Carol Jurs, Director/Teacher

Trained in 1999 at the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ. Carol Jurs is a registered Music Together® teacher with a Certification Level I. She became a licensed Center Director in January 2002, and now teaches in all locations.

Performing since age 7 and vocal study since the age 10 helped make music her life long love and passion. Certified in Music Education K-12, she holds a BA and an MA in vocal performance and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Music Education. She has performed extensively in Opera, Musical Theater, Oratorio and on the concert and recital stage. Carol has also participated in and been a finalist in many voice competitions in the Eastern United States.

In addition to teaching Music Together classes she currently teaches general and vocal music at the Pre-K, Elementary and secondary grade levels. She also teaches voice privately and helps students develop all aspects of performing. Discovering Music Together opened up a whole new world for Carol bringing her love of children and her love of music together.

Terri Roben, Teacher

Terri Roben is a singer-songwriter and a registered Music Together Teacher who enjoys developing musical relationships with children and their caregivers. She plays guitar, banjo, mountain lap dulcimer and a little fiddle.

Terri has recorded two albums entitled “Terri and Maria" and “Riverwalk and Other Songs”. She performs for children and adults in several venues, including libraries, coffeehouses, senior centers and festivals. As a children’s musician and museum program presenter, Terri worked for 10 years with the Scotia Glenville Children’s Museum from 1994-2004. She designed and taught elementary after-school programs, as well as Earth Day programs for K-6, and an American Folk Music program for high school students.

She serves on the board of The Children’s Music Network (CMN), is a member of The People’s Music Network and a folk music organization, Pickin', Singin’ and Gatherin'. (PS&G). Terri volunteers for and is a member of the Eighth Step Coffeehouse and Caffe Lena’s. To learn more about Terri, her recordings and performance schedules please visit www.terriroben.com.

Yael Shacham, Teacher

Yael Shacham has been studying West African drum and dance for over 10 years and travels to Guinea, West Africa where she has the incredible opportunity to understand how this art form connects to such a beautiful culture. Here in the US, Yael along with her musical partner, Lara Gonzalez, take a holistic approach to the music and dance. They teach in many schools, from pre-k to high school doing residencies and workshops. They also perform in all kinds of situations, Music For All Seasons, an organization which sends them out to interact on an intimate level in places such as hospitals, youth and adult detention centers, nursing homes and many more. All this experience has led Yael to Music Together, where she loves to be involved in the process of children and parents connecting to each other and music. For more info please check www.RootsHeartPulse.com.

Deb Cavanaugh, Teacher

Deb Cavanaugh, Artist-Educator and Singer-Songwriter, is a registered Music Together teacher. She has presented various workshops, classes and residencies in schools, libraries, summer camps and for other organizations. Deb has worked with children from infancy to middle school, and offers lessons in voice, songwriting and an array of instruments including mandolin, guitar, dulcimer, and piano. As part of the duo Cavanaugh and Kavanaugh she performs as a folk artist, and has been a recipient of the Meet The Composers grant allowing her to develop songwriting workshops for young people. Deb is committed to cultural diversity and teaches all ages, specializing in children from birth to 8 th grade. For more information visit www.CavandKav.com.

Danielle Reynolds, Teacher

Danielle is our newest Music Together teacher for the Mohawk Valley. She comes with a thorough background working with children and the arts and an education in Music Therapy. She plays the guitar and clarinet and has participated in a variety of local choirs and singing groups. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Creative Arts in Therapy, Music from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. She discovered Music Together along her college career path, as did many of her peers in the program. She has found a home with Music Together that pairs the love of seeing music utilized to accomplish personal and relational life goals for the student and parent with an exquisite music curriculum that fosters a love for music. She is a mother of one and lives locally in Halfmoon, NY.

Matt Yaeger, Teacher

Matt is a former Parent of Music Together who enjoyed the program so much, and seeing the difference it made his son's music comprehension that he decided to become a registered Music Together Instructor. He's had 9 years of voice training and has a background in performing arts. Prior to his Music Together training, Matt taught Introductory Sociology at St. Rose College and at SUNY Albany. With a background in music and his teaching experiences, he decided to become a part of the Music Together program, and hopes to help spread his joy of music to the children and to the parents that he meets.

Kathryn Capalbo, Creative Dramatics Teacher

Kathryn Capalbo has been training for and learning this teaching job since she was 14.  She always had a love for theatre and she has learned more about herself and others through all her years working for Highlight Acting Troupe, a community theatre group.  The love of theatre stayed with her and she got her bachelors in creative arts and therapy and her Masters in theatre education.  She has used these degrees to teach 3 summer theatre programs.  She also uses role play and music and movement to teach everyday skills to 3-5 year olds at the day care program she works at now.

Carol, I just wanted to tell you that Terri is absolutely unbelievable as our music teacher. She connects so well with my daughter and all the other children as well. She truly teaches music from her heart and it shows on the faces of the children. The class is wonderful and makes me appreciate the art of music especially when I hear my daughter singing the songs learned it class during bedtime, in the car or even during bathtime. This class has opened her up in many ways and the expression of music will be a life long reward to her.

I just wanted to say what a wonderful experience it was for my child and I to attend classes last semester with Jennifer. She is a dynamic teacher and my daughter got so much out of this. I just registered for the same class and same location this semester. We can't wait!

Music Together has been wonderful, Our teacher, Deb, is patient, kind and caring to all of the families. Her calming nature allows us to relax and really enjoy our time together in class. Deb has an organic approach to every aspect of the program, and encourages us to bring that home and use it as fuel with our children every day. My 14 month old son, Treyton, has really taken a liking to Deb, the families and the entire program, and we both look forward to Monday mornings as our special time to sing, dance and be together. As a parent, I am so pleased with Music Together - the structured, yet unique classes from week to week are a lot of fun. Brings me joy to see him, while riding in the car, or listening to our cd at home, recognize the songs we have heard and played to in class. Bongos is our first session in the program, and we look forward to experiencing the rest in time to come. :)