Music Together & Kindermusik Instructors

Jane Smolens – Director/Instructor
Kindermusik® and Music Together®

Jane has been a Music Educator since 1986. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Oberlin College in 1980, and later received her M.Ed. from the University of Utah with a focus on Music Education and Curriculum Development. She also studied at the Dalcroze School of Music in New York City. Jane completed her Music Together® training in 1999 and her Kindermusik® training in 2000. She has been a Music Specialist on the preschool and elementary level and has many years of early childhood teaching experience. Jane has been a research assistant for The Mozart Effect for Children by Don Campbell and has taught private piano lessons to children for 15 years. Her 10-year-old son has been in music classes since infancy, allowing his mom to experience the value of early childhood music classes as a parent as well as a music educator.

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Renee Cohn Jones brings her combined talents as a Clinical Child Psychologist and Professional Clown to her Music Together classes. Renee received her PsyD from the University of Hartford in 2000 and worked with children and families in a counseling capacity for many years in. “Jalapeña” the clown has been bringing joy and laughter to families since 1995. As a Child Psychologist, Renee recognizes the importance of Music Education for young children. As a Music Together mom for many years, she recognizes the value and integrity of the Music Together Program from a professional and personal perspective. Renee’s love of music began as a child growing up in a musical family. She plays the violin, piano and currently teaches beginning piano to children. Her favorite instrument is her voice which she looks forward to sharing with children as they discover their own musical voice and expression. Additional teaching/professional endeavors include being a Hebrew School Educator, and national speaker on topics including Humor and Parenting Issues. Renee has enjoyed Music Together classes so much with her two children that she has decided to become a Music Together teacher and is excited to help expand this wonderful program in the Fort Collins area!

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Therese Cooper graduated from Uppsala University in Sweden in 1996 with a degree in education. She has always been involved in different kinds of music making, from band and orchestra to choir and voice lessons. Her family moved from Sweden to the Boulder area in 1998. As a new mom she quickly found the Music Together program for herself and her two children. She enjoyed it so much that when her own children graduated from the program, she decided to become a teacher herself. Therese got her license to teach Music Together in 2006. In 2010 she was awarded Music together Certification Level 1 by the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ. She brings her joy and enthusiasm to the program and is very excited to get to know you and make music together.

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Beth Beyer received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado/Boulder in 1994. Since that time, she has been performing non-stop around the world. Her performances have taken her from Denver to Hong Kong and Alaska to Guam. She has had the privilege to share the stage opposite Marie Osmond, Robert Goulet, Sally Struthers and many other talented artists. Favorite roles include Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" and Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors". A Colorado native, Beth has spent the last 14 years living and performing in New York City. The birth of her son brought
her back to Colorado and introduced her to Music Together. She completed her training this year and looks forward to sharing her love of music and children with your family!

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Keisha Davis

Music has surrounded Keisha throughout her life; she began playing the violin at an early age and later began to play the clarinet, piano and guitar. She earned a BM in Music Therapy from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. As a music therapist, Keisha has served children and adults with developmental disabilities and adults with Alzheimer's and dementia for the last eight years and most recently began working for Pathways Hospice. She provides private violin and guitar instruction for children and adults and has played in community orchestras in New York City, Phoenix and currently in Fort Collins. Keisha coaches the chamber groups for Youth Orchestra of the Rockies and plays violin for Dolce Musica Quartet. She began her Music Together career over a year ago in Phoenix, AZ and fell in love with the program. "Introducing music through experience, structure, fun and in diversity at an early age has proven effective in the accomplishments I have seen in my students" says Keisha. Keisha looks forward to sharing her passion for music with all of the families involved in the Music Together Classes.