As the lyrics of a beloved tune from the musical “Once on This Island” shares - “YOU are why!”

Our focus has always been on our students and families, fostering connections and community every step of the way. This is the reason for the shift to group classes and lessons. Because music isn’t just a solo endeavor–it’s about sharing, celebrating, and enjoying together. While individual progress remains paramount, the magic truly happens when you collaborate with peers and find a place where you truly belong. At Beyond Arts & Music, we believe that when you feel included and valued, your passion for music flourishes. Practicing becomes a joyous journey, rather than a chore, as excitement fuels each step of the process.

Join us, and let’s create beautiful music together!

Meet the Team

With a passion for sharing the arts, we’re a fun and energetic bunch of creatives with a love of music, theater and community building.

A woman with long brown hair smiling on the Brooklyn Bridge with Manhattan skyline in the background.

  • Owner, Piano, Voice, Kindermusik, Daycares and Preschools

    Christa has been teaching music for over 15 years in schools and in private lesson settings. She has a degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University and has experience teaching music to people of all ages. Christa started her teaching career in the Worthington City School district teaching middle school choir and elementary general music for four years. After her time in Worthington, Christa moved to NYC to teach K-3 general music at the Buckley School in Manhattan. Christa loved her time in NYC, but after 5 years she and her husband decided to move back to Columbus before welcoming their first child in 2020. Piano was her first instrument and she has been playing since she was 4 years old. That started her lifelong love of music and teaching. She knew all along that she was meant to be a music teacher. Singing in choirs is one of Christa’s passions, and she also enjoys playing a variety of other instruments. Christa is certified and licensed by the Ohio Department of Education, and is authorized to perform homeschool assessments. She cannot wait to help you reach your goals and make music and memories along the way!

Close-up of a young man with short black hair, smiling, wearing a blue collared shirt against a plain background.

  • Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Voice

    Matthew is a senior studying Music Education at The Ohio State University. He enjoys finding new details in music, even if it’s a song he has listened to 1,000 times. Matthew has performed a wide variety of music in many ensembles and solo projects along the way, which has led to many experiences in both teaching and learning. He loves connecting with people through music and has shared many great experiences with others through music. Whether singing with a guitar in hand or piano under his fingers, Matthew has always found joy in both playing and practicing music. Wherever you are in your musical journey, Matthew is excited to help you find the fun in music along the way!

A woman smiling outdoors with sunlight shining on her face, long dark hair, wearing a black top and blue shirt.

  • Daycare & Preschool Instructor

    Jessica is a music enthusiast with an educational background in Psychology and child development. She has had the opportunity to sing with award winning choirs and perform with her own very musical husband and children. Over the years she has taught many children's music classes at church and enjoys helping children get excited about singing and making music. She loves connecting with her own four kids and watching them grow, as well as amusing them by making up silly songs and dances to make every day more fun!

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, standing outdoors at night with city buildings and lit windows in the background.

  • Kindermusik

    Miss Kristi is very excited to be returning to the Kindermusik classroom after over ten years away. She has a BA in Music and Theatre from Heidelberg University and an MA in Theatre Studies from Kent State University. Her professional life has been varied, but music and working with children have long been a part of it. She taught for Kindermusik of Cleveland for five years while also serving as the drama director for a high school in Parma, and an adjunct theatre instructor at Kent State. She and her family moved to the Columbus area in 2012, where Kristi worked for ten years in the private preschool setting before moving on to become the Academic Administrative Assistant for Theatre and Dance at Denison University. She loves the University environment but missed the magic of making music with young children. She couldn’t be happier to have found this Kindermusik opportunity to round out her summers! She is the mother of two children, and spends her free moments reading, taking long walks, and making music anywhere she can. She currently enjoys singing with the Gahanna Community Chorus.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, wearing a pink shirt and a heart-shaped necklace.

  • Bio coming soon

A woman with short hair and glasses smiling, wearing a black top, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

  • Curriculum Director and Program Coordinator, Daycare/Preschool Instructor

    Hannah has been teaching music in Central Ohio since 2014. After 10 years in the K-5 elementary music classroom she stepped away to spend more time with her family in 2023 and quickly joined the Beyond Arts & Music team as an instructor and curriculum coordinator. Hannah has her certification in both Kodaly and Orff and is currently the president of the Central Ohio American Orff Schulwerk association.

A young woman smiling outdoors, wearing glasses, earrings, and a mushroom-shaped necklace, with trees in the background.

  • Piano Instructor

    Emma has loved music from a very young age and is thrilled to get to share that love with aspiring musicians! Emma has been playing piano since she was 4 years old, and took lessons with Miss Christa, so she is very happy to get to work with her again and teach what she knows! Aside from playing piano, Emma has a musical background as she grew up with a music teacher for a mom and has sung with many choirs and ensembles throughout the years. Making music fun and working with her students to find what works for them is her favorite part of teaching. Music has helped her connect with so many people and brought her incredible experiences, and she can’t wait to share it with others!

A young woman with long brown hair smiling outdoors with trees in the background.

  • Piano, Voice, Board Certified Music Therapist

    Ms. Kara, MT-BC, has been a board-certified music therapist since 2023. Kara has been playing the piano and singing for as long as she can remember. Originally from Utah, Kara completed her BS in Music Therapy at Utah State University and her music therapy internship at Bridgeway Academy here in Columbus. She especially enjoys doing music therapy with children

    with developmental disabilities and watching the way music can help them reach their full potential. In addition to facilitating music therapy, Kara loves teaching music so she can pass on her love of music. She currently enjoys singing with the Columbus Symphony Chorus, reading, and playing board games with her husband.

A young woman with dark hair in a braid, wearing earrings and a black shirt, smiling and resting her arms on a large textured rock outdoors with green trees in the background.

  • Daycare & Preschool Instructor

    Janey has always loved music, and experimented on every instrument she could get her hands on as a child. She never completely grew out of the habit of spending a good portion of her time on art: painting, doing paper crafts, and thinking up new songs. Over the years she has made it a goal to inspire the love of music and arts in the children in her life, teaching private piano and recorder lessons, as well as group lessons in arts and crafts. She has written and arranged ensemble pieces specifically at the level of her young friends so that they can share in the joy of making music together. She loves children and finds nothing more thrilling than watching them learn!