vast array of influences. For herself the most notable influences are her two grandfathers, both jazz instrumentalists, and her Momma, whose lullabies are of her first memories in experimenting with music and harmony. Most recently, Music Together has offered classes to developmentally disabled teens at local high schools and Alma has had the honor of teaching and witnessing the incredible power of music in relation to those with special needs. "I, personally, believe in an art as it exists in the context of the phrase "thou art God". In this phrase art is the word that connects the individual (thou) to their higher self (God) or to that which is universal…" -D'Angelo-

"My vision as a Music Together teacher is to see my families be funny, loving, confident and relaxed. Seeing my families leave the classroom with those feelings through music making is my meaningful vision. Sometimes families are struggling with something that disrupts emotional comforts and to be the one to provide a safe and secure place for them to rediscover those feelings is such an honor."

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Ashlie found Music Together with her daughter, Josephine, and instantly wanted to be more involved. Ashlie’s passion is teaching and she loves seeing families grow. She is a credentialed K-8 teacher and has a Masters in Teaching ESL. She has taught everywhere from Thailand to Kentucky and everything from English to Forest Ecology. Music is a key thread woven through every aspect of her life. She has participated in many choral groups, led many giddy campers in raucous song, and has taught & performed swing dance. Ashlie is fascinated by instruments; she plays the piano, goofs around on the guitar, and tinkers on as many instruments as she can get her hands on.

**Teacher Ashlie is not currently on our teaching schedule however; you may find her subbing for one of our teachers.


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Becky has enjoyed music for as long as she can remember; some of her earliest memories are of creating dances and making up motions to music as a child.

Now, as a Music Together parent and teacher, Becky delights in facilitating similar experiences for her children and for the children, parents and caregivers in her classes.

Having led songs and dances with pre-school children for more than seven years and enjoying Music Together with her family for more than eleven years, Becky enjoys merging these experiences as a Music Together teacher. She also loves to sing!



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Elizabeth is a professional saxophonist and a composer. She is a graduate of MT's prestigious Certification Level Two training. One hundred teachers in the country have this certification. She studied intensely with the founders of Music Together – Ken Guilmartin and Lili Levinowitz. She holds a B.A. in Music from UCSC and has taught music both privately and in elementary schools to children in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

In her free time she likes to hike in the mountains surrounding Santa Cruz and to swim at her local swim center or in the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, you can find Elizabeth at one of her favorite beaches reading a book or playing Frisbee with a friend. She also plays Balinese Gamelan with Gamelan Anak Swarasanti.

"My vision as a Music Together Teacher is to empower parents to be musical with their children and have it as natural as speaking to them."


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Gail Swain is a person who has sung most of her life. Since moving to Santa Cruz in 1982 she has sung in: an Early Music & Shape Note Ensemble; a women’s band; a rock band; a women’s original duo; a jazz guitar & vocal duo (Tuck & Patti style) ; a country band; a folk recording project; a women’s Acappella quartet (What Four!); a very popular Acappella quartet (VocaMotion) ; an inspirational duo; a women’s Acappella trio (Mama Medicine), and currently Birds Eye View, a jazz and folk duo. Gail founded most of these groups.

She has sung back up for Sista Monica, and currently performs with the Banana Slug String Band. She has co-founded SCATS (a group dedicated to supporting vocal music). Gail loves her work as a MUSIC TOGETHER® Teacher. She gets to play with hundreds of Santa Cruz families every week. Gail also works as the Choir Director & Music Coordinator for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County. Gail and her husband Curtis are currently in a 60's Rock and Soul band "Gail Swain and the Ringers".

Gail has a solo CD called Full Spectrum which includes a truly wide range of vocal music. She includes styles ranging from jazz to rock, acappella to full bands, solo to full choirs. These styles include: jazz; pop; soul; blues, folk; peace music; women’s music; classical & rock. Many of the songs on it are Gail’s originals, including her song, “Sisters of the Heart” which is available for listening on her web site.

She also has a recording of her acappella band VocaMotion, a very popular Santa Cruz performing group.

Gail is all about singing and helping others to enjoy singing. She sings and lives straight from the heart. Her 3 octave vocal range and warm, soulful stage presence have delighted audiences in Santa Cruz and throughout the Bay Area. Joan Baez called her the “Goddess of Acappella”.

**Teacher Gail is not currently on our teaching schedule however; you may find her subbing for one of our teachers.


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Jen Miller is a professional singer, recording artist, and song writer who leads music at churches, retreats, prisons and missions trips. She is currently recording her second album and finds fulfillment in bringing hope and healing through music. She has classical training in piano and plays acoustic guitar. Jen has a long history of working with children of all ages and enjoys exploring and supporting their musical processes. Jen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California at Davis.


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Jessica is a credentialed parent educator with over 30 years of experience working with young children and families. She has a B.A. in Child Development from Mills College, an A.S. in Early Childhood Education and an A.A. in Dance from Cabrillo College. Her training also includes music theory and private lessons in guitar, piano and voice. Jessica's special focus is using music to enhance our parenting, reducing stress and increasing the joy of family life. Jessica has a profound respect for the creativity and intelligence inherent in young children and calls them her “little Buddhas”. She sees her role as facilitating rather than directing their learning process. Jessica seeks to create a safe and comfortable place for children and parents to learn and grow. Her goal is to empower her classes to feel confident creating satisfying and enriching musical experiences in their daily lives.

Growing up with a world-class professional guitarist father Mundell Lowe, and an actress/comedian mother, Jessica was introduced to the value of arts in the home at an early age. Convinced that music can bond, heal and transform us, she has enjoyed many years of magic music making with her family. She considers Music Together a blessing in her life and has been with us since 1998!


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Katlynn Hoegel has been singing since the time she could speak, and has been performing for audiences since the age of 3. She began music training at the age of 6 with piano lessons, and then later voice and guitar. Her experiences are diverse, but it's her enthusiasm and love for music that radiates joy to those she works with.

For over 10 years, Katlynn has been leading music with children and youth in various capacities including: Church Sunday School, Summer Camp, Youth band, YMCA Kid's Corner, and most recently returned from a year of traveling with Youth Encounter leading music for kids groups and large youth gatherings. While attending West Valley College in pursuit of her degree in Early Childhood Education, Katlynn has been a core member of the Chamber Singers and traveled with Masterworks Chorale to Europe in July of 2006.


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Lisa grew up in a very musical family so it was inevitable that she would catch the "musical bug". While in school, her instruments of choice were trumpet and french horn. Many years after her high school band days had passed, she taught herself to play the guitar which she still uses to accompany her favorite instrument; her voice. Lisa is a full time nanny and has taught Music Together since fall of 2004. Four of those years she acted as director of her own center in Michigan. In her musical life outside of nannying and Music Together, she sings with various ensembles in a genre called kirtan. Lisa loves the joy Music Together brings while experiencing musical creation through the eyes of young children.


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Marya Stark is a Music Therapist, graduating from Chapman University. She is a classically trained singer, guitarist, and pianist, and has been writing music for most of her life. She is a co-creator of "Out of the Silence", a film about sound healing and the role of sound and music in global health and consciousness.

In addition to being a multi-talented musician, performing artist, and visionary, she is a graduate from the International School of Medical Qi Gong with an emphasis on pediatric medicine. Having experienced the transformational wonders of music, she is extremely passionate about working with children and planting seeds of creative expression through music and energy cultivation. She is thrilled to be working with MusicalMe Inc.!

Marya is not currently on our teaching schedule however; she is available for MusicalMe, Inc. birthday parties!


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Tammy Johnson joined the MMI team in early 2005 and is the first voice that most people will hear when they call into the MusicalMe Business office. She loves her job as well as being an integral part of the MMI team. She’s knowledgeable about the Music Together program and loves explaining to families how Music Together benefits the entire family, not just their children.

Music played an important role in her family time while raising her three children. Although Music Together was not available when her children were small, you can bet she’ll be the first to enroll her grandchildren when they enter this world!