Meet the Teachers of Music Together^® at Bnai Keshet

LeAnne (she/her/hers) has been teaching Music Together family classes for more than 21 years and teaches Music Together In School for the Montclair Community PreK. She is a Teacher Trainer for Music Together Worldwide and is involved in leading workshops and training teachers here in the US as well as internationally. She has a BM in Vocal Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an MA in Music Therapy from New York University, as well as Music Together Certification Level II. All four of her kids are Music Together Alumni and one has even taken the Music Together teacher training. In the past few years she has also begun teaching MT Babies classes as well as Rhythm Kids® and Guitar for Grownups. She declares that this is the "Best Job Ever."

Jesse Minikes has been studying music since age 5, and has been performing for almost as long. Jesse received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Guitar Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, along with a Minor in Music Education. While in Philadelphia, Jesse was selected as the guitarist for the Rick Kerber Tribute Ensemble Big Band two years in a row. He performed around Philadelphia and at numerous weddings and private events with the Jesse Minikes Trio, performing both jazz piano and guitar.

Jesse has played a diverse group of musical styles including jazz, rock and roll, classical, hip-hop, blues, bluegrass, soul, funk, and Latin. In 2015 Jesse became an Adjunct Professor of Music at Bergen Community College where he taught music theory, music history, guitar lessons, as well as accompanying the BCC Choir and vocal workshops. In addition to guitar and piano, Jesse also plays trumpet, banjo, bass guitar, and ukulele. He has worked with all ages and ability levels, including as a piano instructor at the Tenafly Montessori School with students as young as 4 years old, and has also worked with a student of 92 years old! Jesse also gave several lecture/concerts on “Music and Medicine” and the “History of Jazz” at various locations around the tri-state area, including senior centers, country clubs, and synagogues.