Category: Educator Spotlight

Each year, Kindermusik International awards Top Program honors to Accredited Educators around the world. For the 2024-2025 assessment period, Carol Stringham and her team at Song of the Heart Studios had the fifth highest number of registered families for Kindermusik classes. 

It all began with a friendly chat. Combining her experience in early education and as a musician, Carol took a leap into the Kindermusik world, and has gone on to deeply impact her community through shared music-making.

Carol, where is your location and how many years have you been accredited?

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. I just finished year 28!

How did you originally hear about Kindermusik and what was your journey to becoming accredited like?

I was visiting my sister in Seattle and chatting with her friend at a party about the Kindermusik program she was running. My heart went pitter-patter and I couldn’t wait to learn more. I was a mom of three, had taught school for several years, loved pedagogy, was fascinated by educational philosophy, and I was a musician.

I was completely taken with the Kindermusik way and knew immediately I wanted to be part of it. Unbelievably, there was an in-person training taking place in Salt Lake City just a few months later. I immediately signed up. I felt like I had come home! Kindermusik has been the place where all of my talents, skills, AND dreams came together. It has brought me hope, joy, growth, connection, and pure love for 28 years.

What was your program like at first, what’s it like now, and what has changed versus stayed the same?

When I began, my goal was to provide the most present, loving, educational experiences for the people who trusted me with their children. As my program grew, I had to chase that growth and learn how to run a business. I taught in my home for 3 years, moved to a ballet studio where I rented space for ten years, and then on to my own studio space 15 years ago. Along the way, I obviously had to hire educators, make sure they were trained in what we call “The Song of the Heart Studios Way”, and continue to mentor them on their Kindermusik journeys. This has been both a joy and a delightful challenge.

What standards do you hold for yourself and any employees as educators, and how do you keep that top of mind? 

We have studio values that we infuse into everything we do. A stellar classroom experience? The educators infuse everything they do in the classroom with joy, connection, family, growth and heart. If you begin with your values and use them as your vision, the end often takes care of itself.

Teaching is a solitary endeavor but we need one another to become better at what we do. So, we include lots of sharing and also educator observations to keep us all growing and our classroom environments fresh. Teaching is a beautiful evolution, and I try and lean into that as a philosophy and as a practice.

Tell us a little bit about your community. What have you learned from them and what about them drives you to create a safe, creative, and supportive space for the families you serve? 

We have the most beautiful Kindermusik community! I must say my favorite thing at the moment is former students who are now bringing their OWN children to class. It’s so gratifying to see the impact Kindermusik has had on their lives and see them continue the joy with their own little ones. I have learned to be present because of our Kindermusik families. I’m a mover and a doer so the opportunity to sit on the floor of the classroom, slow down, and guide parents and their children has caused me to breathe and be present while giving them the best possible experience. That has been a true gift and has made me a better educator.

my favorite thing at the moment is former students who are now bringing their OWN children to class. It’s so gratifying to see the impact Kindermusik has had on their lives and see them continue the joy with their own little ones.

– Carol Stringham, owner of Song of the Heart Studios

Do you have any memorable “a-ha” moments from teaching a class? 

I love facilitating their little friendships and watching their imaginations grow. I love their sparkle. I love watching their grownups discover the phenomenal growth…

– Carol Stringham, owner of Song of the Heart Studios

I love teaching so much that If I could still teach every single class, I would. With about 60 classes on our roster, this is obviously impossible. That being said, I think one of my My biggest “a-ha” moments over the years—and this is vulnerable—has been the angst of handing classes over to other educators.

Would they give the same care that I do? Would they see the importance of relationship? Would they be as dedicated to their families? Would they prepare and work hard? The answer has been yes. Yes, they have and they do!

Although I love teaching every level, my absolute favorite is Level 3. I love watching the growth and delight that Kindermusik inspires, and helping children feel capable and comfortable without their parent or caregiver in the room. I love facilitating their little friendships and watching their imaginations grow. I love their sparkle. I love watching their grownups discover the phenomenal growth that music provides their preschooler.

What continues to drive you as 1) an educator and 2) a business owner?

As an educator, I love to work with children to develop their soft skills. The skills that will help them do well in school and in life. For the grownups who love them, I am driven to help them “make their great parenting even better.” As a business owner, I am driven to be a mentor that helps my educators make their stellar teaching even better. I’m also driven to find the best systems to manage 400+ students and help each one feel loved and cared for. To be, as one of my business coaches says, “conspicuously human.”

What vision do you have for your studio in the years to come? 

My true vision is to have our studio values, our systems and processes, along with our classes so dialed in that everyone associated with the studio—myself, my admin staff, my educators, the grownups, and every single student—feels like they are part of a movement. “A movement where childhood is honored, families are strengthened, minds are nourished, creativity is encouraged, community deepens, and hearts are filled with joy. To be the place where hearts sing, eyes shine, and children flourish.”

Find out more about Top Program studios like Song of the Heart Studios, and locate one near you. If you’re interested in becoming an Accredited Educator like Carol, check out our training options. You can also connect with Song of the Heart Studios on Instagram and Facebook. 

Each year, Kindermusik International awards Top Program honors to Accredited Educators around the world. For the 2024-2025 assessment period, Kathy Morrison and her team at Kathy’s Music had the fourth highest number of registered families for Kindermusik classes. 

Through helping caregivers understand what Kindermusik is all about and why it matters, Kathy and her staff have built a lasting relationship with the families that lead to developmental milestones for their kiddos. Big thank you to Kathy for sharing her story, insights, and experiences with us!

Kathy, where is your location and how many years have you been accredited?

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. I began teaching in Summer 2000—26 years.

How did you originally hear about Kindermusik and what was your journey to teaching like?

I became a Kindermusik parent 30 years ago in Theresa Case’s program in South Carolina. Four years later, I began teaching. Four years after that, we moved to Pennsylvania and I opened my own program in Pittsburgh. 

What steps do you think were critical in helping you achieve a Top Program status initially and how have you built on that to become the #4 Program in the world?

One of the most critical factors in my early success was the opportunity to learn inside another top-performing program. I spent four years on an existing team, and that experience gave me a clear vision of what was possible, not only in delivering excellent early childhood music education, but in building a program that was organized, intentional, and sustainable.

What kind of professional development standards do you hold for your team?

I am deeply committed to the ongoing training and development of our teachers. We invest in professional development throughout the year through webinars, in-person trainings, book studies, and curriculum-focused work. To deliver this level of experience consistently requires more than initial training. It requires a shared understanding that masterful teaching is a journey.

To deliver this level of experience consistently requires more than initial training. It requires a shared understanding that masterful teaching is a journey.

Kathy Morrison, owner of Kathy’s Music

What makes Kathy’s Music different from other music studios—why you and why Kindermusik?

Sustained growth only happens when the experience in the classroom is strong. For us, that starts with clear standards for how we teach and how we show up for children and families every day.

We want parents and caregivers to understand not just what we are doing, but why it matters.

Kathy Morrison, owner of Kathy’s Music

First, we hold a deep commitment to the Kindermusik curriculum. We teach children from birth through age 7, and we believe in the full progression. That means leaning into the process as it’s designed and understanding how each level builds on the one before it. There is intention behind every activity, and we honor that.

Within that structure, we focus on three key elements in every class: connection, education, and celebration. Connection means building real relationships with both the child and the parent. Education means having a clear focus for each lesson. We are not there to entertain. We are there to teach, with purpose, and to build skills week by week. Celebration means recognizing growth along the way. Every small milestone matters, and we make sure families feel that progress.

Grownup education is also a critical part of our standard. We want parents and caregivers to understand not just what we are doing, but why it matters. That happens through benefit statements in class, teachable moments during activities, and resources they can use at home. We want families to feel cared for at every step, with moments along the way that they can truly savor.

Tell us a little bit about your community. What have you learned from them and what about them drives you to create a safe, creative, and supportive space for the families you serve? 

Our community is made up of families who are deeply invested in their children. They are looking for experiences that truly support their child’s growth. Many of the parents we serve are balancing a lot between work, school schedules, activities, and the pace of family life. They value meaningful time with their children and they want to get it right. They are looking for something that feels purposeful. Something that helps them connect with their child, while also supporting their development in a real and lasting way. This has shaped so much about how we designed our program.


Do you have any memorable “a-ha” moments from teaching a class? 

It’s hard to pick just one “a-ha” moment, because honestly, they happen all the time and they’re not always big. They’re small and quiet and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Sometimes it’s a baby. The bells come out, and their whole face lights up. They grab that bell, start shaking it, and you can see it. Joy—just pure joy! And you realize, this might be one of the first times they’re connecting sound, movement, and feeling all at once.

Sometimes it’s in a preschool class. There’s a three-year-old who’s been coming week after week and barely says a word. Just watching. Taking it all in. And then one day…they actually sing. Maybe just a few words, but it’s huge and you can feel the room shift.

Or it’s in a higher level class. One child is struggling with a song on the glockenspiel, and before I even step in, another child leans over and says, “I know how to play that. I can help you.” And they do. No prompting. Just kindness and desire to help out. (Be still my heart!)

What’s the one thing you would tell a family who is considering Kindermusik classes?

I often go back to my own experience as a parent. My daughter was 18 months old when we first enrolled in a Kindermusik class. At that stage, you don’t always know what to expect. You hope it will be a positive experience, but you’re not sure what the impact will really be. Within the first three months of attending weekly classes, we began to see a change in her. She experienced so much joy in class and a deep sense of familiarity. She knew what to expect because of the rituals and routines. She felt secure. And from that sense of security, we started to see budding independence.

What vision do you have for your studio in the years to come? 

My vision for the future of my studio is centered around people.

Looking ahead, I see a studio that continues to grow in both reach and depth. A place where families can begin with us when their child is a baby and continue through years of musical development. A place where teachers build meaningful careers and feel a strong sense of purpose in their work. A place where our systems and training allow us to grow without losing the heart of what we do.

At its core, my vision is to build something that lasts in the lives of the families we serve and the educators who are part of our team.

Find out more about Top Program studios like Kathy’s Music, and locate one near you. If you’re interested in becoming an Accredited Educator like Kathy, check out our training options. You can also connect with Kathy’s Music on Instagram and Facebook. 

Have you ever searched for a Kindermusik class and wondered what that circular “Top Program” icon really means? Each year, we award Kindermusik Top Program status to studios across the globe with the highest registrations and other factors that contribute to their offerings being the best early childhood music and movement programs around.

Through focusing on a business that grows with families, and offering an experience grounded in care and authenticity rather than performance, Shay Ryan and her team at Kiddos and Kin had the third highest number of registered families in 2025 for Kindermusik classes in the world.

Continue reading “Kindermusik Top Program: Kiddos and Kin”

Have you ever searched for a Kindermusik class and wondered what that circular “Top Program” icon really means? Each year, we award Kindermusik Top Program status to studios across the globe with the highest registrations and other factors that contribute to their offerings being the best early childhood music and movement programs around.

Through genuine community connections, an investment in their team’s training, and meeting families where they are, Crisel Consunji and her team at Kindermusik by Baumhaus had the second highest number of registered families in 2025 for Kindermusik classes in the world.

Meet Crisel and take a look at this amazing Kindermusik Top Program from Hong Kong!

Continue reading “Kindermusik Top Program: Kindermusik by Baumhaus”

Have you ever searched for a Kindermusik class and wondered what that circular “Top Program” icon really means? Each year, we award Kindermusik Top Program status to studios across the globe with the highest registrations and other factors that contribute to their offerings being the best early childhood music and movement programs around.

This year, the very TOP of the Top Programs is My Little Conservatory in San Jose, California. Owned by Accredited Kindermusik Educator, Amelia Vitarelli, My Little Conservatory’s recipe to an award-winning program is a mix of listening to families’ needs first, requiring the highest standards from teachers and team members, and ensuring that a heart for and belief in early childhood music education is at the center of every class.

Continue reading “Kindermusik Top Program: My Little Conservatory”