ABOUT | Music Class for Tots

Music for Little Ones

Locally Owned

Music Class for Tots provides music education classes for children ages birth through preK. We partner with daycare centers, preschools & in-home daycares in the Des Moines metro and bring music to your child

during the day! We also provide family evening music classes in Norwalk & West Des Moines.

Music Class for Tots was started by owner, Amanda Meyer in 2015 when she first started offering evening family music classes in Norwalk. Interest and demand for the classes quickly grew and Amanda took this task to heart. Early childhood music education is often an area that is overlooked so she began researching and creating an engaging music curriculum. As Music Class for Tots continues to grow and add more teachers it's been important to Amanda to have only the best music educators teaching your little musicians!

Our Goal

Our goal is to provide every child with a well rounded music education and to foster a love of music that will carry on through their years. Early childhood music education provides opportunities for growth and nourishment in many ways for a young child's development. Research shows exposure and engagement in musical activities in early years paves the way for further growth in their primary years, not only in music, but other areas like: literacy, speech, mathematics, motor development and social/emotional development. We also want them to have fun and enjoy music making! We want them to associate music with happy hearts, joyful singing, exploration, confidence and imagination!

What We Do in Class

Your child will have fun each week singing and/or listening to songs and exploring and playing a wide variety of musical instruments. We make songs and nursery rhymes come to life by using a lot of puppets, props and dramatic play. We perform different movement activities, dance and work together with the parachute and stretchy band. We usually start and end our time with sing-along time with the guitar or ukulele and the children love helping us strum! Your child will be exposed to quality music literature including: folksongs, nursery rhymes, classical music, traditional songs and games and finger rhymes.

About Our Teachers

Amanda Meyer is the owner and one of the teachers for Music Class for Tots. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2008 with her Bachelor's degree in music education. She's spent the last 15 years teaching music to young children in public schools (K-5 general music and 5th grade chorus), daycare centers, in-home daycares and public libraries in the Des Moines metro. Amanda has completed levels 1 & 2 of Kodaly Music Pedagogical training and she's also received training in John Feierabend's curriculum, "First Steps in Music." When not teaching music she enjoy spending time with her family. Amanda resides in Norwalk with her husband, their four children and corgi.

Kelli Stoermer joined Music Class for Tots in September of 2022. Kelli received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Iowa Wesleyan College and her Masters of Arts degree in Education from Viterbo University. She brings experience and knowledge from spending seven years teaching music to students from grades preschool - sixth grade in Northeast Iowa, Newton & West Des Moines. Kelli also serves as the Director of Business for Heartland Youth Choir. Kelli resides in Waukee with her husband, daughter and two dogs.

Sarah Jorgensen joined Music Class for Tots in May of 2023. Sarah received her Bachelor's degree in classical vocal performance and extensive master's pedagogy classes from the University of NE-Lincoln. She has been selected to perform with multiple orchestras including the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and the New York Symphonia. Sarah has performed lead roles in numerous operas and theaters regionally, and performed with Broadway Cares as an equity actor in NYC. Sarah has recently spent time teaching preschool and currently teaches voice lessons at City Voices in Des Moines. Sarah resides in Des Moines with her husband and four amazing children.

Elizabeth Hansen joined Music Class for Tots in September of 2023! Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Luther College. She also has her Masters of Science in Education from Drake University. Elizabeth brings years of experience and knowledge from spending the last nine years teaching K-5 general music in Indianola and Ankeny. Elizabeth has also dedicated time studying various music curriculums. She's received certifications in: First Steps in Music, Conversational Solfege Level 1 & 2 and Orff Level 1. Elizabeth resides in Grimes with her husband and two daughters.

Grant will be joining Music Class for Tots in January of 2024! Grant received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Simpson College. He's spent a considerable amount of time studying various music pedagogical approaches earning certificates in: Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly & Conversational Solfege. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience teaching elementary music students K-5 over the years and currently serves as the 3rd and 4th grade music teacher at Orchard Hills Elementary School in Norwalk. Grant will be teaching evening classes in West Des Moines. Grant resides in Norwalk with his wife and daughter.

Ms. Caitlyn joined Music Class for Tots in December of 2023. She graduated from Southwestern Community College with an associate's degree in Professional Music. During her studies she focused on jazz, classical piano, theory, ear

training, jazz and classical voice, recording studio & music business. Caitlyn loves performing and stays active in local Des Moines theaters performing in various productions. She also teaches piano at Arrow Academy in the evenings to students of all ages.

Mrs. Amanda

Mrs. Kelli

Mrs. Sarah

Mrs. Elizabeth

Mr. Grant