Family Music Makers prides itself in recruiting teachers who have the perfect blend of musical talent, charisma, and a connection to children. An extensive musical background is a top priority, and all of our teachers have advanced degrees in the field of music. Our focus is on a combination of entertainment and education so that we can all have fun and learn something new! To see more info about our fantastic instructors, please click on a name to the left.
Laura D. DeGiacomo
Laura D. DeGiacomo began teaching for FMM in September 2003. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College with a secondary concentration in Dance. Laura is a member of Actors Equity Association and is a proud founding company member of the Village Theatre Project.
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
I love being able to watch the kids grow from week to week and even year to year! It is so much fun watching how they react to different styles of music, instruments, and how they interact with other children.
Laura D. DeGiacomo began teaching for FMM in September 2003. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College with a secondary concentration in Dance. Laura is a member of Actors Equity Association and is a proud founding company member of the Village Theatre Project.
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
I love being able to watch the kids grow from week to week and even year to year! It is so much fun watching how they react to different styles of music, instruments, and how they interact with other children.
Carrie Klimeczko
Carrie has been with Family Music Makers since the Fall of 2000. She was originally hired as a teacher, but eventually moved into other roles including administration, curriculum development, and managing operations. Carrie holds a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from the Boston Conservatory, and is thrilled to have found a job where she can utilize her music, dance and creative skills on a daily basis. Carrie can also add mom to her list of important roles, her daughter Kayleigh is now a master of the FMM repertoire!
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
Music has a profound effect on people, and it is amazing to see it take hold for the first time with our FMM music and classes. One of my favorite parts of teaching for FMM (there are many!) is knowing that I am creating a place in which both grown-ups and children can feel safe to explore their own musicality.
Carrie has been with Family Music Makers since the Fall of 2000. She was originally hired as a teacher, but eventually moved into other roles including administration, curriculum development, and managing operations. Carrie holds a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from the Boston Conservatory, and is thrilled to have found a job where she can utilize her music, dance and creative skills on a daily basis. Carrie can also add mom to her list of important roles, her daughter Kayleigh is now a master of the FMM repertoire!
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
Music has a profound effect on people, and it is amazing to see it take hold for the first time with our FMM music and classes. One of my favorite parts of teaching for FMM (there are many!) is knowing that I am creating a place in which both grown-ups and children can feel safe to explore their own musicality.
Colette Gagnon
Colette Gagnon has been teaching for FMM since the Summer of 2005. She received her Master's Degree in Opera from Longy School of Music, and her Bachelor’s degree in Musical Arts from Vanderbilt University. She appeared as a soloist Key West Symphony's Solfest and two years with the Nashville Opera Chorus. Over the past 4 years, Colette has been a lead soloist and dancer with Big Moves Boston, performing not only in Boston but also Philadelphia, New York City, Montreal and at the Montreal Fringe Festival. Most memorable roles include Lily (LARD!) and Becky (Big Top), and Chrissy (Hot Buffet) in which she received high praise from the Boston’s Metro for her “impressive singing.”
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
The children - their creativity and joy as they discover music and dance in class; their smiles and hugs that they grace me with throughout class. I am truly honored to be a part of their lives.
Colette Gagnon has been teaching for FMM since the Summer of 2005. She received her Master's Degree in Opera from Longy School of Music, and her Bachelor’s degree in Musical Arts from Vanderbilt University. She appeared as a soloist Key West Symphony's Solfest and two years with the Nashville Opera Chorus. Over the past 4 years, Colette has been a lead soloist and dancer with Big Moves Boston, performing not only in Boston but also Philadelphia, New York City, Montreal and at the Montreal Fringe Festival. Most memorable roles include Lily (LARD!) and Becky (Big Top), and Chrissy (Hot Buffet) in which she received high praise from the Boston’s Metro for her “impressive singing.”
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
The children - their creativity and joy as they discover music and dance in class; their smiles and hugs that they grace me with throughout class. I am truly honored to be a part of their lives.
Sarah Caissie Provost
Sarah Caissie Provost is a Ph.D. candidate in musicology at Brandeis University, studying swing-era jazz. She has a B.M. from the University of Hartford in flute performance. She is the second flutist in the New England Philharmonic and also teaches and performs popular dances from the Jazz Age throughout the New England area.
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
I love to see the children grow musically during their time with FMM. I especially love when a previously shy, quiet child breaks forth with a steady beat and sings along. It always seems to happen so fast! I also love that I get to spend my days singing, dancing, and surrounding myself with fun, energetic families!
Sarah Caissie Provost is a Ph.D. candidate in musicology at Brandeis University, studying swing-era jazz. She has a B.M. from the University of Hartford in flute performance. She is the second flutist in the New England Philharmonic and also teaches and performs popular dances from the Jazz Age throughout the New England area.
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
I love to see the children grow musically during their time with FMM. I especially love when a previously shy, quiet child breaks forth with a steady beat and sings along. It always seems to happen so fast! I also love that I get to spend my days singing, dancing, and surrounding myself with fun, energetic families!
Katie Preisig
Katie has been teaching for Family Music Makers for two sessions now. She assisted with the direction of Peter Pan and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Katie has participated in musical theater since the age of 6. She graduated from Walnut Hill High School in Natick, MA, a private school for the arts where she majored in theater. Katie has been working with children for many years now in other venues and enjoys combining her love for theatre with her experience working with children.
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
Seeing such young children make progress every week and retain not only basic theatre skills, but skills I myself did not learn until much later in life makes working at Family Music Makers an amazing experience.
Katie has been teaching for Family Music Makers for two sessions now. She assisted with the direction of Peter Pan and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Katie has participated in musical theater since the age of 6. She graduated from Walnut Hill High School in Natick, MA, a private school for the arts where she majored in theater. Katie has been working with children for many years now in other venues and enjoys combining her love for theatre with her experience working with children.
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
Seeing such young children make progress every week and retain not only basic theatre skills, but skills I myself did not learn until much later in life makes working at Family Music Makers an amazing experience.
Tyla Vercollone
Tyla Vercollone is from Duxbury, MA and has been performing and singing for over ten years. She studied classical and opera for 2 years at the University of Miami and also trained at the Lorenzo de'Medici Institute of Art in Florence Italy. Tyla earned her bachelor's degree from Boston's Berklee College of Music, with a dual degree in both Vocal Performance and Music Business. Sticking to her classical roots, Tyla continues to sing at wedding ceremonies throughout New England. This is Tyla's first year with FMM, but she has been working with children in various environments for the past few years. Tyla looks forward to continuing her tenure with FMM and expanding to eventually teach additional classes. (When she is not singing, you can find Tyla teaching private Pilates sessions at Equinox on Dartmouth Street.)
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
Witnessing each performer "come into their own" throughout the session; I know that FMM is a learning experience like none other when a child who was too shy to speak for the first 3 classes is suddenly singing and dancing without reservation. There is a unique culture to Kidservatory that cannot be mimicked in a classroom.
Tyla Vercollone is from Duxbury, MA and has been performing and singing for over ten years. She studied classical and opera for 2 years at the University of Miami and also trained at the Lorenzo de'Medici Institute of Art in Florence Italy. Tyla earned her bachelor's degree from Boston's Berklee College of Music, with a dual degree in both Vocal Performance and Music Business. Sticking to her classical roots, Tyla continues to sing at wedding ceremonies throughout New England. This is Tyla's first year with FMM, but she has been working with children in various environments for the past few years. Tyla looks forward to continuing her tenure with FMM and expanding to eventually teach additional classes. (When she is not singing, you can find Tyla teaching private Pilates sessions at Equinox on Dartmouth Street.)
What do you enjoy most about teaching for Family Music Makers?
Witnessing each performer "come into their own" throughout the session; I know that FMM is a learning experience like none other when a child who was too shy to speak for the first 3 classes is suddenly singing and dancing without reservation. There is a unique culture to Kidservatory that cannot be mimicked in a classroom.
Alice Gollan
Alice Gollan earned a Masters Degree in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory. She taught elementary school music for six years in Florida, where her innovative methods won her the title Associate Master Teacher from the state’s Merit Teacher Program. Her music performance experience includes many piano recitals; additionally she was a drummer both in a rock band (The Kidney Stones), and in a klezmer band (The Wonderful Simcha Klezmer Band). She has sung in large choruses and knows the alto parts to much of the classical choral repertoire (The Messiah, B Minor Mass, Beethoven’s 9th, etc.). She currently studies piano with Alys Terrien-Queen at New England Conservatory. Many of her original songs are part of the Family Music Makers repertoire.
Alice Gollan earned a Masters Degree in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory. She taught elementary school music for six years in Florida, where her innovative methods won her the title Associate Master Teacher from the state’s Merit Teacher Program. Her music performance experience includes many piano recitals; additionally she was a drummer both in a rock band (The Kidney Stones), and in a klezmer band (The Wonderful Simcha Klezmer Band). She has sung in large choruses and knows the alto parts to much of the classical choral repertoire (The Messiah, B Minor Mass, Beethoven’s 9th, etc.). She currently studies piano with Alys Terrien-Queen at New England Conservatory. Many of her original songs are part of the Family Music Makers repertoire.