Jo Simons
Program Director and Music Together® Instructor

Jo Simons is a native New Yorker who came from an intense musical background. Both parents are professional musicians and music school founders. She has a B.A. in piano from U.W. Madison (12/90) and has taught piano since the early ’80s. When her eldest daughter’s fraternal twins were born in 1995, she became interested in music for young children. She brought Music Together to Madison in the fall of 1997. She has also created Piano Puppies, a group piano class for 3-4 year olds who have graduated from the Music Together (or other early music) programs. It is an excellent transition between preschool music and future formal lessons.

In 2000, Jo created a non-profit music school named for the original school her parents founded in 1950 in Rockland County, New York. The Community Music School, ltd (www.communitymusicschools.org) has as part of its regular programming, scholarship classes and private lessons for elementary, middle and highschool students through the MusicLink program (www.musiclinkfoundation.org). The teachers are volunteers from the community or University students with music backgrounds. Teachers find the school through the website volunteeryourtime.org or through contacts at the Madison Metropolitan School District. Music teachers identify talented, low-income children (receiving free or reduced lunch) and refer them to the music school for hook-up with a volunteer teacher. The program that the school utilizes is called MusicLink which is a national program originating in Arlington, VA. Over 2,000 students are served nation-wide through the MusicLink program. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the CMS in care of Jo Simons at P.O. Box 3120 Madison, WI 53704.

We are always in need of funding for instrument rentals, music, transportation to and from lessons. Any amount is appreciated.