Melody King, Registered Music Together and Violin Teacher:
Melody King has been a music teacher for over 14 years. Having been classically trained on violin and viola she earned a bachelor degree with a special interest in music education from Butler University. Melody has studied with world renowned artist such as Larry Shapiro, Csaba Erdélyi, David Murry, and Bill Grub, as well as, Lisa and Davis Brooks. Melody performed with the Butler Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Stanley DeRusha and with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra under the baton of David Bowden. Through the teaching of her private string students and having been an orchestra director and 3rd and 4th grade general music teacher, Melody gained a full joy of music education for all ages. She has also been a member of MENC, IMEA, and AOSA.After the birth of her daughter Melody began searching for the best early childhood music education program / curriculum for her child. After experiencing several programs for infants her daughter and husband responded the best to Music Together. It was an instant love that radiated to the core of one’s musical being. So, with many laughs and giggles the King family brought Music Together into their lives. Melody has been a Center Director and Registered Music Together Teacher since 2007 and she is very excited to bring her love of music to the Bloomington area.
Valeria Decastro, Licensed Director & Registered Music Together Teacher: Brazilian vocalist, guitarist and composer, she currently resides in Bloomington. Coming from a family of artists and musicians, Valeria was inspired early to study performing arts and music. As a musician she had performed in Brazil, Italy and in the US. As a composer, Valeria is a prolific writer with many original compositions. Largely influenced by Bossa Nova, Valeria has performed with many noted Jazz musicians such as Cornelius "Red King", Hakim Rahsul and Eddie Morgan. In 2004, Valeria was first introduced to Music Together as a parent. From the first moment she joined the Music Together class with her daughter Luna, she knew that Music Together would had changed her life. In September 2005 Valeria became a licensed center director and opened Bloomington Music Together. Since then she has been sharing the joy of making music with many families in Bloomington.http://www.myspace.com/valeriadecastro
"Despite her serious training, DeCastro has no problems getting silly with the class when it sings interactive songs about cats, rabbits and such. " (Herald Times;The Magic of Music: helping children learn ;3/9/06).
photo melody king
Music Together® began in 1987 as an educational project of the Center for Music and Young Children® of Princeton, NJ. The program, which is designed for children birth to five years, is based on the premise that all children are musical and have the same innate ability to learn music as language. At Music Together we believe that music ability is as much a basic life skill as walking and talking and that all children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with pleasure and confidence in the music of their culture. We nurture the child's natural enthusiasm for music and movement as we sing, dance, chant, and play instruments in an informal setting that will enrich their musical environment and guide them towards a lifetime of music making enjoyment.
