founded the Little Music Maker business in 2004 with the mission of helping parents bond with their children through music and movement. "Miss Ellie" has 27 years teaching experience and 45 years performing experience. She teaches songs through movement and repetition, using puppets, props, finger play, games, poses, dances, percussion instruments, guitar, ukulele, cello, recorder, harmonica and more for a super fun, active and engaging experience. Some of the many benefits to the babies include enhanced bonding with the parent, healthy immune and digestive systems, socialization with other babies, language acquisition and other important cognitive stimulation. Benefits to the parents include increased physical and emotional strength, stronger bonds with their babies, a repertoire of songs to use for many different parenting situations and lasting connections with a community of other parents in a similar stage of life. Ellie credits the Powers Music School of Belmont, MA and her own two children for influencing her class format. She offers private and semi-private lessons in beginning cello, guitar, ukulele, piano, recorder, and voice in addition to her baby and toddler music classes.

 

Ellie was introduced to the violin-cello at age 7 by renowned musicians, Wu Han and David Finkle and studied in New York City and at the Rennes Conservatory of Music in France. She has science and teaching degrees from Wellesley College and serves on the President's Council for The Portland Symphony Orchestra's Board of Trustees. She has performed with Singer-songwriters, Sorcha, Doug Farrell, Elli Lisa, Monique Barrett, and with the Choral Art Society Singers. She has shared the stage and harmonized with the late Pete Seeger, and with Dar Williams, Rick Charette, Christine Lavin, Paul Winter, Cid Bullins, Joe Boucher, Samuel James, Jenny Van-West, Sara Hallie Richardson, Joe Walsh, and The Portland Symphony Orchestra. 

 

Ellie has appeared at Thompson's Point and soloed at Carnegie Hall! She sings on an album of Pete Seeger's called PETE, the charity album To the Moon To the Stars, which you can find on Apple Music, and has recorded several of her own: Ten Steps, Warm Milk, Christmas at the Cathedral with Choral Art, Feel You Better, and Ellie and Friends Live! Her newest record, Glass Half Full, was produced with The Woodshed Mystics and she is currently recording an album with An Overnight Low. She sings with the Saco First Parish Choir, and performs for Greener Postures Yoga, FishMoon Yoga, various Preschools, Portland Public PreK, and for Senior Living Facilities. She performs solo and with the bands Piano Men, The Honeybees, US4, the Ocean Park Ukesters, and her new band, Where's Alice?!