Meet Caitlin Vannoy | Music Together® Jelly Jams Director & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caitlin Vannoy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caitlin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Shortly after the birth of our daughter, I chose to leave my job of 10 years and stay home with her. I was grateful for the opportunity to watch her grow, especially in these early years which go by in an instant. The first few months were a blur. We were exhausted and trying to navigate parenthood peak pandemic. As the fog lifted, I started to sing. She loved it. One particularly rough night, I rocked her and sang for what felt like hours. If I stopped, she’d cry. I googled lyrics to songs I only knew the tune of: Puff the Magic Dragon, Marvelous Little Toy, Moon River, Dream A Little Dream Of Me. I knew my husband was listening over the monitor and I felt oddly nervous and a little self-conscious. But I kept singing because it kept her calm and kept me awake.

As a toddler, she’d dance when I practiced violin and giggle when my husband or I made up a silly song. We started taking Music Together® classes in Denver when she was 2 years old. The drive was about 40 minutes each way. Even so, I recognized the value of the program. It was designated time to bond with my child, plus I could see a difference almost immediately in her own music making at home. Honestly, I wished we had found the classes sooner. And I knew other parents felt the same way about finding the right programs for their children.

I searched for centers near Thornton (where we live) and tried other music and movement programs that just didn’t resonate the way Music Together® did. After months of saying “I think I could do this,” I took the plunge, sent over the licensing application, and eagerly awaited teacher training. Music Together® Jelly Jams classes began in the Summer of 2024 and we are now a few weeks into the Fall semester!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Music Together® Jelly Jams is a licensed Music Together® center with locations in Brighton and Northglenn. The research-based program is an internationally recognized music and movement curriculum for 0-5 year olds and their grown-ups. It is designed to support a child’s music development in the early years, but there are so many benefits beyond that! Music learning supports a child’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor development. And it’s a unique opportunity for parent/child bonding – 45 minutes a week dedicated entirely to the joy of making music with your little one.

Music Together® has been around since 1987, so they have systems in place that made becoming a licensed center easily attainable. My biggest hurdle was getting past my fear of singing in front of a room of people (I’m a trained violinist). With practice came the realization that class is not meant to be a performance. It’s a group music-making experience in which everyone participates. I’m now at the point where I’m used to singing in front of the grown-ups, which frees up mental space to be present and respond in time with how the kids are participating in class. It’s so much fun and I love seeing how the kids change over the semester.

I could go on and on about the benefits of music for children and adults, and what’s truly amazing is the growing body of research that backs those claims. We know that music is a neurological workout – at least 8 parts of the brain are simultaneously engaged when a child hears a song, unlike any other stimulus. On top of the scientific research, there’s no question that music feeds the soul. There are over 2,000 Music Together® centers in 35 countries around the world. I urge parents to see if there’s a center nearby for the chance to connect with your child through song. You won’t regret it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We live in Thornton, so it’s easy to hop on the highway for an outing. Our day would either start off at Bluebird Cafe on Thornton Pkwy near Washington, or Sunny’s off of W 44th Ave in Sunnyside (don’t sleep on the veggie latkes!). For kid-friendly outings, we might head to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster or Sunflower Farm in Longmont. On the way back from Longmont, we wouldn’t miss the opportunity to grab lunch at Jeannot’s Patisserie & Bistro in Lafayette, a super yummy French bakery and cafe. They even have books, puzzles and toys to entertain the kiddos. For a relaxing afternoon, we’d hang out in the kids section of one of the Anythink Libraries or swim at the Kiwanis Outdoor Pool in Northglenn. When the kids are not in tow, I’d reserve a couple spots at Desert Reef Hot Springs in Florence, then take a detour on the way home to see the Thomas Dambo troll in Victor. We’d definitely book facials at Jalan Spa in Denver before the week was over, and probably pair our day in the city with lunch at Cuba Cuba and a trip to the Denver Art Museum.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have no shortage of cheerleaders in my life. To start, my parents instilled a love of music at an early age. I grew up listening to my dad play guitar and my mom play violin. They patiently sat through many living room “recitals” and drove me 3 hours each week for youth orchestra rehearsals. Now they drive 3 hours each week to be my daughter’s “grown-ups” in music class. My sister is endlessly encouraging and acts as a sounding board when I’m confused about LLCs, taxes, Canva, and more. She is my best friend and I don’t thank her often enough.

And finally, my husband and now 4-year-old have participated in countless practice classes complete with stuffed animal students, and still come to class weekly without complaint. There’s nothing more encouraging than my daughter saying “Mommy, you can do it!” She is, without a doubt, the reason I moved forward with opening Music Together® Jelly Jams. As a recovering perfectionist, I strive to model bravery for her. It’s hard and scary to try something new, to sing in front of a room full of strangers, and to ultimately put yourself out there. I’m not perfect, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less deserving of the joy that comes from making music, trying new things, and experiencing life to the fullest extent. I hope she grows up knowing her worth, her potential, and doesn’t let fear get in her way.

Website: https://www.mtjellyjams.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtjellyjams/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556800156748

Image Credits
Music Together LLC