“…the arrival of Miss Katie on the day of your lesson will put a smile on your face and a passion for music in your heart that matches her own, if that’s possible.”
Miss Katie has made my study of piano a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable experience. She took the time to get to know how I learn best and the kind of music I would have fun with and excel at. She taught me that music shouldn’t be something that creates anxiety but rather something to work towards and enjoy the benefits from. Even in her position as the music teacher at my elementary school, she taught me more than most students are lucky enough to learn. Miss Katie has given me the solid foundation for the utmost love of music and the difficulty of the work I do now, both in piano and choral music.
All too many of my friends have given up on music due to the pressure that’s exerted upon them with their less than par teachers. The pleasure was taken out of the music for them. However, I assure you that the arrival of Miss Katie on the day of your lesson will put a smile on your face and a passion for music in your heart that matches her own, if that’s possible.
Her theory lessons, though not forced through memorization and books per se, stay with her students. I can still hear her guiding me through the Italian instructions on a sheet of music, telling me to gradually crescendo or reminding me of the pianissimo I’d overlooked or helping me evenly strike the last sforzando of a sonatina. She’s taught me that music is a language in itself, and composers intend you to start and end it a certain way.
Of course, Miss Katie has given me lesson far beyond the reach of my fingertips to the keys on my piano. She’s taught me the rewards of hard work, the importance of understanding it’s okay to make mistakes, and she’s helped me build my self-confidence through encouraging my progress through challenges I face.
Without Miss Katie and the music she’s helped bring into my life, I’m unsure of the type of person I would be. However, I am sure that I would be far from the person I am and a lot less fortunate. For I am extremely fortunate to have had her guidance in the five years I’ve known her and I wish that fortune unto anyone, because I think we can all benefit from it and she’s just the person who can give it to us.
- Allison, piano student, age 15
“She made me fall in love with playing guitar and singing.”
Miss Katie is a talented, goodhearted person. She brings her wonderful, bubbly personality to the lessons and to her students. She is like no other teacher I have ever met or ever will meet. Not only do I learn a lot, but I have a ton of fun as well. She made me fall in love with playing guitar and singing. She really knows what she is talking about, too. Miss Katie taught me so much as a guitar player, but how to be a good person as well. When you hear her play, you can't help but smile. You can hear her love for the music as she is singing and strumming the guitar.
- Miriam, guitar student, age 14
“[Our son] has developed a passion for music and the guitar that we feel has been in large part due to Katie's positive attitude, warmth and love of music.”
Katie has been our son Nick's guitar teacher since he began playing 5 years ago. I can truly say that the one of the highlights of Nick's week is seeing and playing with Katie. He has developed a passion for music and the guitar that we feel has been in large part due to Katie's positive attitude, warmth and love of music. We also had the pleasure recently of seeing her perform live on stage at a local club and really enjoyed the evening.
- Mike, parent of student
“Miss Katie's love of kids and music along with her positive and up-beat manner made her classroom a place where students loved to come to perform.”
Katie Kraft was the general music teacher here at Roosevelt for six years. Mrs. Kraft took over a program that was very traditional with a focus on vocal music. She introduced rhythm, various instruments, and infused technology into her lessons. That, along with her great personality, turned the music program into one of our most fun and popular specials for our students. Mrs. Kraft’s love of kids and music along with her positive and up-beat manner made her classroom a place where students loved to come to perform. Mrs. Kraft turned students on to music. In addition, she was also the director of our chorus and director of our second grade play. She organized over 100 students who performed annually in the holiday and spring concerts. Her second grade play was one of the highlights of the school year. For the play, Mrs. Kraft worked with grade level teachers and parents organizing rehearsals, costumes and scenery.
Mrs. Kraft also worked with classroom teachers on cross-curricular projects. She would design her music lessons to coincide with classroom units of study. One example of this was her Civil War in Song unit. Dividing the sixth grade classes into North and South each group sang the songs of the period from their respective side. Students had great fun with the project and it reinforced their study of the period.
Mrs. Kraft taught guitar to some of her students privately. She often used these students as accompanists in the concerts. Mrs. Kraft also used talented student piano players for some of the numbers as well.
Mrs. Kraft is a very talented and accomplished musician. She is a teacher who gets the best out of her students. It is without hesitation that I recommend her for any position in your school or as a private music instructor. Please do not hesitate to call if you have further questions.
- Tony Vouvalides, Katie’s former Employer, Principal, Roosevelt Elementary School, River Edge, NJ
“Mrs. Kraft’s energy and exceptional management ability contributed to the success and pride her students experienced.”
It is my pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for music educator, Katie Kraft. Katie was an elementary music teacher at Roosevelt School in River Edge, NJ for five years (2003-2008). Her lessons engaged young students in developmentally appropriate music activities that taught them how to produce and appreciate all types of music.
During her years of teaching in River Edge, Mrs. Kraft participated in extensive Orff Schulwerk training and applied the principles of this methodology to her teaching. Many performance opportunities were provided each year to allow students to practice and refine their skills. Mrs. Kraft’s energy and exceptional management ability contributed to the success and pride her students experienced.
Mrs. Kraft made music learning fun and interesting for her students. They were anxious to join enrichment music activities, such as chorus and guitar club, that met during lunchtimes and before school. The children truly enjoyed the time they spent in the classroom with Mrs. Kraft.
It is with much enthusiasm that I support Mrs. Kraft in her effort to provide early childhood music experiences in a private setting. Mrs. Kraft’s skills as a music educator, high energy and creativity will surely make the classes she teaches both fun and engaging for young students. They will benefit from these experiences throughout their lives as they learn to appreciate music and gain confidence in their ability to perform for others.
- Erika Steinbauer, Katie’s former Employer, Superintendent, River Edge Public Schools, River Edge, NJ