Miss Judy

Judy Leff is the Director/Owner of While They're Little, a company she started after her second child was born. Her vision is to offer services and products to families with young children that will empower and nurture both parent and child.  She is very proud to offer Music Together classes and loves that her job responsibilities include singing and dancing with your children! She has been studying voice since she can remember, taking a 12-year break from it to pursue a career as an actuary/risk management consultant. Music came back into her life after her children were born. Soon after, she was taking Music Together classes with them and was hooked! Judy has been teaching Music Together classes since 2003. In addition to the Mixed Age classes, she also teaches Pre-School, the Babies class, and Big Kids Family Music. In April 2005, she was awarded Music Together Certification Level 1 from the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ, having demonstrated outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy and parent education. Judy is proud to have the only Music Together center in NY to offer a class in Hebrew!

Miss Ronit

Ronit Elias was born in Israel and music has always been a part of her life.  As a child, she took years of piano instruction which became the foundation of her interest in music. Ronit led many children in song and dance when she was a Youth Leader in the “Ichood Ha Chaklai” after- school program in Israel.  She later went on to sing professionally in the Israeli Moran Choir. In 2004, Ronit was introduced to Music Together through her youngest child, and immediately knew that this was a program that she wanted to be a part of.  She apprenticed with Miss Judy in the Fall 2005, took her training that December and is now a registered teacher.  She continues to incorporate music in her personal daily life as the mother of three beautiful children, all whom have shown great interest in music – not only in singing, but also in playing musical instruments.  She looks forward in helping others in her classes to find the beauty in sharing the wonders of music and movement with their own children. In addition to the Mixed Age classes, she also teaches Pre-School and the Hebrew class.

Miss Allyson

Allyson Phillips-Demetriou was raised in a musical family and has always known the power and magic of musical play. She has studied piano, bassoon, dance and voice and holds a BA in Speech, Communication and Theatre. She has performed in jazz bands, wind ensembles, orchestras and many choirs. Allyson has also appeared in countless theatrical productions, toured with a children’s theatre troupe and has attended classes at the National Theatre in London and The Royal Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon Avon. Like so many Music Together teachers, Allyson credits her own daughter Gillian with introducing her to Music Together classes. In this program she found the perfect format to utilize all of her skills and passions. She became a registered Music Together teacher in 2003 and has been teaching non-stop since then. Allyson is thrilled to be joining the While They’re Little family and looks forward to continue her own growth while sharing the joy of music making with the community.

Miss Jenn T

We are thrilled to have Jennifer Trested back with us for the summer! Jennifer feels strongly that music should be a part of every child’s life and loves teaching Music Together® since it provides such a wonderful opportunity to share her love of music. She has a special passion for including children with special needs into her classes, as she has extensive experience teaching children with special needs.

She was first introduced to Music Together when her oldest daughter, Sarah, was a baby and has never forgotten what a wonderful experience that was. Jennifer has also enjoyed making music with her other children, Jack and Samantha. She has been a registered teacher with Music Together since Spring of 2001. Additionally, she has been awarded Certification Level 1 from the Center for Music and Young Children, in Princeton, NJ for having demonstrated outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy and parent education.

Jennifer is classically trained on the viola and plays the autoharp in class. She is currently a member of the Massapequa Philharmonic. Jennifer is NY state certified in Music Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education.

Miss Cheryl

Music has always been a part of Cheryl Kwak's life and the language closest to her heart.  Cheryl has been performing since childhood with professional recordings in her native Philippines, regular sets at some of NYC’s best known supper clubs, and most recently as the lead singer of Island Magic, one of LI's most recognized wedding bands.  Cheryl holds a B.S. in Music Therapy from Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY.  She is a classically trained vocalist, plays the guitar and the piano.  She has used her talents, love of music, and training in music therapy to help others by working as a music therapist with both special needs children and geriatrics.  After the birth of her daughter, Madelyn, Cheryl became a Music Together mom and marveled at the way Music Together helped her connect with Madelyn.  In Music Together she found the perfect marriage for her love of music and the love she holds for her children.  Now a registered Music Together teacher, she looks forward to every opportunity she has to share with parent and child, the language of music, the language of her heart.

Miss Liz

Liz Stroppel has acted in many musical theater productions in Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan and London. Liz also founded and directed the Bay Ridge Theater Project, an after school theater program for elementary thru middle school aged children for 6 years. Liz grew up in a family of six siblings that always sang together, whether on long car trips or at family parties. After participating in Music Together with her son Joe for 2 years, she completed the training in April 2005 to become a Registered Music Together teacher. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her love of music with other families, and still comes to classes with her son Joe,now 5 years old, both loving it more than ever!

Miss Jenn

Jenn Corrado is thrilled to be a part of the Music Together family of educators.  A life long musician and vocalist, she is energetic and passionate about sharing her love of music with young children.  Jenn has been teaching at the elementary school level since 1997 and loves to watch children grow and learn through movement and song.  She plays the flute and autoharp in her classes, however, she believes that anyone can make music even without an instrument.  In addition, Jenn has worked in radio on Jazz and World Music programs.  She is also a yoga instructor and enjoys sharing her eclectic interests and experiences with her students through her passion for teaching. Her greatest inspiration has been her one year old son, Zachary, who continues to teach her about herself and how to celebrate life through the shared musical experience.     

Carole

Carole Hausman is not one of our teachers but is an important part of our team, having recently come out of retirement from Macy's to work in our managing office. She is very familiar with the Music Together program and philosophy, having taken the training in 2005. She is thrilled to be working closely with her daughter (she is Miss Judy's mom). In her spare time, Carole can be found spoiling her grandchildren.  

Carole won't let us take a picture of her, so here is a drawing by one of her grandchildren.  Grandma is standing next to each dinosaur to illustrate scale.