Instructors

Our instructors are music therapists, college professors, music educators, and performers who all have a great deal of experience. Although they come from varied musical backgrounds, the one constant is their passion for our members. They each have a unique approach, but their dedication, patience, knowledge, and enthusiasm is consistently applied to every class. The emphasis is always on getting the most out of each member’s talents and providing education, but in a fun, social, and creative environment.

Our instructors are a tremendous part of our success as an organization, and without them we wouldn’t exist. So thank you for your tireless efforts, we greatly appreciate it!

Stephanie Jensen-Moulton

Why/how did you become involved with music?

I have been involved with music as long as I can remember. My grandpa, a jazz musician, used to sing and dance with me before I could talk. I have always taken instrument lessons and enjoyed music class at school, but I realized I had a special talent for music when I was in 7th grade choir. I got chosen to sing a solo in the Christmas show, and the audience really liked my performance. It was then that I realized how much I liked being onstage and entertaining.

Who is your favorite artist/band and why?

I don’t really have a favorite artist or band. I like listening to a variety of styles/genres of music. Above all musicians in the world, I look up to my voice teacher of over 10 years, Sally Sanford. She approaches music from both intellectual and artistic points of view and was the inspiration for my approach to music. She is the most thoughtful, articulate musician I know.

Why are you involved with DMF?

I got involved with DMF through a friend (Stephanie), who is also an instructor, in fall 2007. I have remained involved because I believe in the power of what DMF accomplishes. Music means so much to the members of the community, and working with the community reminds me of why I love music so much. Getting to know the members of the community over the past 3 years has been an absolute gift, and the community is a very important part of my life.

What is your favorite experience from your time at DMF?

There are so many to choose from! One memory that stands out is seeing Tyler sing a solo in “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” at our spring 2009 Music Celebration concert. Tyler has been somewhat shy during his time at DMF, and he was a bit nervous when I first assigned him the solo. He and his mother, Nadine, worked so hard on memorizing the solo over the course of the semester. Each week, he grew more and more confident. When he stepped onstage, he blew everyone away, including me! It was amazing to see how much he had grown, and I almost cried when the audience roared with applause after his performance. I was so proud of his progress, and proud to have been there to coach him along the way.

Where did you go to school?

I graduated: Interlochen Arts Academy in 1999, with a high school diploma in voice; Wellesley College in 2003 with a BA in Music and Medieval/Renaissance Studies; CUNY Graduate Center in 2009 with a Ph.D. in Musicology.

What involvement with music do you have besides working with DMF?

I sing professionally. I sing with and am the Artistic Director of Charites, an early music trio. I am also a singer-songwriter and perform throughout NYC.

Why/how did you become involved with music?

My parents exposed my siblings and me to various genres of music.

Who is your favorite artist/band and why?

Too many favorites to mention!

Why are you involved with DMF?

I love teaching music to young children and I love the Trush family.

What is your favorite experience from your time at DMF?

Reaching a child through music, which may mean eye contact, clapping, movement.

Where did you go to school?

University of Wisconsin

What involvement with music do you have besides working with DMF?

I am an early childhood teacher and teach music in my class. I also teach a music/sign language/movement class for children ages 3-6 years.

Born in Brooklyn, Pepi Ginsberg studied writing at the University of Pennsylvania, where she began playing guitar and composing her own songs. Since then, she has played in many notable venues throughout the country and recorded four albums. She has released one record on Park the Van records with another due out this fall. Pepi teaches at DMF as her schedule permits.

Why/how did you become involved with music?

I stumbled across DMF through meetup.com where I expressed interests in volunteering, music, music therapy, and children with special needs.

Who is your favorite artist/band and why?

There are just too many to mention. I have a very eclectic taste in music, ranging from baroque classical, to country music, rock, folk, reggae, world music, and even some heavy metal.

Why are you involved with DMF?

Sharing joy through music is my passion. I acquired a Masters in Music Therapy to bring healing and learning through music.

What is your favorite experience from your time at DMF?

There are just too many to mention in the scope of this questionnaire. I can say this though: Any moment where I have witnessed loving support between and amongst the members has moved me tremendously. This has happened numerous times.

Where did you go to school?

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Yale University and a Masters in Music Therapy from New York University. I have completed all the coursework at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Training.

What involvement with music do you have besides working with DMF?

My primary instrument is the piano. I have over twenty years of private lessons in classical piano, including four years at the Yale School of Music during my undergraduate years. I have sung in gospel and glee clubs in college, worked as a soloist and choral singer at Zion Episcopal Church (as well as other institutions), and I have performed and recorded with the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York (from 1992-2005). I have had recurrent gigs with Willow, the resident all women choral group of Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter. I am not currently performing in any formal way, but I continue to work on my singing, piano and guitar skills.

Stephanie Jensen-Moulton is an Assistant Professor of Musicology at Brooklyn College. Stephanie graduated with a Ph.D. in Musicology and a Women's Studies Certificate from the CUNY Graduate Center. She has published articles on women in hip-hop, the nineteenth-century pianist 'Blind Tom' Wiggins and feminist pedagogy. As a singer, she specializes in contemporary repertory, and has been hailed by the New York Times as a soprano who sings 'brilliantly and confidently.' Stephanie is on the Board of Advisors and teaches during the summer.

John is a Board Certified Music Therapist and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and has been teaching the keyboard to Daniel for more than 9 years. While an Intern at Beth Abraham, he worked with Oliver Sacks and Concetta Tomaino. John is a lifetime percussionist and has played with several touring groups.

Why/how did you become involved with music?

I remember the girl next door signing up for piano lessons when we were 7. I was hooked from that moment. My Dad went out and bought a second hand piano and I got my first guitar the following year.
Who is your favorite artist/band and why?

In the past I have been a huge fan of The Jam, SLF and Oasis - each providing a soundtrack for my life at various stages. More recently I enjoy listening to the Laurie Berkner band with my baby son.

Why are you involved with DMF?

I was walking around the reservoir in Central Park with Achilles and mentioned to Daniel that I played piano and guitar. He invited me to volunteer with DMF and I have never looked back.

What is your favorite experience from your time at DMF?

I love to see people putting their inhibitions behind them and taking a chance. More often than not they find that they have talent. Teaching at DMF is all about creating a safe environment in which chances can be taken – and this is when the magic happens.

Where did you go to school?

I got an English degree from the University of Sunderland (UK) and a Masters in Sports Management from the University of Sheffield (UK).

What involvement with music do you have besides working with DMF?

None

Why/how did you become involved with music?

My mom always wanted music in the house and she herself was not a musician. She spent a lot of time taking my siblings and me to various music lessons trying to help us find an instrument or passion in some way. There was a lot of resentment towards this and she would always tell us, “The music can stop when your sixteen,” meaning that was when we could stop going to our lessons. I vowed that I would quit all music at that time and then when my birthday came, I realized that music was my life. All the piano recitals, youth symphony rehearsals, and even the marching band were all things that I loved to do and so I decided to continue my studies and pursued a Bachelor of Music. I never felt good performing, unless I was performing for others or helping others to play so I majored in music therapy and have enjoyed that career immensely over the last ten years. I fought being a musician with my mom endlessly while growing up and now it is apart of my everyday experience that has brought me much joy.

Who is your favorite artist/band and why?

Bon Jovi --- Besides the enjoyment of their music, I feel they are so grounded. First they are loyal and have remained an intact music group for 20+ years. It is very rare to find this. (that is the quality I admire most in people, so its no wonder they are my favorite band). I also think that the band members don’t try to compete with each other, but rather just enjoy making music together. And finally through the years they have evolved with various styles showing creativity and strong musicianship.

Why are you involved with DMF?

It feels like home to me. I have many experiences with music, but have only had a small handful of those experiences that have contributed to me feeling that I am doing something greater than the music. DMF falls into that category. I am very privileged to be able to contribute to DMF.

What is your favorite experience from your time at DMF?

It is really quite hard to pick just one. But I would say recently in the last year I was able to work with an individual in Keyboard II class who initially would not be apart of a group and would not interact with peers. In this Spring Semester he not only plays w/keyboard II class members appropriately and is a strong addition to the class, he attended the adolescent drumming class with his peers. To see those kinds of improvements makes me feel very accomplished and glad to spend my time involved with DMF.

Where did you go to school?

Arizona Stated University – B.M. Bachelor’s of Music, Music Therapy

Teachers College, Columbia University – Ed. M. Masters of Education, Counseling Psychology

What involvement with music do you have besides working with DMF?

I provide group sessions for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and individual sessions to those in palliative care/hospice program at Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home. My daughter and I are involved in Suzuki violin training.

Why/how did you become involved with music?

My dad was a talented singer and encouraged us to sing. I sang in our church choir at a young age.

Who is your favorite artist/band and why?

There are so many favorites, probably too many to name, especially across the different styles of music that I appreciate, but I would have to say the Beatles because of their versatility and musicianship.

Why are you involved with DMF?

I am involved with Daniel’s Music Foundation because of my friendship with the Trush Family. I have known them for many years and have always admired their family. I was Daniel’s guitar teacher back in the nineties.

What is your favorite experience from your time at DMF?

The smiles.

Where did you go to school?

SUNY Oswego. The Institute of Audio Research, NYC.

What involvement with music do you have besides working with DMF?

I am an opera singer who has sung internationally since the mid-nineties. I have also written, sung and played music for film, television and radio.

Braulio is a life long percussionist and teaches the Introduction to Percussion and Percussion II classes on Wednesdays. He has over 20 years teaching experience and will be using a variety of instruments including congas, bongos, hand drums, buffalo drums along with some "homemade instruments." Braulio will also assist in the Join the Band class on Wednesdays.

Jennifer is a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology at the CUNY Graduate Center, and works as a Communication Fellow and teaches Music in Civilization at Baruch College. Due to her commitment to Baruch College, Jennifer will not be able to teach this semester but will continue to be the webmaster for DMF.