Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryann Harman.
Hi Maryann, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Music has always been a big part of my life. From when I was a little girl, I was organizing neighborhood children into shows to perform for our parents. Throughout school, I sang in shows and church choir.
After high school, I was unsure of what path I wanted to take. I went to junior college for two years and took mostly music classes. After graduating, I took a music teacher’s job at a small Catholic School and learned that is what I wanted to be and I enrolled in a Music Program at the College of NJ.
As I was preparing to begin working on my Music Degree, I started to not feel well and was losing my singing voice. A visit to the doctor and some blood work gave me a diagnosis of Lupus. I was told that I would probably never sing again. There were a lot of other things in that diagnosis; however, not being able to sing was something I could not accept.
My doctor advised me to move to someplace with a more consistent climate. and that I most likely would not have children or get my voice back and could probably get ten good years. Taking that as a challenge and not a definite, I moved from NJ to FL where I focused on life and music.
I taught in the school system in Pinellas County for 3 years until my daughter was born. (Yup. I did that.) Wanting to enjoy the child I was told I may not have, I resigned and stayed home. with her. I would sing and dance with all the babies in the playgroup we attended. The parents asked me to have music classes for them. I did. (There’s a lot more to this story; however, this is the abbreviated version.)
While teaching the classes, I ventured into producing a local TV show, doing workshops for teachers, and recording the songs I was making up. I now have 45+ recordings, several of which have won awards including 2 Parents’ Choice Awards and a John Lennon Songwriter’s Award.
This led me to get a Master’s Degree from USF where I studied therapeutic music and brain research. Although I did not realize it at the time, I now know that music played a HUGE part in my survival. According to most medical data, I should not be functioning as well as I do or even still be alive.
For me, that was never an option. Lung disease caused by Lupus should have disabled my ability to sing. Yet, I still sing. And, I sing in a rock band belting out Janis and Gracie. Music is used by me to keep my brain and muscles functioning at a higher level than what is expected with Lupus.
The program I created when my daughter was 3 has grown into an international program. I have the privilege of doing workshops for teachers/parents all around the globe. My songs will live on through all those I have trained to teach Music with Mar. and with the families who listen with their children.
Recently, I did a TEDx talk, “Building Brains with Music” and a book of the same name will be out at the end of 2022. I love my life. There is much joy in sharing music, especially when I was inspired by the person who means the most to me, my daughter, Gioia.
We’ve been impressed with Music with Mar., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Music with Mar. is an international program that has several facets to it. It began as interactive music classes for adults and children to participate in together. Because of parents wanted the songs I was making up to use in class, I began recording. Everything was very organic.
A teacher attending classes asked if I could train her and then a pediatric nurse asked if she could take the program to Buffalo, NY. I was honored and excited for this opportunity to grow in a direction I hadn’t considered. Other teachers who attended inquired about my doing workshops for them and that began my career as an educational consultant.
For a concise description, Music with Mar. is a company that is dedicated to producing quality, brain-based interactive music classes for adults and children, workshops for educators, training others to teach the program, and producing the music to support all of those.
What sets Music with Mar. apart is it is not focused on musicality. Although teaching music is a part of what we do, the main focus is using music to teach and not teaching music. My dual degrees in Music Education and Early Childhood give me the knowledge and capability of writing songs and creating activities from both perspectives.
I am very proud that I have been told by many people that the music I’ve produced is the best children’s music they have found. It has been an honor to be asked to travel to India, South Africa, China, Grand Cayman, and many states throughout America. I am also proud to work with special needs children in the role of music therapist although I do not have that official title. I teach for Johns Hopkins Early Steps Program and love helping the families
COVID did affect everything. For one, the program in China closed down. Many instructors in the US had to shut down classes and did not open back up. I kept active online and am happily rebuilding.
I’d like all readers to know about what Music with Mar. offers and get involved in one of these ways:
1. A parent/grandparent to attend classes.
2 A teacher to use the songs in class.
3 A workshop organizer to hire me.
4 A consumer of the music which is on all the digital mediums including Spotify, Amazon, Apple, and YouTube.
5 Someone who will get knowledgeable and advocate for music’s importance. This can be done by watching the TEDx Talk, purchasing the book, and/or helping get children involved in music.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Life is risky. I would think that a life without any risk would be boring. I took a risk when I quit my job in NJ and moved to FL in the hopes of prolonging my life. It turned out to be a good risk.
For Music with Mar., I took some financial risks investing in purchases. Some of them paid off; some didn’t. I don’t regret it; I learn and make sure to not repeat the mistake.
It is so important to go after your dream. If you don’t, you spend your life in the ‘what if?’. That is not a good place to be. I pursued my dream and continue to do so. I believe in 2 and 5-year plans. It’s an important skill to learn to enjoy the moment AND look towards the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.musicwithmar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/music_with_mar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicwithmar/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicwithmar
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/musicwithmar
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/MaryannHarmanmusicwithmar/
