Musikgarten Teacher Educator Karen Haughey
is committed to teaching music to children.

Karen Haughey Music Studio
Billings, MT

After earning Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education, I started my career by teaching public school music.  During my studies I was very focused on current music education methods, such as Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze and Suzuki, which helped me greatly in my early teaching.  In 1982, when my first child was born, I switched to teaching private piano lessons in my home. Then in 1989, I started teaching early childhood music classes in a church fellowship room.  By 2000, I was also teaching at a local piano store.  Now after all these years, I have a successful program with over 200 students in 24 classes.  Who would have thought back then how far I would come! 

In 1996, I was asked by the Musikgarten authors to become part of the team of early childhood music educators that teach the Musikgarten teacher workshops every summer. Each summer I meet a new batch of potential teachers for several days of curricula review, demonstration classes and practice teaching.  I really enjoy meeting these new teachers and showing them how rewarding this career can be.  It’s very satisfying when I can see the new teachers that I’ve taught succeeding with their own Musikgarten studios.

I love Musikgarten. The depth, integrity and richness of the program cannot be overstated. This is the only curriculum I have ever taught that I enjoy more every year. The beauty of the material: folk songs and stories, connection with nature, poetry and understanding of how children learn is so right.  Every year I enjoy teaching more and come to new levels in my own understanding about music and children. As you can see, I am committed to spreading the joys and values of music to the children and families in the Billings Montana area. Musikgarten has profoundly enriched my life.