Music Together’s Tacie O’Sheehan, director and teacher of music at Music Together Island Songbirds, wasn’t about to let a little dyscalculia slow her down.
O’Sheehan’s condition, a disability impairing mathematics, which can affect calculations andproblem solving, remained undiagnosed until age 26. Because of it,she could never learn to read music and instead learned as a childto play piano, guitar and violin by ear. She later earned a Bachelorof Arts degree in applied linguistics and child advocacy and is nowpursuing a master’s degree in counseling psychology.
Music Together brings babies, toddlers, preschoolers and theircaregivers together to make music. The organization has centers in2,000 locations and 35 countries. On Bainbridge, the classes meetat Grace Church three days a week for 45-minute sessions. MusicTogether’s mission: Make the world a better place by making it more musical.
O’Sheehan’s work against human-trafficking was part of herinspiration to teach and heal with music. “Through music, I wouldconnect with others,” she said. “So, I decided to pivot to formalmusic training. Then, right before the pandemic, a woman askedme to take over her Music Together business on Bainbridge.I always dreamed of living on an island.”
Each class begins with a hello song. “We then go through ninesongs of gradually moving together, from choreographed dancesto free movement, and everyone participates in playing instru-ments and singing. There’s lots of laughing and connecting.” It endswith O’Sheehan playing guitar and singing a lullaby, while childrenand caregivers lie down with the lights turned off.
O’Sheehan receives frequent validation of her career choice.“A pregnant mom had been attending with her toddler,” sherecalled. “And then brought in her 10-day-old to class. The womansaid, ‘I haven’t been out. I wanted this to be my daughter’s firstexperience in the world.’ I spent days crying about that.”
More at musictogetherislandsongbirds.com/teacher
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