Rachel
(she/her)
Rachel is the founder and director of The Harmony Garden. She teaches Kindermusik classes, beginning piano, and cello.
Some of Miss Rachel’s earliest memories are musical. Standing on tippy-toes to reach the keys of her grandfather’s piano, attempting to make a sound on her mom’s clarinet, singing along to Disney movies, going everywhere with an ancient cassette walkman, figuring out how to read notes before words, harmonizing before learning to ride a bike, and - at the age of four - asking her children’s choir director how to conduct. But nothing quite hit the spark until she saw that dusty old child’s cello in the corner of her grandfather’s house and decided on the spot: “I’m going to play that!”
Her heart set on becoming a string teacher and inspiring others as her teachers had inspired her, she earned a Bachelors in Music Education from Moravian College - where she fell equally in love with the viola da gamba, a Renaissance-era string instrument - and a Masters from Kent State University. Later on, she discovered the immense joy that is early childhood education, and since earning her Kindermusik Educator license in 2012 has brought the benefits and joy of an early musical experience to hundreds of babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents.
After a brief time teaching in the public schools, Rachel set out to fulfill a secret wish held since high school: to bring enriching musical experiences to the families in her hometown of Hopewell Jct. What began as piano lessons in her living room grew into The Harmony Garden of today.
As a teacher, Rachel strives for her students to not just grow as musicians, but to discover and grow into the unique, beautiful individuals they are. As Director of The Harmony Garden, she is honored to have the opportunity to bring the arts into the lower Dutchess area and to mentor a phenomenal team of fellow teachers and musicians.
When not at the studio, Rachel enjoys gardening, genealogy research, taking care of her rescue animals, reading, food festivals, and some good old crime-solving TV.