Montessori Mozarts was founded more than 25 years ago in the city of Windsor, Ontario. We are thrilled to have watched our program expand to new cities and countries by means of international teachers, passionate parents, and Montessori teacher training centers.
A Note from the Director and Founder, Prof. Maureen Harris
Welcome to the exciting world of Montessori Mozarts! Where the art of making music is nurtured and celebrated. We hope that what you discover here will enlighten and excite you. Our team at Montessori Mozarts look forward to seeing you at our lessons, recitals and community performances. We are very excited about our venture and believe that your relationship with us will have a truly significant impact on your child’s introduction to the art of making music and continued music study towards excellence.
Respectfully,
Prof. M. Harris
At Montessori Mozarts, it’s all about the student:
Your child’s musical experiences and learning are very important to us. At Montessori Mozarts, our philosophy is to provide a warm and supportive environment in which all students can explore the world of music with confidence and joy that cultivates a lifelong passion for music.
Young students are introduced to music in a fun-filled group class based on the Montessori philosophy of education. Elementary students move on to traditional/contemporary lessons in piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, keyboarding, drumming and JamBeat! - our music technology course.
Your child’s interests and passions play a huge role in the material selection and development of their music lessons. Our teachers’ goal is to ensure their students leave their lessons happy, confident, and excited to develop their musical talents!
Why take advantage of adding music to your child’s life?
Music engages children physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially. Montessori Mozarts provides opportunities for our students to pay attention to relationships, work on creative thinking, problem solving, risk-taking, teamwork and communication – precisely the skills needed in a 21st century global economy.
Our History
Montessori Mozarts was founded in 2005 by Professor Maureen Harris through incorporating the leading approaches and philosophies that influence early childhood, music and movement education today.
The culmination of piano and vocal performance, studio teaching, student mentoring and many years teaching young Montessori students led to the design and philosophy behind Montessori Mozarts.
In 2008, due to the growing demands of the students, Montessori Mozarts Elementary was created to serve the needs of those wishing for more formal instruction. In 2009 our teacher mentoring program was launched in conjunction with the University of Windsor’s Bachelor of Education Teacher Graduate Program.
Montessori Mozarts has been offering music lessons at the Children’s House Montessori daycares since their opening, and in 2013 Montessori Mozarts began offering music lessons at Lakeview Montessori School in Lakeshore.
The teachers at Montessori Mozarts *link to staff* continue this legacy at our various lesson locations, and a number have distinguished themselves in competitions and performances. In addition, many of Professor Harris’s former students hold teaching positions at recognized institutions.
The teachers at Montessori Mozarts continue this legacy at our four lesson locations, and a number have distinguished themselves in competitions and performances. In addition, many of Professor Harris's former students hold teaching positions at recognized institutions.
In 2020 we introduced online lessons*link to online lessons* into our studio, so that we could continue bringing the gift of music into as many lives as possible.
Prof M. Harris- Founder and Director of Montessori Mozarts
Professor M. Harris was born in Ireland and emigrated to Canada after completing her studies in piano in Europe. She graduated with a M.Ed and B.Mus from the University of Windsor, has an Early Childhood Education certification from Michigan State University, and received her Montessori teacher certification from American Montessori Society. She has over 25 years of music experience in performance and instruction, with an extensive background in early childhood education. She shares a deep commitment to the Montessori philosophy and instilling a lifetime appreciation of music in every child!
Harris’s dedication to teaching has been recognized by her being granted national awards such as the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the University of Windsor Alumni Award of Merit, and the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association Hugheen Ferguson Teacher of the Year Award 2009 “in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the teaching profession and lifetime commitment to educating the young child.”
She continues to share her musical knowledge with fellow educators throughout the world, including the children and schools she visits in Tanzania, Africa. Harris’s book released by MENC, ‘ Music and the Young Mind – enhancing brain development and engaging learning’ was launched in 2009 at the World Forum Foundation conference in Ireland, and her other book ‘Montessori Mozarts’ is available here.
You can contact Prof. Harris directly at maureen@montessorimozarts.com
Meet Our Staff
At Montessori Mozarts, we believe that music instruction is most effective when tailored to the individual student. It was for this reason that we hired innovative, versatile teachers who have the skill set needed to help reach the goals of each unique student.
Leah Harris
Business Development Manager
Leah Harris is a pianist, vocalist, and songwriter with a background in education and e-learning design. Leah has been a professional musician and educator for 15 years. She attended Berklee College of Music for Piano Performance, and now holds two Bachelor degrees, both in Music and in Education. Leah gained most of her live performance experience in the Detroit and New York music scenes before moving to Sweden in 2013 for a teaching job at an international school.
In 2015, Leah moved to Finland for a job at Helsinki-based startup Yousician, where she designed the Yousician Piano educational program from scratch – now the world’s most popular piano learning app used by over a million students.
Leah has been a part of Montessori Mozarts since its early days, and is excited to be back in Canada for her new role as Business Development Manager. She is passionate about the future of the company and looking forward to the many exciting plans ahead!
Contact: leah@montessorimozarts.com
Mara Tanovih
Teacher : Violin, Piano, Flute
Mara studies advanced ballet at Academie Ste Cecile, Windsor and Victoria International Ballet Academy in Toronto. Mara Tanovich has trained in piano, voice, violin, bassoon and dance, as well as dance at her own studio. Aside from teaching, she is a soprano with the Voix Claires Concert Choir and performs regularly with Orchestra breva.
Mara's favourite instruments to play are piano and violin. She has always loved learning different music and instruments and is overjoyed to be able to pass down what she's learned. Mara is delighted to teach at Montessori Mozarts!
Taylor Pare
Teacher : Violin, Piano, Flute
To Taylor, music is an emotion outlet, a voice and a passion. Music is a means of connecting with others while inspiring and expressing my own thoughts and ideas. As a creative individual, she believes that teaching is very similar to musical performance: you prepare your repertoire/lesson plans well in advance, you over come the nerves that are inevitably present in your stomach, and you share what you love with others in an active and (potentially) inspiring approach.
Taylor helps her students figure out what music is to them, whether it be an Arts credit, a study tool, or a way of life. She find teaching music to be the most rewarding performance she would gladly do an encore for.
Alana Wevers
Teacher : Everything Orchestra, Drumming
To Alana, music is a way to express her emotions. Whether it be listening to a certain genre of music to lift my mood or enhance a mood, or playing a piece of music that allows me to express feeling and paint a picture for the listener. She believes that music can work through an individual in many ways, and becomes a special part of their life. Music can bring out emotions, work in different ways for everyone, and can be transferred to daily skills. She plans to bring these elements into her teaching and help her students experience the full power of music.She is thrilled to be a teacher at Montessori Mozarts to guide her students down the a path that suits them, and encourages to keep learning, keep trying and experience what music has to offer in their life.
Karen Price
Teacher : Piano
Karen Price is a native of Windsor where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance. She received her Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Ms Price is a Leslie Bell Conducting Award winner and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) as well as the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (ORMTA). A life-long love of teaching led to teaching students of all ages and experience in classrooms, ensembles and in private studios. Ms. Price is the new Artistic Director of the Windsor-Essex Youth Choir.
Justin Jewell
Teacher :
Justin is a 21 year old guitar and ukulele instructor from Belle River, Ontario. Justin started taking guitar lessons when he was just 10 years old and has always had a passion for music. Music has always been part of his life. At the young age of 17, Justin was diagnosed with Leukaemia, and music has helped him through the hardest days of treatment. Playing his guitar provided solace for himself, and for his family. Aside from teaching and performing, Justin also produces his own original music which is expected to be released in the new future! Justin is thrilled to be part of the Montessori Mozarts to teach and share his passion with his students!
Amelia Daigle
Teacher : Voice, Piano
Windsor native, Amelia Daigle is a professional opera singer who has graced stages in both Europe and across North America singing roles such as Bizet's Carmen and Rossini's La Cenerentola. Praised for her rich mezzo voice and musicality, Ms. Daigle recently placed first at the National Music Festival in Edmonton, Alberta in the Voice Category where she competed against singers from across Canada.
When she is not onstage performing, Amelia enjoys teaching music workshops and private lessons to singers of all ages and levels as a way of encouraging music appreciation and inspiring students to think both critically and creatively. Ms. Daigle holds a Master's degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from Western University and a BMus and minor in French Studies from the University of Windsor. Amelia is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Windsor, ON where she will be joining the distinguished faculty at Montessori Mozarts this fall!
Sophia Bachetti
Teacher: Piano, Flute, Group
Sophia has been involved in music from an early age and has thirteen years of piano experience. From her classical studies at Academy Ste. Cecile, she has earned her Grade 8 Royal Conservatory for piano and theory. She has also earned her Grade 9 Royal Conservatory for both music history and harmony, which she uses to explain the influence of musical periods on music for her students.
Sophia has been involved in performing throughout her life in talent shows, recitals, and through volunteering. Although piano is her main instrument, she has also enjoyed playing the flute for five years in both concert and jazz bands in high school. Sophia loved mentoring music in her school, and now is thrilled to be a part of the Montessori Mozarts team!