All children have the potential to learn music, and early music classes foster lifelong music development. Because music aptitude begins before birth and does not stabilize until age nine, the early years are formative for musical growth. Early childhood music classes provide an individualized and nurturing environment in which children are engaged in developmentally appropriate music learning. Young children can enjoy actively making music through informal and playful classes. Children explore singing, playing, chanting, improvising, and moving to music in a variety of tonalities and meters. Because children learn music similar to learning a language, classes give children the opportunity to listen, explore, and create meaningful tonal and rhythmic responses. A strong early childhood foundation prepares students for success in formal class settings, lessons, and ensembles.

Cathy Marks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Temple University in 2010. While studying, she co-taught early childhood music classes in Philadelphia and assisted for two years at Temple’s Early Childhood Music Foundations classes. Both programs were based in Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory and promoted active-music making using Gordon’s extensive research in music development. Cathy was chosen to participate in the Diamond Research Scholars Program at Temple University and presented her research, Infant Movement As Expressive of Musical Thought, at the Capitol building in Harrisburg, PA and at the state-wide P.M.E.A. Conference.

Cathy joined the faculty of Brookline Music School in 2015 and teaches the Music Moves for Piano and early childhood music classes. Before moving to Boston, Cathy taught for five years in the Greater Philadelphia area. She taught general music in two elementary schools and provided private piano and voice lessons.

Cathy holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education with a vocal performance emphasis from West Chester University of PA. She is certified in Elementary General Music by the Gordon Institute of Music Learning and First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege by the Feierabend Association for Music Educators. She is certified in Music Moves for Piano Level 1 and Elementary General Music by the Gordon Institute of Music Learning as well as First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege by the Feierabend Association for Music Educators.

Cathy performed with the Philadelphia Singers from 2009-2015 and sang at Carnegie Hall and at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She held a role in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Libera and has sung chorus for opera companies including Temple University Opera Theater, Poor Richard’s Opera, Russian Opera Workshop, and Center City Opera Theater (Philadelphia region). Cathy spent five years as a music director and piano accompanist for two Regina Academies (Ardmore and Abington, PA). She has sung in the Boston area as a cantor for St. Mary's and St. John's churches in Chelmsford as well as in choruses with the One City Choir at the Hatch Shell and Chorus Pro Musica, including as a soloist in Mozart's Requiem.

B.M. Music Education, Cum laude, Temple University; M.M. Music Education, West Chester University