Mike Soloway

Mike Soloway is a seasoned music educator and performer with roots in both the classical and traditional folk music genres. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Mike is currently on the faculty of Huntington Montessori and Love of Learning Montessori in Centerport. He is a former faculty member of New York University, CUNY and the prestigious Third Street Music School where he taught classical guitar.

Mike's exhaustive knowledge and love of traditional folk music attracted him to the Musikgarten curriculum which honors and passes down our rich musical heritage to younger generations. As a result North Shore Musikgarten presents a rich mix of classical, traditional folk and world music with a pure and experiential approach using instruments, dance and play in inovative and creative ways.

Mike's weekly radio show for children and grownups, For the Young and the Young at Heart, is a wonderful popouri of live studio singalongs, new children's tunes and classic stories and songs. can be heard on WUSB 90.1 FM Saturday evenings from 6 to 7 PM. His latest cd, Hungry For Manners, won the 2005 Children’s Music Web Award for "Best Recording for Younger Children ages 5 to 8."

An all around children's educator and performer, Mike also offers Wednesday morning "Toddler Time" shows at area bookstores.

All are welcome to join him in sharing the joy of music. "Toddler Time" interactive music events are at the following locations:
 • 1st Wednesday of the month at Borders Bookstore (Commack).
 • 2nd Wednesday of the month at Borders Bookstore (Stoney Brook).
 • 3rd Wednesday of the month at Barnes & Noble Bookstore (Huntington).

Janet Olesen

Music has been a part of Janet Olesen's life since childhood when she taught herself to play piano and first made up songs. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Massachussetts with a B.A. in music and went on to teach general music and give private lessons in beginning piano, folk guitar and voice. She has also enjoyed singing on stage in school and parish theater groups. Since 1997, with the birth of her son, Janet has primarily been sharing music with her two children. Now that they are in school, she is again giving private lessons as well as leading a children's chorus in her church on Sundays. Janet was delighted to learn of the Musikgarten method from Mike and Susie, as folk songs have always been a favorite with her. She looks forward to meeting each new class and enjoying with them the wonderful wealth of songs and rhymes that are our heritage.

Susie Soloway

Susie is a certified teacher in both the Musikgarten and the Music Together curricula. She has taught music in the Child Development Center, a Montessori school in Islandia, New York where she also co-directed the kindergarten music program. A love of children and children's music led her to produce a number of children's cds including Hungry For Manners which won the Children's Music Web Award for "Best Recording for Younger Children ages 5 to 8." Her educational background is in communications, film and theatre. Susie is also a filmmaker who has produced and directed numerous documentaries and educational programs for PBS.