Mission Statement
Music for Life enhances a child's inherent ability to create, express and problem solve through music.
About Us
Music for Life was founded in 2004 to address the importance of music education in the development of children from Infants - School age. Study after study shows the undeniable correlation between music and higher brain function in mathematics, self-esteem, spatial and temporal reasoning, etc.. Our curriculum specifically targets all aspects of these developmental keystones while teaching students all about music in a fun and age appropriate manner.
We make it easy to get the developmental benefits of music by bringing Music for Life to you. Our teachers travel to over 30 schools in the greater Cleveland area. We are currently expanding in the Washington DC area and plan on travelling to an additional 75 schools by the Fall of 2012 as well as a new product line!
Our Services
A La Carte: Extra-curricular Enrichment Program
This class takes place for one half-hour each week for a duration of 30 weeks. We usually start in Mid-September or Early October and run through until the end of the school year. Parents love the independent evaluations in the form of live audio recordings, as well as access to take home materials via our website, which allows students to generate music reading skills that have been left unattempted by any of our competition. Our students are actually reading simple melodies by the end of the program on the piano. We showcase these skills at the end of the year with an adorable concert for family and friends.
Discovery: Music for Life 101- Covers general music theory for every class in your school
School directors, If you would like all of your students to participate in a weekly music class, this is just what you have been looking for. We offer your school “visiting music specialists with training in child development to provide musicality and creativity†as recommended by the National Association of Music Education (www.menc.org), at affordable hourly rates. Curriculum includes orchestral instrument exposure, music theory, rhythm and much more.
Private Lessons: Our teachers teach everything from Piano to Bassoon
Interested in private piano lessons, maybe the saxophone? Music for Life instills a love of music that lasts a lifetime.
Call us to set up your first free lesson at 877-97MUSIC.
Get a Free First Class
Call us to set up a time that is convenient for you and you can decide if Music for Life is a match for your school at no obligation to you! Call or email us at 877.97MUSIC or info@musicforlifekids.com
Our Staff
Mary Rafferty
Mary Rafferty is the founder and an instructor at Music for Life. She attended Case Western Reserve University where she attained her Bachelors Degree in Biology. Mary has studied under many great teachers including Michael Mayhew, the associate principal French horn player from the Cleveland Orchestra. She gives private instruction in Piano, French horn, Flute, Trumpet, Violin, Trombone, Clarinet and Saxophone.
Jacque Gosciewski
Jacque has been with Music for Life since its inception in 2004. She is the lead instructor and the Cleveland Regional Manager. She acquired her Bachelors Degree in Music Education (Licensed K-12) with a Minor in Flute Performance at Baldwin Wallace College. Her love of music can be seen through the passion with which she teachers her music students.
Carmel Lapa
Carmel is the Director of Business Development and Marketing for Music for Life. She joins our team with the vision of making music education more readily available to children of all ages by expanding the Music for Life program to schools nationwide. She has taught piano for over 25 years. She received a Masters Degree in Music from Indiana University and has served on several arts boards supporting arts education for children.
Rachel McKinney (Cleveland)
Rachel McKinney is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in piano performance. While performing as a solo instrumentalist, she also discovered a passion and talent for collaborative music. This love of collaboration and music education has brought her to Music for Life, where she hopes to help children gain a knowledge and love of music that will last a lifetime. She is currently enrolled in the graduate music education program at Ashland University.