About Us

Meet our team

Melody Magic Music Studio began in 2003 by a mom, Ms. Katherine, who wanted to combine her two loves — music and children. We strive to create a child-centered, family-friendly atmosphere where everyone is welcome to play, grow, and learn. We want to be your home away from home. We are passionate about what we do, and we are dedicated to helping all children thrive through music.

In 2011 Melody Magic opened it’s own studio to continue to offer the best to Richmond families — a clean, bright environment perfect for allowing children to learn and have fun. And for those little ones learning to walk? No worries! We added rubberized padding under our carpet to keep you as safe as possible!

Since 2015 we have been awarded the honor of “Kindermusik® Top Program,” meaning we are in the top 5% of Kindermusik® programs world-wide! The best of the best. Families that enroll with us can be assured they are making the best choice for their child and will be taught by highly trained teachers who will guide them along the way.

We look forward to having you at our studio! YOU are part of our family. Welcome!

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WE TEACH WHAT WE BELIEVE

Every moment, every class, and every activity is designed with our beliefs at heart. While music is such a powerful tool to help children grow, develop, and learn valuable life skills (and we could go on and on about the benefits of music), our studio environment and relationships with your children center around who they are right now. We want for them what you want for them. It’s about much more than music or learning. It’s about helping them thrive for the rest of their lives.

Creativity

Classes offer delightful activities that stimulate creativity, exploration, imagination, and learning through play. There are no rules, and every response or idea is accepted and honored, which in turn plays into a child’s confidence.

Confidence

Parents can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their child is growing in confidence with each activity, and that they are being taught by highly-trained educators who are passionate about music education. And with a positive connection with their teachers, children feel safe and loved, and thus willing to take chances and try new things.

Connection

Melody Magic is a family-focused environment where each child and family is respected, appreciated, and valued, and where life-long friendships begin. The connections are endless — between parents and children, family to family, and teachers to students.

Inspiration

Melody Magic provides engaging education and materials that inspire families to tap into the power of music throughout the week (not just in class!), allowing the children to develop skills for life.

Love

The biggest of all. We praise. We high-five. We hug. And we smile. Because we truly care about our music family. We strive to encourage a love for learning and exploring. A love for friends, teachers, and families. And a love for all things musical.

Ms. Katherine, Owner and Accredited Kindermusik® Educator, Piano Instructor

Ms. Katherine has spent many years as an educator and musician. She grew up studying piano, voice, and violin, and performed in numerous local symphonies and musical productions. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in music. Katherine taught in the public schools for five years, providing her students with a compassionate teacher who always conveyed her love of music and children. She brings these two loves together again in her Kindermusik® classes and piano lessons. She has been an Accrecited Kindermusik® Educator since 2003, helping children of all ages grow and learn through music. She is also the proud mother of 4 young children whom she adores!

Katherine believes that, through music, children can develop the creative side, helping out-of-the-box thinking and willingness to try new things. She focuses on building confidence and inspiration in classes, as well as connection with others. Her goals are to help “tiny humans” become outstanding adults!

Ms. Faith, Accredited Kindermuisk® Educator, Group Piano Instructor, Private Lesson Instructor

Ms. Faith has lived in the Richmond area since 1996. A former middle/high school English/Drama teacher with over five years of classroom experience, she is now a homeschool mom of two and a music teacher. Faith loves to sing, and has sung with choirs and church worship teams since middle school. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA with a degree in Drama. Since then, she has consistently taught in children’s ministries, and has shared her enthusiasm for drama and music with others by developing skits and directing full-length productions in school and at churches. Teaching piano is an ongoing passion for Faith, who studied piano formally as an adult. Piano can be studied both on and off the bench, and Ms. Faith utilizes games and activities for a fun-filled lesson. She believes that studying piano gives children a solid musical foundation for pursuing any other instrument, and that early piano study provides children the opportunity to cultivate a life-long love of music. She especially enjoys the joy and excitement that preschoolers bring to a music lesson.

Mr. Dustin, Private Lesson Instructor

Mr. Dustin has lived in the Richmond area his entire life. Dustin is currently completing his bachelor of guitar degree at VCU. In addition to serving as concertmaster of the VCU guitar ensemble, Dustin has privately taught guitar, bass, and ukulele for several years on his own before joining the Melody Magic team. Dustin has been playing music since the age of 12.

Dustin brings a compassion first approach to teaching. Dustin sees each student as a unique individual with their own approach to learning and works to inspire each child’s confidence and passion. Dustin caters to all styles of learning and has taught students of all ages and abilities.

Ms. Ashley, Guitar and Ukulele Instructor

Ms. Ashley was born in Washington, D.C. and has lived in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake area for most of her life, and relocated to Richmond in 2023. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Game and Simulation, and has been a musician from a young age, beginning violin at age 10 and starting guitar at ages 11. She has been a radio DJ for Top 40 Radio Z104 in Virginia Beach. She also works for Universal as a music producer/musical engineer. She likes to help her students focus on how to make music a part of their everyday lives and to teach them how to create and achieve musical goals.

Mr. Jeffery, Private Lesson Instructor, Ukulele Group Instructor

Mr. Jeffrey was born and raised in the Richmond area. He is currently the Music Teacher at Gayton Elementary School. Ian has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Virginia Commonwealth University with his primary instrument being the tuba and his secondary being percussion. Ian began his musical career in 2005 playing the saxophone. From a young age he knew that he wanted to be a music educator, which lead to his goal of learning as many instruments as possible. Ian specializes in the bass guitar, guitar, ukulele, brass, woodwinds, and percussion.

Ian is actively involved in the marching arts, currently instructing and writing drill for the Deep Run High School Marching Band. Ian also has a career in Drum Corps and WGI having performed and taught with various groups around the country such as The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and the George Mason Indoor Drumline.

Ian has a passion for teaching music at a young age and brings energy to all his lessons. He believes that learning music instills a foundation of creativity and confidence. His goal is to help students find a love and appreciate for music that can last a lifetime.

Outside of music Ian enjoys hiking, camping, exercising, snowboarding, playing videogames, disc golf, and spending time with friends.

Ms. Montana, Accredited Kindermusik Educator, Group Piano Instructor, Private Lesson Instructor

Ms. Montana’s love for music began in middle school band with the clarinet. In high-school she was a part of everything to do with music including the symphonic band, jazz band, and marching band, and she was drum-major for two years.

Ms. Montana has a degree in music performance from Longwood University with a minor in business administration. At Longwood, she performed with the wind symphony, sang with the Farmville Presbyterian Choir, and was principal clarinetist of the pit orchestra for Longwood’s production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.

Ms. Montana has been teaching piano for three years and loves seeing kids be excited and proud of themselves when they grasp a new concept or new song. Children can learn many valuable skills, motivation, creativity, concentration, discipline, confidence, and so much more through music Music is her hobby, career, and passion, and she believes it can bring fulfillment and happiness to anyone’s life.

In her free time, Ms. Montana volunteer with the Powhatan Volunteer Rescue Squad and take tons of walks with her dog Tipsy.

Ms. Angel, Accredited Kindermusik Educator, Group Piano Instructor, Private Lesson Instructor

Ms. Angel didn’t always live in Virginia; she actually grew up in a small town in Southern Georgia, where her love of music first started. Ms. Angel started choir the moment she could choose her electives in Middle School, taking every opportunity to perform and make more music. In her sophomore year of high school she performed in her school’s production of Shrek the Musical as Sugar Plum Fairy.

Ms. Angel moved to the Richmond area her junior year of high school, jumping into choir immediately, and soon entered the a capella group Acropolis at Clover Hill High School. By the time she graduated high school she knew being a music teacher was her dream, and she pursued it at Longwood University. While attending Longwood she spent time working at a variety of jobs to help prepare her to be a music educator, including tutoring for the university, working in the nursery of a nearby church, teaching online to English Language Learners, and her personal favorite experience was the chance to work at a small private school as a part-time music teacher. Ms. Angel graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelors in Music Education from Longwood.

Ms. Angel believes every child has a voice, and music is a tool we can use to help them find and express themselves. When Ms. Angel isn’t at the studio, she tries to learn new recipes and spend time with her younger sisters.

Ms. Jennifer, Accredited Kindermusik Educator

Ms. Jennifer has lived in the Richmond area since 1997. A former elementary music teacher and nanny, she is now a stay-at-home mother of three. Jennifer works for the Greater Richmond YMCA where she teaches Zumba at the Goochland and Powhatan locations. Jennifer was a flute major at Campbell University in Buies Creek NC. She also loves to play piano and has played for church and school choirs.

Ms. Jennifer started out as a mother in Kindermusik classes and fell in love with the curriculum and all that it can offer children. She saw how much her own children loved attending music classes, and heard them singing songs all week long at home. She realized she wanted to be part of the process that helps more and more children thrive through music. She brings a unique perspective to Kindermusik classes, as she has been on the “parent/caregiver” side and is now on the “educator” side!

Merry Richardson, Studio Manager

Merry was born in Colorado but moved to the Richmond area when she was two years old. She was homeschooled all through high school, along with her six siblings, and graduated in 2015. Merry has always had a passion for kids and has been working with them since she was 10 years old through babysitting and working in the children’s ministry at church. She even taught middle and high school students how to ballroom dance! She loves listening to music and singing along to her favorite songs. On her days off she enjoys spending time with her family, reading books, and watching her favorite shows and movies on TV.