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.
Check out the virtual tour videos for one of Kathy’s Music locations: