Karee has taught Music Together since 1997. She is a licensed Center Director and Certified Level II instructor with Music Together. She has her B.A. in vocal performance and M.A. in music history and literature. She received her M.A. at the University of Denver where she met her husband Steve while he was working on his M.M. in classical guitar performance. Karee loves bringing music to families and helping them discover the joy of music. She has two children who keep her "jumpin, and a dancin' and a cookin' in the kitchen!"

Steve has been teaching Music Together since 2000 when Karee was with child (Ella). He is a licensed Center Director and Certified Level II Music Together teacher. Steve has music degrees from Wilfred Laurier in Waterloo, Ontario and from the University of Denver, both degrees in classical guitar. When he isn't teaching Music Together, he is also known as a Suzuki Guitar instructor!

Jeremy Dittus enjoys a career as a pianist, theorist, and Dalcroze eurhythmics instructor.  An avid recitalist, he has performed solo and chamber programs in the United States, Switzerland, and Italy.  A former Lecturer in piano, theory, and solfège at the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory in Cleveland, he also has instructed undergraduate solfège, piano, and composition courses at the University of Colorado at Boulder as well as eurhythmics and solfège at L’Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneva, Switzerland.  Dr. Dittus has presented Dalcroze workshops at home and abroad including the World Piano Conference, International Early Childhood Music and Movement Convention, National Flute Convention, Colorado Music Educators Association State Convention, Piano Celebration at Metro-State University in Denver, University of Louisville Piano Institute, in addition to several summer music institutes.  He completed a doctorate of musical arts in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder; for the master of music, he studied piano performance and music theory at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During his undergraduate work, he obtained bachelor degrees in piano performance and chemistry.  His Dalcroze License and Certificate comes from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, while the Diplôme Supérieur (a doctoral equivalent in Switzerland) comes from the L’Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in conjunction with La Haute École de Musique de Genève and Le Conservatoire de Musique de Genève.  Teachers include Lisa Parker, Anne Farber, Ruth Gianadda, Marie-Laure Bachmann, Sylvia del Bianco, Sylvie Morgenegg, Laurent Sourisse, Andrew Cooperstock, Michael Chertock, Frank Weinstock, and George Cherry. 

For more information about Dalcroze eurhythmics, please contact Jeremy Dittus directly:

Jeremy Dittus

7790 Fairview Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

jeremydittus@gmail.com

www.dalcrozeusa.org

H: 303-429-3729

C: 614-395-4722

Alyson studied Music Education at the University of Denver. She has worked in music programs in both the Denver Public and Cherry Creek school districts. She has taught piano for over 15 years maintianing a studio of over 45 students. Alyson and her daughter Claire participated in Music Together classes with Karee and Steve for nearly four years. Alyson is delighted to have another creative outlet for her love of music education. Alyson has also acheived Certification Level I through Music Together.

Javan Carson is in her seventh year as the conductor for the String Ensembles and the Conservatory Orchestras at DYAO.  She has been called a “multi-faceted” professional who is involved in many musical endeavors.

Javan has been playing the violin for most of her life, having started as a Suzuki student at age two.  She earned her degree in violin performance from the University of Denver on a full scholarship, and began playing professionally with the Denver Chamber Orchestra while still in college.  Javan has played in a string quartet for more than sixteen years, and has performed with countless orchestras, including the Colorado Ballet Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.  She has played with such performers as Doc Severinsen, Mel Torme, Kathy Lee Gifford, Mannheim Steamroller, Stevie Wonder, and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. 

Javan has been teaching private violin, viola, and piano lessons for more than twenty-five years, has instructed Suzuki group classes for fifteen years, and has taught string classes in four metro-area school districts.  She was the conductor of the Sinfonia at Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras for five years, and was also the Music Director and Conductor of  Eklectika Youth Ensembles, an innovative youth orchestra that she founded.

Javan is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and chamber coach throughout the Front Range region.  In the summers, she works at the Park Hill Chamber Camp coaching ensembles, directing the camp orchestras, and arranging music for the Rock Orchestra. She is also a Music Together® teacher for Twinkle Together, teaching classes to children ages birth through age four, and she recently completed her training and received her Level 1 Certification for Music Together. Javan’s other activities include raising two boys, ages nine and eleven, who both play the cello.

Ilana has childhood memories of singing everywhere and any time, with her parents, sister, and extended family. She has played the flute since she was 9 years old, and spent much time during her high school and college years performing solo and in orchestras, bands, and small ensembles, including Denver's Young Artists Orchestra. She loves singing, and has enjoyed being a Music Together parent since 2002, with her children, Ely, Hannah, and Shira. Watching and listening to them sing together brings her incredible joy. Ilana has taught Music Together for six years, and enjoys bringing her love of music to young children and their families. She especially savors watching families discover the joy of making music together, and she strives to create opportunities for individuals to experience and revel in their unique musical potential, within a nurturing and supportive group setting.  In 2009, Ilana was awarded Music Together Certification Level I.

This is Becca’s first year teaching Music Together. She fell in love with Music Together after her first babies’ class with her now one-year old daughter, Lulu. Becca has always had a passion for music from silly songs about “banana hair” with her mom to family talent shows, musical theater, and all through high school choir. Teaching is a perfect fit for her with her experience as an early childhood teacher, nanny, ex-theater major, TouchpointsTM trainer, Public Health Nurse and Mom! She currently works part-time as a trainer for the Arapahoe County Touchpoints Team. Her passion is working with young children and their parents/caregivers, and she can’t wait to sing with you and your children!

Melody has been making music for as long as she can remember.  Growing up she was always singing and dancing- thanks to a mother who made music a part of every day life. That is why she is so passionate about educating children and parents about the importance of making music together!

Melody has been in the childcare profession for over 6 years and it was through this that she discovered Music Together. She fell in love with the program-singing, movement, a strong musical foundation, and of course the silliness.

In addition to teaching Music Together, Melody enjoys being a nanny for two amazing children. Her passion is providing a safe and fun atmosphere for children to let their creativity flow.
She can't wait to sing with you and your children!

Tamara, a native of Iowa, discovered her natural talent and love for the flute at age 8 through her mother, flutist Joanne Chadima. She received her M.M. Magna Cum Laude in Flute Performance from the University of Iowa where she studied with acclaimed soloist and clinician, Dr. Tadeu Coelho. Her other studies include San Jose State University, the Boxwood Music Festival in Rotorua, New Zealand, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. Tamara gave her Carnegie Hall Debut concert in September 2007 with her chamber ensemble, Areon Flutes. Areon recordings are currently available on iTunes and Areon is a proud member of the Miyazawa Flutes Artist Family. She currently teaches private flute students in the Denver area.

Tamara is a new resident of Denver and also a new mom. Having her first child this past November inspired her to return to teaching early childhood music. She has taught music classes in various settings for four years and is happy to join the Twinkle Together team.

Giannina Ashe graduated Berklee College of Music in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Music.

She has traveled and lived in a few different countries, her favorite was India.  Here is what Gia has to say about traveling,  "traveling is the classroom and teaching is my journal."

Gia gives private instruction in guitar, voice and piano; she is commited to creating a learning environment where each student is taught traditional forms of guitar, piano and voice while developing an aptitude for reading music. Many students want to be able to play a song they love. Her goal is to provide the necessary tools for each player to develop an ear and eye to decipher harmonic music of any style and genre. 

Gia is also a Singer Songwriter and is always collaborating with other artists to create music. She has worked to promote bands and artists in the music industry as well as behind the scenes of publishing for music placement within TV and film. She has also produced an album titled ‘Feeding Nemo’ which was recorded in Boston, MA.

Jilly began her life on stage as a ballerina. When told at the age of 5 that she was "too hyper" for ballet, her supportive parents brought her to an audition for a local theatre school. Creating wacky characters while singing and dancing suited her just fine, and the rest, they say-is history. She graduated from the Theatre Program at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus in Manhattan. To support herself in the crazy place that is the Big Apple, Jilly juggled part-time nanny gigs and rehearsal. But she left that all behind to cross the county for some California dreamin’, caught the travel bug, and spent her days concert going, backpacking, and as a full time nanny in Beverly Hills.

Hence, music and children have been her life for well over a decade now. She discovered Music Together with her son Koa and one fine day, during an extra special Wiggle Wiggle, the light bulb went off in her head, and she knew teaching this wonderful program was perfect for her!

Alison entered the Music Together community in 1999 as a parent and immediately fell in love with the program.  After competing the Music Together training, she began teaching in Park Hill where she taught for 4 years, until the birth of her third child. She then took a break from Music Together to focus her attention on home schooling her children. She is thrilled about returning to teach Music Together.

Music has been a constant presence in her life, and now in the lives of her children. All three of her children participated in Music Together classes and have gone on to play instruments. Alison is passionate about music, literature, and early childhood development, making Music Together an ideal fit.  She strives to create a supportive atmosphere where parents and children feel safe taking risks and reaching their full potential.

Alison has a BA in English Literature from University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to Music Together, Alison taught early childhood education in Chicago and Boulder.

Luke Ramos started off as a Music Together skeptic.  As a young, too-cool-for-school musician, he doubted the validity of sitting in a circle singing to kids.  Having begun in such a place of cynicism, Luke's Music Together tale is one of redemption. 

Change of heart began when, while visiting Denver in the summer of 2009, Luke visited Music Together classes taught by his sister Melody (also a Twinkle Together teacher).  He started to see that there just might be something to this.  When he visited Denver the following year (having already decided to move there), he visited Melody's classes once more.  It was that visit that made Luke to realize the importance of Music Together in children's lives.  He knew he wanted to teach.

Luke left the humid southern United States for Denver in the summer of 2010.  Through Melody he was introduced to Steve and Karee Bondy who decided to give him a chance with Music Together.  Luke interned with Steve during the Fall 2010 session.  When he attended Music Together training the first week of 2011, the quality and merit of the program were only further cemented into him. 

Luke plays guitar and bass, makes noise on several other instruments, and is a songwriter.  He is excited to be teaching Music Together.