Meet Marie Kaminski
Lyrical Children presents Music Together®.
Preferred Provider Business Information:
P: 631-208-4003
A: North East Suffolk - classes in Setauket Port Jeff, Miller Place, Wading River, Aquebogue
We caught up with the director, Marie Holland Kaminski, and asked her some questions about what makes her so successful.
What inspired you to start this business?
I found Music Together® in 1999 when I was looking for something to do that would combine my love for music and working with young children. I immediately fell in love with the program and it's philosophy of developmentally appropriate learning. I took the teacher training in 1999 and taught for another director for a few years before starting my own center in 2002 
How long have you been in this business?
I've been teaching for 20 yrs and directing for 17 yrs.
What keeps you going every day?
Knowing that our classes have brought so much to the families that have attended is very fulfilling. The expressions of gratitude over the years - hearing how the program has affected their lives in a positive way - Seeing the joy on the faces of the children & the grownups in class - that's what keeps me going.
What is the favorite part of your business?
Teaching class is the best part of my day for sure!
List the services you provide
Music Together® Classes - Babies Only (birth thru 8 mos), Mixed Age (birth thru 5 yrs), Rhythm Kids (4 - 8 yrs)Out of all of the services that you offer, what would you say is your specialty?I believe our specialty is helping parents learn & understand how to support their child's naturally responses to music. Making music is a birthright - it is not something performance oriented. Our brains are wired to receive and respond to music and through immersion in a playful musical environment we support those connections.
What is one thing you would like us to know about your business?
Music Together classes are a family environment. That's why most of our classes are mixed-age so siblings can attend together. Multiple adults from the family are also welcome. We are an accept and include environment with no expectations of what children are supposed to do. We set the room up to be safe for them as it is normal for them to explore and move during class. Children learn most things from the adults in their lives - so our classes are based on adult modeling - not performance. It really doesn't matter whether you think you can carry a tune or not - if you sing anyway, your child is going to learn that singing is something good for them to try! Come have fun in our silly and engaging class. Previews can be arranged.
What makes your business unique?Our center is the local representative of an International Program - We are part of a fantastic network of Music Together centers all over the world! Music Together, founded in 1987, provides in-person training to all of our teachers and ongoing support thru workshops, ongoing training and online resources. It is the gold standard for early childhood music learning. What is the best compliment you received about your business? The best compliments are the stories I hear and the videos I see that express how the parents and their children are experiencing the music at home. That is where the children experiment and explore the immersion experience they had in class because they are in their comfortable environment. Singing while they play, making up their own verses, recreating class with their stuffed animals. Watching the parents grow and have fun as a musical model for their child - that's the best!Thank you Marie for sharing with us and giving us a peek into the incredible work you do for the community!