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Muskari Teachers
Jaana Kantola
Jaana Kantola, a native of Finland, is inspired by classical and Latin music and has a strong choral background having started singing at the age of 8.
Jaana studied Jazz Music in City College of New York where she received the Friar Foundation Award -99 in recognition of best audition in jazz vocal program and The Sidney Zolot Graduation Award -03 in recognition of excellence as a performer. She has studied privately with jazz vocalists Sheila Jordan and Cynthia Scott. Jaana had a long gig at Grace Church in Harlem and has performed with choruses lead by pianist Barry Harris and drummer Max Roach.
From 2004-10 Jaana co-lead an original world music group Kaiku which was rewarded "performer of the year -06" title by Finlandia Foundation. With Kaiku Jaana toured the Midwest and Finland, and was commissioned to write music to James Joyce peoms by Artistic Director of Symphony Space Isaiah Sheffer. Kaiku was also a part of "Tosi tarina" (true story) documentary series broadcast by the Finnish National Television YLE.
In New York Kaiku appeared as a guest on WFMU and WBAI radio stations and had their music played on WNYC.
Since 2006 Jaana has worked at Diller-Quaile School of Music. She leads classes that vary from music and art, music and movement, story drama with Orff instruments to chorus. In addition, Jaana has taught at the Finnish School of New York primary school aged children since 2003.
Apart from being a music teacher Jaana does Voice Over work. Her most recent work includes a station id for WBAI both in Finnish and English.
Quotes:
"I think Jaana is a singer with a lovely warm sound, good intonation and excellent phrasing. Rare qualities indeed in this age."
—Murry Wall -bassist
"Through her voice Jaana transmits sheer joy and exuberance. It's delightful to hear and to have the pleasure of joining her in performance.!"
—Cliff Korman -pianist
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Laura Korhonen
Laura Korhonen graduated from Lahti University of Applied Sciences in Finland with a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2010. The title of her thesis was ”Todos juntos-All Together. Expedition of Musical Education in Uruguay.” She has also studied flute for eighteen years and graduated six years ago from the Kuopio Conservatoire in Finland.
Laura is an experienced educator and has been teaching music professionally since 2006. She has taught children from 2 months to 8 years old and currently teaches at Iisalmi Academy of Music in Finland.
Earlier she taught at the English Kindergarten in Lahti, Finland as well as The Ullanlinna School, an English Montessori School in Helsinki, Finland. Besides the flute, Laura also plays the piano and acoustic guitar.
Her teaching style is a combination of the Kodaly-method and Capoeira, a Brazilian art form which uses elements from martial arts, sports and music.
Besides her love of music and children, Laura enjoys playing sports
and traveling.
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Ester Marvin
Ester Marvin is a Hunter College graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology and focused studies in dance. She began studying dance intensively at Sibelius High School, one of the leading performing arts schools in Helsinki, Finland.
In addition to competing and performing in dance, Ester has a wide
variety of experience in working with children. Not only did she teach
dance at several elementary schools in Finland, but, in 2008, she
worked as a therapist for autistic children for the South Carolina
Early Autism Project. In New York, she is an active participant in the
Finnish community and has been the assistant teacher at The Finnish
School for several years.
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Margaret Monaco
A lifelong resident of Greenwich Village, Maggie Monaco is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she earned a Masters degree in Art Education. She graduated cum laude from New York University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History. In addition to attending the United Nations International School, Maggie has studied art at NYC's Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Maggie has had a variety of challenging teaching experiences, and is highly trained in a wide array of artistic teaching practices. Her background in art, passion for working with children, and teaching qualifications enable her to engage students in a variety of exciting learning experiences.
Maggie is NY State Certified to teach visual arts to students grades K-12. She currently teaches art at P.S 41 in Manhattan, and at SVA's Art for Kids Program.
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