songbird music & arts

Mixed-Age Family, Babies & In-School Teacher, Professional Jazz Vocalist, Marketing, PR & Voice-Over Specialist,

Director and Teacher, Heather Villa has been an award winning professional Jazz Singer in the Spokane area since 1999, and still actively performs with her band Villa Blues n' Jazz and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra. Her small children and husband inspired her to redirect most of her focus to early music education and family music making. Heather started Spokane's Songbird Consulting Music Together program in 2015, which continues to be her passion and joy, and The Nest Neighborhood Community Centers, bringing more teachers and families together in music! She teaches Mixed-Age Family and Babies classes, and she continues to teach with local preschools. 

Mixed-Age Family & Rhythm Kids Classes, Flute Teacher

Miss Jennifer Slaughter, who is a professional flutist and plays with the Spokane Symphony, has been teaching at our center since 2016! Jennifer teaches Mixed-Age Family classes and has found a passion for bringing Music Together Rhythm Kids (5-8yrs) classes to our center!  Jennifer has also enjoyed teaching Music Together to the HOPE school, bringing music to those children hearing for the first time. 

Mixed-Age Family Classes, In-School Teacher

Miss Chelsea Inman is the Director and Lead Teacher of our very own Nest Community School and we are lucky enough to have her expertise and enthusiasm at our center, also teaching Mixed-Age Family classes! Chelsea is a mother of two, wife, and Reggio Emilia preschool teacher... and is learning the ukulele this year! 

Mixed-Age Family Classes, In-School Teacher, Piano Teacher

Miss Michelle Lodato, is a pianist, horse lover, music lover and Spokane Music Together teacher since 2017! She is currently teaching in Preschools, and loves teaching family classes at our Nest. Michelle is now the proud parent of a beautiful baby girl this Spring 2020!

Mixed-Age Family Classes, Suzuki Violin Teacher

Teacher Hannah Flaherty, joins us for the first time this fall as a new Music Together teacher! Hannah is not new to teaching little ones, as she currently teaches Suzuki Violin to ages 2-12yrs! She has performed in the Tacoma Youth Symphony, street performances in Seattle’s iconic Pike’s Market and appearances at Naval Hospital Bremerton.  Her biggest job is wife and mother of 4!! We love Hannah and are so exited to have her smiling face joining our Songbird Teacher crew!

Mixed-Age Family Classes, Acting & Business Coach, Dance Instructor

Welcome Teacher Nicole Hicks-Wedge, a new teacher with our center in 2020! Nicole is no stranger to Spokane stages, having performed in the Spokane community for over 20 years! She took a small hiatus to focus on raising her family and has been elated to return to singing and acting these past few years. Most recently in Saskatchewan, Canada. Inspired from teaching music to her own 2 boys, Nicole is so excited to share the Music Together program with as many families as possible!

Mixed-Age Family & Babies Classes, Uke for Kids & Grownups Teacher

We welcome teacher Beth Crespan to our Spokane Center! Beth served as the Director of Music Together of Marin in Northern CA for almost 20 years. She is a certified Music Together® teacher and professional early childhood music specialist. Beth loves to sing, play guitar, banjo and ukulele!  Since childhood, Beth has been passionate about making music and performing. Her love for music and children shines bright in all the classes she teaches.