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What We Do
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WHO WE ARE 
SUSAN MILLIGAN STORYTELLER & EDUCATORAt an early age Susan Milligan learned the importance of play from her toy-designer father and the value of stories from her children's-librarian mother. Ms. Milligan received a bachelor's degree in English Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University and her MA degree in Drama at New York University. There she studied with Richard Schechner, famous for his ground-breaking work in environmental theater, from whom she learned how to approach drama viscerally as music, as play. She has directed numerous plays and improvisational groups working with children from pre-school through high school. After raising her own two children, Ms. Milligan returned to school to pursue her passion for teaching young children at Teachers College receiving an MA in Early Childhood Education. She is the head teacher for 4 and 5 year olds at the Medical Center Nursery School, an affiliate of Columbia University. She has a particular interest in storytelling and uses techniques pioneered by Vivian Gussen Paley with whom she has studied. Ms. Milligan is also a member of the Bank Street Writer's Group. Ms. Milligan and jazz musician and educator Louise Rogers have worked closely together to develop a curriculum for young children combining jazz music, storytelling and improvisational theater techniques to teach young children music, literature and social skills. Their technique exploits young children's ability to learn most effectively through play as they "play" with jazz music and stories. They have presented workshops on the work they are doing for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the Association of Teachers in Independent schools in New York City, the New York Association for the Education of Young Children and the Child Care Resources of Rockland. To contact Susan Milligan, please email susan@jazzforyoungchildren.com.
LOUISE ROGERS VOCALIST & EDUCATORLouise Rogers grew up in the state of New Hampshire where her parents were music professors at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Ms. Rogers received a BM in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire with an emphasis on voice and obtained her kindermusik training at Westminster Choir College. Ms. Rogers is the co-founder of the Jazz Choir at U.N.H. While living in N.H., she was the featured vocalist for the Seacoast Big Band under the direction of Dave Seiler and received many awards in the seacoast region for Best Jazz Vocalist. She has studied with the great saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi for theory and improvisation and voice with Catherine Green and Kim Nazarian and has participated in workshops with Carol Sloane, Jon Hendricks, Clark Terry, New York Voices, Take 6, Bob Stoloff and Mark Murphy. She is the lead singer for her own group as well as a free lance vocalist. In addition, she and her husband, Rick Strong, are a bass and voice duo performing in small settings. Her most recent appearances include a performance/signing at Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble. For reviews and more information on appearances please go to www.louiserogers.org. In addition to performing, Ms. Rogers is the Music Specialist at Medical Center Nursery School in Washington Heights where she is gaining recognition for the work she does with children and jazz. In Jan., 2004, Ms. Rogers was asked to present a clinic at the prestigious IAJE (International Association For Jazz Educators) Convention in NYC along with classroom teacher Susan Milligan and children's author, Chris Raschka. She runs a Children's Choir in Washington Heights entitled "The Washington Heights Jazz Choir" for children ages 6-12. Ms. Rogers is also the voice instructor at Roxbury High School in Roxbury, N.J. where she is frequently brought in as a clinician to work with the jazz choirs. She and her husband perform jazz concerts for children and have been hired by the Park's Dept. for several concerts in the parks over the last few years. They also perform at children's museums such as the famous Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia including their jazz week for kids. Appearances: Venues: Conferences presented at: Member of IAJE and MENC To contact Louise Rogers, please email louise@jazzforyoungchildren.com.
Copyright © 2007 Jazz for Young Children
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