Betsy Flanagan with children Betsy Flanagan obtained her Bachelor’s in Music Education (summa cum laude), Kindergarten thru 12th Grade, from Illinois State University in Bloomington, IL in 1981. She also has a Master’s degree from Illinois State University in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance, and has completed her Doctoral coursework in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana where she was granted an Academic Fellowship. Betsy has taught children of all ages and backgrounds in public grade schools, high schools, universities, summer camps and also privately in her home studio for over 25 years, providing her students high quality instruction together with passionate motivation.

Betsy has again been asked to be the Guest Conductor at Kindermusik International’s Convention, this year being held in Raleigh NC. Betsy is no stranger to this role as she was the Guest Conductor at the 2003, 2005, 2006 & 2007 Kindermusik International Conventions in San Antonio TX, Nashville TN, Greenville SC, and Chicago IL where she directed Kindermusik Educators from across the world. In 2006 Betsy was the Keynote speaker at Maestro event at the International convention. In 2004-2008 Betsy was appointed to Kindermusik International’s Speakers Bureau out of North Carolina where she and 5 other educators travel the world teaching other Kindermusik educators both how to elevate their programs and how to incorporate the most current techniques and research in early childhood education. Betsy was asked to co-author Kindermusik International’s 2005-2006 Professional Development Seminar. In May of this year, Betsy traveled with Kindermusik CEO Michael Dougherty to Bombay, India to start-up Kindermusik in that country by training the Educator Trainers of the EuroKids preschools. These company trainers are responsible for training their educators throughout 28 states in India and who teach 75,000 children. India makes the 63rd Country to offer Kindermusik. For the past 2 years, Betsy has been awarded the Maestro Conductor’s Circle status by Kindermusik International®, representing the top 1 percent of over 6,000 licensed educators in the world who use Kindermusik’s music and movement curricula.

Early childhood experts agree that the child’s most important teacher is the parent or caregiver, and that the best place for a child to learn is in the home where they feel safe and secure. Betsy established Musical Pathways (neural pathways) when she recognized the need for a studio that offers high-quality musical experiences for young children to enjoy with their families. Classes are designed to bring the parent/caregiver and child together on a weekly basis to play together and bond in a warm and nurturing musical environment. The parent/caregiver is then provided a “home materials” kit which allows the parent to “take the fun and learning home” all week long.

While providing a fun & invaluable musical foundation, Kindermusik fosters learning and growth in all areas of child development. Children are prepared for future learning environments such as math, language, science, athletics and fine arts; future challenges socially; and future endeavors requiring strong self-esteem and confidence. Our mission is to change the world one child, one family at a time.

Betsy lives in Waunakee with her husband Larry who is a partner with D&S Dental Lab of Waunakee. Their son Matthew, his wife Melissa, their daughter (grandbaby Sami), and one grandbaby on the way (Drew Matthew) live in Waunakee. Betsy directs the Adult Choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Waunakee, and is an avid golfer & gardener. She is an active member of the Kindermusik Educator’s Association, Waunakee Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Optimist Club, and the Business and Professional Women’s Association.

Email Miss Betsy or call (608) 850-4854

Kindermusik is in Ann Welsch's blood. Ann was the owner and director of her own Kindermusik school, The Music House, for 7 years in the St. Paul, Minn. area until she and her family relocated to Stoughton, Wisc. in 2006. Ann has personally touched the lives of thousands of children and their families with the gift of Kindermusik. She can think of no greater love than having the opportunity of not only bringing music into the lives of young children and their families each week, but bringing lifelong skills and strong parental bonding to every family. We are fortunate that her passion to teach Kindermusik has fortuitously brought her to Musical Pathways Foundation.

Ann received her RDH Degree in Dental Hygiene from Marquette University. After a successful 10-year career as a pediatric dental hygienist, Ann decided to combine her lifelong love for music with her passion for educating children, and she became a Kindermusik Educator. Ann's life is rich with musical experiences. She began piano lessons at the age of 6, began harp lessons at the age of 14, and was consistently in choir and musical theatre productions. Ask her about her role as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Later, she directed junior high theatre in the Minneapolis area, with shows such as Charleston, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wagon Wheels West, and Twinderella. In 2007, she directed St. Ann's school performance of Twinderella at the Stoughton Opera House.

Ann understands the importance of active membership in music organizations. She was the president of her local chapter of the Kindermusik Educators Association in Minnesota, and Ann maintains professional memberships in the National Association of Music Education. Away from the classroom, Ann enjoys spending time with her husband Scott and their 2 children, Greta and Garrett and 2 feisty Weimaraners named Rosita and Scout! Her children are both avid swimmers so she accompanies them to many swim competitions, and in her free time she enjoys photography, gardening, and is now a loyal fan of Badger Women's Basketball.

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In May of 1995, Reneé Frey received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After graduation, she worked as an early childhood educator and program director, allowing her to teach and learn with children from birth through school age. In 1998 she began teaching third grade for the Middleton-Cross Plains School District. She continued in this role until the birth of her second child in 2004 when she was blessed to have the opportunity to be home with her children.

Growing up in a musical family, Amy Payne does not remember a time when she wasn't singing, dancing, playing an instrument, and smiling. Throughout almost 20 years of teaching pre-school Sunday school, she has known the joys and rewards of educating young children.

Amy played the piano, violin and sang in various school and church choirs. During several summers she participated in the UW Extension's Music Clinics. She began playing in bell choirs in Middle School and has continued much of her adult life. Currently she plays the hand chimes with her church choir.

Katherine went to Lawrence University's Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI to earn her Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She then spent four years teaching high school orchestra in Verona, WI, having a great experience but deciding to leave in 2008 when her husband was offered the Tenor position in Orlando Opera's studio program. Moving to Orlando without a job waiting presented an opportunity for Katherine to try something new, and she found herself longing to get back to where her love of music had started — childhood! She discovered Kindermusik, fell in love with the concepts and classes, and got certified by Kindermusik International. Katherine taught with a wonderful studio in Florida. She also got to experience Kindermusik from the parent perspective when she and her husband brought their two daughters to a fellow teacher’s family class. It was an amazing affirmation that everything she believed in as a teacher was really changing families' lives!

Katherine is back in Wisconsin now, teaching orchestra and general music at the middle school level in Sun Prairie. She lives in Sun Prairie with her three loves, husband Heath and two step-daughters Brianna, 8 and Micaela, 4. Katherine enjoys combining her teaching life with a small performing career as a violinist in orchestras and quartets and a singer with a jazz big band. She is so glad to be keeping Kindermusik in her life with Musical Pathways Foundation!

Andrea is so excited to have the opportunity to work with Betsy and the entire Musical Pathways team!! She knows the benefits of Kindermusik first-hand as her children have been enrolled in the Musical Pathways School for several years. Already having one Kindermusik graduate, her youngest will graduate Kindermusik this spring! Andrea's role as Administrative Assistant is to help ensure that Kindermusik families receive exceptional care and service. Feel free to call Andrea should you have any questions or concerns and she will be sure to serve you!

Born in Minneapolis, MN, Andrea moved to Wisconsin when she was 2 and is a Monona High graduate. She moved to Waunakee 16 years ago where she married her husband of 10 years, Steve. They have two sons, Jake – 9 and Eric – 7.

Some of Andrea's favorite hobbies are reading, listening to music, and making cards and other paper crafts. In her free time, Andrea likes to go out with friends or family for a good dinner and good conversation with a lot of laughs. But her favorite free-time activity is singing and snuggling with her children, when they let her. That's where her true passion lies.

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