Our Teachers

Bettina began teaching Music Together® while living in San Francisco. Inspired by the program’s meaningful impact on children’s development and musical growth, she became a registered Music Together teacher and has been joyfully sharing music with families since 2004.

Music has always been at the heart of Bettina’s life. As a child, she wrote playful songs for her puppet shows and later played violin with the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra of Southern California. She also attended the Los Angeles Conservatory for the Gifted and Talented.

Bettina earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University, where she studied music under renowned choral conductor Paul Salamunovich. Her musical background also includes singing with professional and collegiate choirs and studying a variety of dance styles, including jazz, modern, Hawaiian, and belly dance.

As a mother of four, Bettina combines her parenting experience with an extensive background in early childhood and special education. She brings warmth, energy, and a deep understanding of child development to every class. Bettina also enjoys performing in local musical productions and sharing her love of children and music at birthday parties and other special celebrations.

JoAnna joined It’s Groovy Baby after attending classes for several years with her own two children. Her family began attending Music Together® classes in 2014, when her oldest child was just three months old. The classes reignited her passion for music and community—something she had not experienced since performing as a child and young adult.

JoAnna was so inspired by the development and joy she witnessed in her own children that she completed the Music Together teacher training in 2016, allowing her to bring the wonderful curriculum to even more families.

JoAnna has a background in musical theatre and classical voice and studied secondary education at the University of Maryland, College Park. Some of her most memorable performances have taken place at the Kennedy Center, Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo Park, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

When she is not teaching, you can find JoAnna singing and dancing at home with her family—or catching up on Netflix after a hopefully early bedtime for her children. She cannot wait to make Music Together with you!

Megan is a lyric soprano who has performed throughout the country in musical theatre productions, operas, solo recitals, and numerous private engagements. She earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Maryland and her Master of Music from the University of Missouri–Columbia, both in vocal performance.

Megan currently teaches early childhood music classes, serves as the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Community College of Baltimore County’s Continuing Education program, and is completing her degree in Culinary Arts. She recently performed as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Harford Choral Society and is a regular soloist with the Bach Cantata Series in Baltimore City.

Debbie has always had a deep love of singing, dancing, and working with children. She has supported children in many roles, from working as a nanny to teaching and tutoring children with special needs.

Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Waldorf Education. She also has certifications in Yoga Dance and has performed as a vocalist with acoustic groups over the years.

Debbie is delighted to teach Music Together®, where she can combine her passion for working with children with her joy of music.

Emília is a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park, studying Choral and General Music Education. She discovered her love of teaching music through helping with her high school choir and believes music fosters an amazing sense of community while encouraging social, physical, and musical growth.

She is an alumna of the Peabody Preparatory and the Peabody Children’s Chorus, where she also served as an intern for the younger choir. Currently, she is a member of the University of Maryland Chamber Singers and has performed at ACDA Eastern and the Kennedy Center. During the school year, she is an assistant with the Hatchings Community Music Program, where parents and young children engage in music together.

When she is not singing or practicing her instruments, Emília loves to paint and bake.

Emília looks forward to making Music Together® with you!

Musical Birthday Parties are so much fun for both children and adults. The session lasts about 45 minutes. First we sing hello to all the children by name. Next we go through a set of songs, some familiar, some new, some requests, but all simple and easy to follow along with. Some songs will have movements that go with them; other songs will be sung while playing egg shakers or sticks. We will dance with ribbons to fun, upbeat songs. The highlight is the jam session toward the end of the program where everyone at the party finds an instrument to play from the assortment and we all jam together. We finish with the goodbye song and a grand finale of "Happy Birthday" to the birthday child. Our music specialist brings all the instruments, props and music. All you need to provide is a space for the party. $200 (birthday child will receive a $25 It's Groovy Baby class gift certificate and each child attending will receive a $10 gift certificate for a future It's Groovy Baby class (for Pikesville, Towson, Owings Mills, Mt. Washington and Westminster locations only). It's a blast for everyone at the party.