I was raised on a farm in Judith Gap, Montana. My family raised us four kids to play instruments and sing. Music was not only how we spent time with one another, it was how we welcomed others into our home. Music, for me, has always meant friendship, laughter, and healing.

I was working in NYC as a professional actor-musician until the pandemic hit. My side hustles included teaching Early Childhood music and guitar lessons, and I had no idea how important those vocations would become to me. Once the pandemic closed down my industry in The Big Apple, I felt deeply compelled to start my own business. I wanted more friendship, more care, more connection than what the theater and music industry had offered me. I now have 20 years experience in childcare, 10 in teaching Early Childhood music and 3 in owning my own family music business.

I am bilingual in Spanish, learning ASL (from a Deaf teacher at The ASL SHOP) and have had personal & professional experience working with children with special needs. I am also certified in level two of Trauma Informed Leadership with the Community Resilience Initiative. 

My work focuses on gentle caretaking, mind-body connections, silliness, and celebrating ourselves and our community members. My greatest influencers are Kermit the Frog, Mr. Rogers, and Joni Mitchell.

Did you know that our brain tries to protect us when we feel danger? At the base of the neck lays the brain stem that sends us into fight or flight when traumatic events arise and it also cuts off the limbic system and pre-frontal cortex – the parts of the brain responsible for emotion, processing experiences, and language. Until we feel safe again, we may really struggle to learn even our ABC’s.

When we dance, hum, or sing, we can loosen that brain stem and get the nerves communicating back to the rest of the brain. Teacher Brittany is here to provide music and imagination to help you and your kiddo find the healing and growth that you (and all of us) need!

source: www.CRIresilient.org

Yes! Teacher Brittany has received a background check by the Walla Walla Community College, where she teaches some of her classes to her local community. You can view the results here! BACKGROUND REPORT

Teacher Brittany feels that is not only common for kiddos, but totally natural! If you are in your home space during the Moonshadow Classes, then your child may feel as if this time is no different from playtime, snack time, or chilling with YouTube running in the background. Here are a few small ways to adjust your living space for class that can really helpful to you and your kiddo!

1. First and most importantly, sit the class with your child! This signals to them that this screen time may be different from streaming and that this class is important to you! The more you sing, clap, and dance freely, the more your child will absorb through the class, truly! You are their best model!

2. Clear the room of clutter and lay down a pillow, yoga matt, or blanket to sit on during class.

3. Put away the phone device to avoid distractions and view the class on a laptop, computer, TV or tablet.

Teacher Brittany operates on a sliding scale to help families of lower income access the music and community. Please reach contact her via this website if you need any help accessing a class financially!

Teacher Brittany is bilingual in Spanish and English and is learning ASL (the ASL Shop). She is always eager to learn from you how to better include members of our community! Please email her and offer your thoughts and ideas.

Teacher Brittany has created Moonshadow Music as a platform to share music with individuals either online or in-person in Portland, OR. Her philosophy is that we ALL deserve to experience music – it belongs to every body and voice – and when we make it together, magic happens and her company, Moonshadow, is the umbrella for all of her work, be it through teaching private guitar lessons, afterschool ukulele, or performing for kids and families.