Teachers
Yukiko Yoshida Mullen
Director/Teacher/COSP Facilitator
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Yukiko Yoshida Mullen graduated New York University in 1985 with a major in psychology and a minor in music. While in college, she took a private singing lesson and visited hospitals and daycare centers for elderly to give a mini recital with other music students. Recently, she earned a Master's Degree in Applied Child & Adolescent Development, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She is also a registered facilitator of Circle of Security - Parenting (parenting program).
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Yukiko started teaching Music Together® in 2010. She has worked with more than 1,300 families for the past 16 years (in Tokyo, Japan, Dallas,Texas, and NYC). Seeing children's musical and social-emotional development in classes has absorbed her completely. She finds it the greatest joy to help parents create a beautiful bond with their child(ren) through music-making.
She holds Music Together® Certification Level I & II.
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She is the mother of three children, 32-year-old daughter, 29-year-old son, and 24-year-old daughter.
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Chrisy Kakurai
Teacher
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Chrisy Kakurai is a dancer and performing artist from Japan who began classical ballet at age 3. She was trained at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco, where she also assisted classes for young children and found her passion for teaching.
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She has performed widely in Japan and the US, including 4 years and 13 seasons in Off-Broadway productions in New York City. Chrisy also choreographed children’s musicals such as A Christmas Carol and The Little Mermaid, earning a nomination for Best Choreographer at the Off-Broadway Awards. In addition, she taught at Broadway Dance Center NYC, working with students of all ages.
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Chrisy holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and Design from Tokyo Zokei University. This background enriches her creative approach to music and movement.
She has participated in Music Together with her 4-year-old son for more than 3 years. She’d love to offer warm and playful classes where children and their caregivers can connect with each other through music -making.
Yuko Matsumoto
Teacher
Yuko Matsumoto started taking jazz dance lessons at the age 8 and was enrolled in Mukogawa Women’s University, Health and Sports Department. After graduating university, she continued to study professional dancing at Osaka Dance, Acting, & Performing School to further enhance her dancing skills. She performed at Tokyo Disney Sea as an acro dancer and moved to the United States in 2009.
In 2011, she produced a dance musical at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and made a great success.
At COBU, Japanese Taiko Drum and Dance Company, she plays the wadaiko & the shamisen, dances, and sings in the company. She has performed at various places including United Nations and Lincoln Center and has joined the performance tour to Italy and Switzerland.
Yuko is a mother of a 3-year-old daughter. With her daughter, she participated Yukiko’s Music Together, which brought music, smiles, and love to her family. Now she is excited and thrilled to start a new chapter of her life as a Music Together teacher.
