Teacher Bio
“Children love to be in my studio because they join other children and adults to dance, sing and play musical instruments. They are free to wiggle, jump, skip, sing and develop as children should through age-appropriate music activities as part of the Musikgarten Curriculum. The classes are small, not like the overcrowded classes at the libraries. The music material is the best offered on the East End. You will meet other families that value music in their lives and all together we hope to nurture and develop all the children in my classes to play and enjoy music throughout their entire lives.”
Ellen Johansen is a licensed Musikgarten teacher and has taught all levels of the Musikgarten for over 25 years. She is also certified by the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association. Her earliest trainers were the authors of Musikgarten, Lorna Heyge and Audrey Sillick. She strongly supports the philosophy of starting music development through appropriate and fun musical activities in a classroom setting and expand these musical skills at home. "I believe that families today need a space like mine where they can learn how to incorporate music into every day of their lives." Her classroom setting is ideal for children. The studio is bright and cheery with large windows and carpeted floors. Two large Steinways stand to the side of a large enough open space where children and their families can dance and move and explore various instruments.
Ellen also teaches piano and taught students from age 5 through 90 for over forty years. She studied piano at Juilliard, Hofstra University, and the Aaron Copland School of Music. Her teachers include Jennie Alessi, Kathrine Parker, and Blanche Abram. She continues to study music, performs often in public and inspires her students to keep music through the entire life.