"Dear Cindy,
I love you. And I very, very much love your music class. And although all the children love you, I love you the most."
-Signed, Samantha, age 4 (as dictated to Diana)

"Emily's experience at Music Makers over the past two years gives her an appreciation for music and confidence which we value greatly. Thank you." -Jane

"Thank you for all your creative teaching, wonderful singing and your loving presence!" -Dylan, Marny and Rob

"Although I have only attended the class a couple of times, I have been so taken by how you conduct the class and how you direct these children and inspire them. It's just awesome in a word, and I am grateful for you're being a part of my little boy's life." -John

"Thanks for all you do for these kids...all of them, not just ours!" -Georgia

"Matthew and Jillian have gotten so much out of Music Makers this past year. They have both been singing all the songs from class and both of them are recognizing notes, staffs, treble and bass clefs...The classes have not only opened their eyes and ears to music, but have made them excited and enthusiastic about the world of music...Thanks for everything." -Susanne

"Sasha so loves your class and your music! When she asked to learn to play the violin I thought to myself, I want her to learn music before she tackles the instrument. This class is exactly what I wanted for my child." -Maura

"We certainly have loved our first session with you at Music Makers. Your class makes our day! It makes our week! Thank you for being so enthusiastic, clever and age-appropriate in your approach." -Libby

"I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks for the work, discipline and caring you have put into your classes at Music Makers. The introduction to music theory, the opportunities to observe professional musicians playing instruments seen up close, the sweet stories, the singing, the games, have all been a delight for me as well as for the children. As for my granddaughters, I have long appreciated your warmth and openness to them. You and the music have been an important part of their lives. I hope you will continue your work for as long as it pleases you. And for as long as you do, there will be more children who will be lucky to have met you." -Joan

"Megan is still doing and finally enjoying piano lessons. Our years with you were very special. Thank you! And thanks to you Megan excels with rhythm and counting beats." -Diane

"I just want to thank you for the wonderful gifts you share with children. Nikolai's interest and enjoyment in music, singing and dancing has skyrocketed since he started in your class...I just love how he seems to move his body more freely and bob to any music he hears now--something he rarely did before. We look forward to continued learning and joy!" -Karin

"The classes have always been super! They were the genesis of both Hannah Lee's and my musical passions." -Marilyn

"You created a beautiful balance between listening and activity, and I appreciated the way in which you presented musical concepts. It was fun to see children and parents together enjoying the music." -Janet

"I had to write and tell you about a great experience. Michael James and I got caught in traffic once day, a rainy day. He started getting antsy, so I put in your tape, "That's How a Puppet Grows". He recognized your voice and got so happy. He took off his shoes and put his socks on his hand, gave me one and we made puppets, sang, rocked back and forth--just had a great time! Now, whenever we drive for a long period, he wants to "listen to Cindy". You don't know it, but every time we drive past your classroom, Michael James waves to you!" - Susan

"Kayla can't stop talking about you. She sleeps with her Music Makers shirt as a security blanket." - Lisa

"I want to thank you for all your love and energy you give to the children at Music Makers, and especially to Kaela. She loves Music Makers. She sings more than she talks...and she sings everywhere...in the car, around home, in stores and even playing on the beach. You are so wonderful with the children and I appreciate your gentleness and kindness with them. And most of all, I'm eager to know what it is you have in your thermos that allows you to do a class, hour after hour, after hour..." - Linda

"Thank you so much for the past few weeks. Your classes (energy, knowledge, consistency, and beautiful smile) have been so good for Gus and Gigi. They love you and your gift so very much. Sometimes you may not know what you give to families at a distance--thank you!" - Kaia

"Thank you for your talk at our preschool last week. The other parents have mentioned to me how much they appreciated your insight and suggestions. Your kindness and the example you set for all of us is a wonderful force. I cannot thank you enough. The effects of you and your class live in our house everyday. That's meant so much to Emily and to me. To have a conscious appreciation and exposure to music at her age is very special. The care, the effort, the talent you bring to everything you do is tremendous." - Jane

"Thank you for all the years of beautiful music. Erin, Bennett and Brooke loved your fun class. We will remember you and miss you in Santa Fe. Brooke picked out this little musical instrument for you in Taos, New Mexico. Remember Brooke when you play it, and we will be thinking of you." - Elizabeth

"We are so thankful to you for coming to our house and playing music with us for Sarah's birthday. Your music, your songs, and your irresistible happy spirit is so great! We loved sharing it with our neighbors and relatives. My eight year old nephew (and your former student), Teddy, was delighted to play guitar for you and with you! It was a special tribute to you and the musical community you have developed over all these years. We are so grateful to be a part of your music family." Love, Katie, Sarah, Ian and Craig

"Thanks for all your lovely classes. You mean so much to our family. We always think of you when we sing and play instruments together." - Lindsay, Eric, Lori and Greg

"As my six years of working with you come to a close, I wanted to let you know how much all of us have appreciated your passionate interest in music over the years. Lucy, Gordon and Margaret have each thrived under your guidance and we feel so lucky to have found you and Music Makers in the first place. I am really going to miss your unique sense of energy and exploration, and singing "Hi Everybody" once a week. Margaret listens to one of your recordings each night before bed, so I still get my daily dose of Cindy. Fortunately! Thank you, thank you for all you have given our family." - Kate

"Thank you, Cindy, for putting your heart in your music." - Love, Philip

"At an Irish party, where everyone participates in making music, other parents said how wonderful and rare it was for their family to be able to take joy in making music together. I thought--my kids and I get to do that every week at Music Makers! For the past four years, my daughters and I have looked forward with great joy to our weekly musical immersion. Both they and I have taken enormous pleasure in learning the fundamentals of music. Who knew my four-year-old would be able to clap out a rhythm with half notes, whole notes, quarter notes and eighth notes, let alone recognize them in sheet music. Who knew that my eight-year-old would be in her second year of studying violin. Music is an everyday pleasure in their lives. Thank you." -Maura

"Thank you very much for many years of patience, love and talent." -Sylvie, Steve and Charlotte

I had always wanted my children to have the kind of special relationship to music one acquires through playing an instrument. Starting my children at a young age, I made the rounds of the music schools in our town, tried school programs, and private lessons. My daughter is now passionately pursuing the same dream with her own three children. And unlike me, she is succeeding. During my visits, I watch, delighted beyond expression, the evolution of each of my three grand children's musical discoveries and, even if briefly, enthusiastically participate in their education.

My last visit was no different from others: The magical trio hosted its nightly concerts with the same enthusiasm, tackling longer songs on guitar, drums, bells, and a myriad of other instruments, with more elaborate beats and with greater confidence. As usual for the past three years, I accompanied each of my grandchildren to their music classes at a music school tucked in a church in Tiburon and geared to children from 18 months to six years of age.

This week Bill is the guest musician along with Wendy, one of the four pianists who accompany Cindy, the children’s teacher, on her guitar. Today there are three professional musicians teaching the heart and soul of music to a small group of two-to-three year olds. And teaching is not the right word. Cindy is not merely teaching, but transmitting her love and knowledge of music to the children.

Surrounded by African tribal drums and an assortment of unfamiliar percussion instruments of all sizes, Bill showed the children and the equally interested adults accompanying them how sound was created on each of his drums. A different motion, a different position of the drum translated into a new beat and created brand new sensations. The children sat riveted, listening to Bill’s colorful, age-appropriate anecdotes that gave life to each of the instruments.

Next came the children’s turn to perform. They formed their own band, a familiar weekly activity, and rotated the different percussion instruments. While fervently singing their favorite songs from their rich repertoire, they were unaware that in fact they were acquiring an understanding of the new instruments, their sound potential and their place in an orchestra. It is now no surprise to me to see my four and a half year-old grandson comfortable with, say, a calypso beat. While a steel drummer led the way, the children joined him on their own steel drums and adults sang along traditional Calypso tunes. Everyone in the room had turned into a music maker.

Now Cindy has paved the way for violin lessons for my grandson, and no doubt, he will jump into the experience with the same zeal thanks to Cindy who showed him that music is yet another means of expressing himself. With the same care, Cindy is also guiding my six year-old grand daughter towards a piano program. She knows her passion for music and thoroughly understands her personality and her needs.

I talk to other moms in the class. They all share similar kinds of stories. Katie, a mom of a two-and-a-half year-old, describes the joy her daughter feels in these classes. She tells the story of her little girl who proudly illustrates the musical concepts she has learned in music class: “My daughter sings all the songs at home. Out of the blue, she will suddenly sing out, ’FORTE, Mommy, I AM SHOUTING REALLY LOUD. THAT IS FORTE. Mommy, shhhh, I am singing really quietly, I am piano’. Where else can we find a class such as this one, loaded with real music theory, not just kiddy playtime? My daughter understands the notions of the treble and bass clef, the grand staff, quarter notes, half notes, tempo - largo, allegro and presto dynamics, piano and forte, beat, and chorus. How wonderful that Cindy is connecting music to the beat in poetry and to stories.”

And what music theory these little people learn! Last year, I watched my grand daughter and each of her classmates compose his/her own music on a grand staff and listen to the class rendition of each piece. After Bizet’s Carmen was featured as an illustration for changing tempo, a visit to the opera turned into a most memorable experience for my five year-old grand daughter. I look at Cindy’s empty classroom. The walls are filled with the words of songs Cindy has composed. Her CD’s are the music of choice during car rides. She is ever present in my grandchildren’s lives and in their family’s. I couldn’t leave San Francisco this time without sharing my experience with familes in the surrounding communities. I know next time I visit Mill Valley, music will again reach my ears. I can already hear a piano, a violin, and a little drummer working hard to keep the beat.

For those parents interested in investigating music programs for their children, Music Makers is located at 240 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon, and Cindy Cohen-Levy, the Director, can be reached at (415) 461-1066. For preliminary information, you can contact her by e-mail at cindy@music-makers.org , and can visit her site at http:// www.music-makers.org.