Monica began teaching for Music Together^® after graduating from San Francisco State University with a BA in Music in 2006 and has taught both in San Francisco as well as in Brooklyn, NY. Her career focus revolves around community building through children, preferably through the arts, and she loves how Music Together allows her to do just that. She is primarily a vocalist and songwriter, though often accompanies herself on guitar. Monica performs locally in the Latin & Folk genres, and has sang in venues ranging from local cafes to the Yerba Buena Center to Yoshi's, San Francisco. She has been honored to share the stage with artists such as John Calloway, John Santos, Jesus Diaz, David Flores and others. She has most recently been enjoying teaching at a non-profit community pre-school, and first started teaching at MTSF in 2007.

"Many families tell me that the main reason they love my class is because of my nurturing and calming energy. As much as we are in class to give the children a musical experience, I also very much acknowledge each child regarding their individual social and gross motor development. I am first and foremost patient and warm with the children. I like to encourage the families to think of music class as a means of community building where people can come together to enjoy music as a way to connect with and enjoy each other, and the musical development of the children in turn should be a natural by-product of their exposure to a musical community. I believe children learn through osmosis and that music class should primarily be a place where they can build a positive relationship with music through building great memories around it. A positive association with music will cause them to seek it out on their own. We do small movements in class that are intended to help children develop their fine motor skills as well as large movement activities that give them a rich environment in which they can develop their vestibular and proprioceptive senses. Overall, I aim for my classes to be a place where the children of a community can experience social, physical and above all, musical development."