Jes Cleland, Founder
About Jes
Founder, Jes Cleland, has always been a lover of music. She comes from a family full of musicians and grew up surrounded by talent and creativity. Through choir, school band, and later, formal music education in college, Jes spent a majority of her free time devoted to music. Jes developed a music curriculum for preschool age children that she later implemented in community centers and arts studios throughout the San Gabriel Valley in southern California. Now, with over 20 years of preschool music and early childhood education experience, Jes has improved upon and enriched her curriculum making Music U a one of kind experience. Jes launched the first Music U program at a downtown Nashville preschool in 2013 and has since added a variety of group classes and private lessons throughout the Nashville area! Jes is a member of the Middle Tennessee Orff-Schulwerk Association and has done extensive training in a variety of music education disciplines. Music U classes blend movement, dance, singing, literature, mindfulness and music theory to offer a comprehensive and engaging experience for the youngest learners.
Philosophy
We offer a music program where children are shown respect by being exposed to all kinds of genres and varieties of music, not just "children's music" and are encouraged to listen, move, feel, and experience the music. At such a young age, children are ripe for learning. Music can be taught in such a way that allows children to explore on their own, gain new skills and vocabulary, and promote self expression. We strive to establish a love of music and a love of learning in each child.
More Than Just Music
Research has found that learning music facilitates learning in other subjects and enhances skills that children inevitably use in other areas. “A music-rich experience for children of singing, listening and moving is really bringing a very serious benefit to children as they progress into more formal learning,” says Mary Luehrisen, executive director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, a not-for-profit association that promotes the benefits of making music. At Music U, it is our belief that music is a powerful tool that can be used to help children become their best selves. Through group classes, private lessons and recitals, children gain confidence, develop social skills, enhance their emotional intelligence, and benefit from knowledge that will last a lifetime.