Playing With Music

Born into a theatrical home in New York City, Jessica learned to move to the beat of her father Mundell Lowe's jazz guitar before she could walk. Her mother, Barbara Lowe, was a comedian and actress who had her performing in commercials and films such as Sunday in New York and Love with a Proper Stranger. Their move to California when she was 7 allowed her to develop a love for swimming and horse-back riding which sustains her to this day.

On her own at age 16, Jessica found her calling working with children. She was enriched and nourished by her work with these 'little Buddahs', and graduated with a degree with honors in Early Childhood Education from Cabrillo College. Drawn to music, dance and movement, she achieved a second degree in dance and used it to transfer to Mills College, where she graduated with a degree in Child Development and a minor in Dance. Jessica discovered early on that music was a magical element in work with young children, and used it at every opportunity. Her work evolved to include the childrens'families. Jessica learned that she could impact a child's day by working with them, but could impact a child's life by working with their parents. This motivated her to begin work in parent education as a director of several local child care programs. Though gratifying, after having her own children, she found this work exhausting because of the long hours and shortage of qualified teachers. She earned a teaching credential in Parent Education and conducted parent education workshops and play-groups with Family Health Education Center, Watsonville Hospital and Santa Cruz Adult Education. It was at this time she was introduced to Music Together^®. It was the funnest thing she had ever done with her child, and quickly completed the certification training.

Jessica knows she is where she belongs now. Music Together incorporates the developmentally sound practice of respecting children's learning styles with educating and including parents. It uses music as a medium for bringing families and communities closer together. She is also convinced that music heals. The transformation is unique to each person's circumstances. As we reclaim our birthright as music makers we discover many things about ourselves. After 8 years Jessica still looks forward to teaching with wonder and anticipation for all she continues to learn and grow. The journey is powerful and delightful.

Jessica currently lives in Live Oak with her musical husband of 20 years, Steve, and their two daughters Maya, age 17, and Geneva, age 10.


Some comments from past families include:

We love music class! I love when the scarves come out and I can pretend I'm a real horse - Molly age 3

Thank you for bringing your beautiful music to my life and my first birthday. I yelled with joy and had a blast - Mom for Zachary age 1

Thank you for all your kindness and warmth, for sharing your
knowledge and wisdom about music and life beyond the classroom. Thank you for always respecting the children and the process they are engaged in. You have taught all of us a great deal about patience, acceptance and love.
Roberta, mother of Emma age 3

Thank you so much. I learned a lot about music, but I also learned a
lot about parenting, too. Anonymous Parent

Mary grew up on Rogers and Hammerstein, Souza Marches and classical music. She took piano lessons as a child and played an organ in church for 7 years.

She has taken 2 years of Musicianship and Harmony at Hartnell College and received the Boronda Scholarship from Hartnell, enabling her to continue her studies in Italy. In addition to her certification as a Music Together Teacher, she is a Certified Level 1 Orff Instructor.

Her journey as a Music Together instructor started as a nanny. She used what she learned in her children's classes as a parent volunteer. Mary began teaching Music Together in 2001. She has taught Music Together in Carmel, Montery, Salinas, and San Jose. She currently teaches music in most of the classes at the Parent Center at Salinas Adult School. In addition, she teaches music at other local institutions, including the Oasis Charter School, Ridgewood Preschool and St. Dunstan's Preschool in Carmel Valley. She also gives private piano lessons.

Mary's passions are children, music and dancing. She feels incredibly blessed to be able to have an abundance of all three in her life. She believes that music in incredibly beneficial to our lives. It can be healing, invigorating and inspirational. Her musical preferences are classic rock, classical and musicals. She loves dancing, preferably to rock or blues and can quite often be found on Sundays during the summer at "Blues in the Park" in Seaside, up front, dancing, of course.

Mary lives in Salinas with her two children, Cameron and Veronica, who share her love of music.