Meet our Educators

Our Kindermusik Educators include performers, teachers, former professors, and even a music therapist.  Each comes to the classroom with an immense amount of training and preparation in Music and Early Childhood Education, and most of our teachers actually hold graduate degrees with an emphasis in one or both of these fields.  If you ask any of them why they teach Kindermusik they will say that it’s the perfect blend of their love of children and their passion for music.  We’re in the business of changing the world one child at a time through dance, song, and play.

Joy Granade – Kindermusik Educator, Program Director

A graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Joy Granade holds both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. Through the years she has fostered a love of singing, theatre, early childhood music, and educational outreach teaching voice at Millikin University and the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, working as Musical Director for the Urbana Park District Summer Youth Musical, and writing and performing youth music outreach programs in central Illinois. In 2003, Joy founded a Kindermusik program in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois which grew quickly to over 100 children in weekly classes of joyful exploration and spontaneous musical play.  Then in 2005, after the birth of her first son, Joy started Kindermusik with Joy at the UMKC Community Music and Dance Academy.  In 2008, 2009, and 2010 the program was awarded Maestro status and is now respected for being in the top 1% of programs worldwide.  For Joy, Kindermusik is not only the perfect way to combine her love of music with her love for teaching children, but also a program whose educational principles reflect the standards of high quality pedagogy and community music making in which she so strongly believes.

Darcy Maret – Kindermusik Educator, Administrative Assistant

A saxophonist, Darcy Maret has taught in both group and private settings as a Music Professor at Northwest Missouri State University and Creighton University, and Elementary Music teacher in Kearney and St. Joseph, and even as an Elementary French teacher.  As a teacher and mom of a preschooler, Darcy delights in watching the faces of young children light up with the joy of music and knows firsthand the delight and learning that are shared in a Kindermusik classroom.

Lindsey Lock – Kindermusik Educator, ABC Music & Me Coordinator

Miss Lindsey could not be more excited to be a part of the Kindermusik community. A former graduate of the Kindermusik program in her younger days, Lindsey has experienced the importance of music in young child’s development first hand. She is currently pursing her passion at Avila University through a graduate certificate program in music education after finishing a B.A. (Fall 2011) with an early education focus that includes a background in Music Therapy and Childhood development. A “big kid” herself, Lindsey has always enjoyed working with children and thinks that there is nothing better than being part of a child’s life. She truly believes in the educational benefit of kindermusik and could not be more proud to have the opportunity to instill it’s values in young children.

Natasha Olinetchouk – Kindermusik Educator

Kindermusik with Joy is delighted to add Natasha Olinetbhouk to our staff.   Natasha has bachelor’s degree in voice from Missouri State University and master’s degree in voice from Wichita State University. A talented musician and voice teacher, Natasha has spent much of her adult life working with children as a teacher, caregiver, and performer. In fact, Natasha has performed both in children’s musicals as well as at events at the Child Development Center in JCC, Overland Park, KS, where she is also on staff. Kindermusik is overjoyed to join the world of Kindermusik educators, which provides her the perfect opportunity to combine her love for music and desire to influence young minds and create a nurturing, happy and healthy atmosphere.