Our Teachers

 

At Little Notes Music we love to play, sing and dance with you and your children. We believe that all children are musical! We invite you and your family to come and join us, and help us to bring harmony home!

 

photo Jennifer Trested

Certification Level I, Certification Level II

Jennifer is the director of Little Notes Music. She feels passionately 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 enjoys creating a classroom setting where ALL children feel welcome and included. She has extensive experience teaching children with special needs. Additionally, Jennifer has been a member of Music Together's Special Needs Program Development Workgroup since 2008. This workgroup is dedicated to assisting Music Together teachers and directors develop the skills needed to successfully include children with special needs in their classes.

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

Additionally, Jennifer enjoys teaching private string lessons for violin and viola. Also, she is available to conduct musical birthday parties at the location of your choice. 

Jennifer is classically trained on the viola, and plays the autoharp and ukulele during classes and birthday parties. She is currently a member of the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nassau Pops Orchestra and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony. Jennifer is NY state certified in Music Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education. In addition to teaching Music Together, Jennifer is a music teacher in a local public school district.

 

     
photo Calob Congdon

Music has been an integral part of Calob’s life since he was four years-old. He has been singing for 18 years and has enjoyed playing piano for 10 years. Originally from Berlin Wisconsin, he has performed in a variety of honors choruses, community theater productions, and is a multi-time WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Gold Medalist. Currently, Calob studies Music Education at Hofstra University where he is a member of both the University Chorale as well as the Chamber Choir. Throughout his performance tenure, Calob has performed at some of the most prestigious venues across New England such as the Cathedral of Incarnation in Garden City New York and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Aside from his Music Together Training and Apprenticeship, Calob is also a frequent practitioner of the Orff Schulwerk Approach to Music Education and is an active member of the Long Island Orff Schulwerk Association. Calob greatly enjoys having the opportunity to facilitate engaging, age-appropriate, and musically stimulating activities for the families in his Music Together classes.

     
photo Alexandra Schooley

Alexandra has harbored a lifelong passion for music, nurtured initially by her parents, both esteemed music educators. At the age of 8, she relocated to Vienna, renowned as the city of music, where she embarked on her formal cello training at the music conservatory prep school. Subsequently, Alexandra pursued her higher education in Berlin, Germany, focusing on modern dance. Upon the birth of her daughter in 2014, Alexandra returned to the United States to be closer to her family.

In 2009, she attained her Music Together certification and has since dedicated numerous years to engaging families through the Music Together curriculum. Her classes are designed to foster active participation, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for music. Alexandra also advocates for caregivers to embrace a playful approach and to trust in the innate wisdom of their young ones. 

     
photo Samantha Trested

Samantha (she/her) is a recent graduate of Manhattanville University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. While in high school she attended the Long Island High School for The Arts (LIHSA), where she studied Musical Theatre with a minor in Stage Management. Growing up, she spent her time performing in school musicals, playing the cello, and singing in choirs. Samantha is delighted to be a Music Together teacher and can’t wait to make music with you all!

     
photo Russell Katz

Russell, a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, has been playing guitar and piano for 5 years and writing songs since childhood. A filmmaker by trade who has made short films with SNL’s Please Don’t Destroy and Hollywood’s Rachel Sennott, he is thrilled to be teaching at Music Together where he hopes to usher the youth toward a love for music, play, and community.