About Us
Musically Minded has been “awakening the rhythm of life” in children ages birth-5 through meaningful interactions with music all around the Puget Sound since September 2003.
How it all began…
Jocelyn Manzanarez, owner and founder of Musically Minded, held her first class in Maple Valley, Washington with just six babies and their moms. She cultivated the babies’ innate musical abilities and interests through play, song, movement and love. She knew her quest to touch as many young children as possible through music had begun.
In 2004, Musically Minded began offering classes exclusively in childcare centers and in-home day cares. By embedding this quality music-making experience into the school day, working parents can still expose their children to music without having to take away from valuable family time.This offering can sometimes be the reason a parent chooses one childcare over another.
Musically Minded has now grown to reach over 2,000 children each week and continues to grow thanks to a team of talented teachers and amazing partnerships with childcare providers who understand the value of music for young children.
JOCELYN MANZANAREZ, M.M.ED.
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Jocelyn Manzanarez received her BA from the University of Montana in Music Education and her MA in Music Education from the University of Washington. She is a certified K-12 music educator in Washington state as well as a Washington state S.T.A.R.S. certified trainer for childcare providers. Jocelyn is the founder of Musically Minded, a Seattle based early childhood music education program that provides weekly music classes at childcare centers and preschools both in person and virtually. She is a frequent presenter at conferences throughout the Pacific Northwest teaching teachers how to keep circle times fresh and fun through active, hands-on learning. Jocelyn is the author of Circle Time Success, an early childhood music curriculum to help teachers take the overwhelm out of circle time by providing engaging activities and practical strategies that bring joy back to teaching.
Meet the Team
ROSIE BERRY, MT-BC
MUSIC SPECIALIST
Rosie Barry is a Board Certified Music Therapist. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy.
She has been working with Musically Minded since 2018 teaching music in the Seattle area.
This past year, Rosie took the opportunity to work as a lead preschool teacher where she strengthened important skills like flexibility, patience, and classroom management. She looks forward to using this experience in her work back with Musically Minded.
Rosie prides herself on creating lessons that allow children at all ages and abilities to be successful and achieve both musical and non-musical goals.
LAURA ARNOLD, BME
MUSIC SPECIALIST
Laura Arnold grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and has always enjoyed making music. She attended Wartburg College (Wavery, IA), graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education with majors in Music Education and Music Therapy.
Laura lived for almost a decade in Alaska and for five years in northwest Montana where she worked as a music therapist for children with special needs, taught private piano and voice lessons, and was involved in local choral ensembles. She moved to the Seattle area with her husband and daughter in 2013 and immediately joined the Musically Minded team. She also provides music at her church, and sings with Resonate, a semi-professional a cappella octet.
Laura enjoys bringing her teaching experience, music therapy background, and love of music and children to early childhood classrooms through Musically Minded.
Kate Schneider, MT-BC
MUSIC SPECIALIST
Kate is a Board Certified Music Therapist. She grew up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. Kate moved to Boise Idaho in 2015 where she practiced music therapy in a pediatric therapy clinic for seven years. She is passionate about supporting the unique ways every child can connect and create within music. She is excited to bring her diverse experience within the therapy setting to Musically Minded early childhood classes.
Emma Daughters, MT-BC
MUSIC SPECIALIST
Emma received her Bachelor of arts in music therapy from Seattle Pacific University with an emphasis in psychology. She has experience working with children and adults of all ages and various abilities. Emma has enjoyed working in private practice, public schools, assisted living, memory care, hospice, and group homes. She is passionate about using the power of music to change lives by improving all domains of functioning. Emma hopes to not only instill a passion for music in the children she works with, but also use it as a means to build community. In her free time, she enjoys playing drums, baking, and spending time outdoors.
Sydney Wickman
MUSIC SPECIALIST
Sydney is a recent graduate from Washington State University. She majored in Criminal Justice & Criminology and minored in Music. She has loved music from a very early age and has been playing the guitar and writing songs since she was in Elementary. In college, she valued the study of children in the justice system and she saw the importance of how they should be treated and cared for with rehabilitation. Her passion for music and her love for kids has brought her to Musically Minded in hopes of learning musical skills that she can take into the justice system in the future.
She looks forward to working with children, in hopes that they all feel loved and important, sparking creativity in each of them that they can take into their bright futures.
Join Our Team and get PAID to PLAY!
Musically Minded is always interested in connecting with potential team members.
If you think you have what it takes, contact us today!