OUR TEACHERS
At the heart of all our programs are our passionate, talented teachers who make every class a joyful and inspiring experience! Whether it's our lively Music & Movement classes, hands-on Instrumental Play sessions, dynamic Summer Camps, or fun-filled Birthday Parties, our teachers bring music, creativity, and care to each moment. With engaging activities, multicultural songs, playful movement, and personal attention, every child is encouraged to grow, express themselves, and fall in love with the magic of music!
Kathy Hayden/Founder
Kathy Hayden’s passion is teaching creatively through music, dance, stories, and play—always with a heart full of love for children and families.
Raised in a home filled with music, art, dance, and expression, Kathy grew up as a lively, imaginative child who thrived on movement and creativity. Inspired by her own upbringing, she designed Kathy’s Music & Movement to be a magical, welcoming space for every child—whether free-spirited, quiet, observant, or structured—encouraging each to explore, learn, and grow at their own unique pace.
Kathy holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies/Psychology and a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. With over 27 years of experience teaching young children, she brings a rich background that includes directing daycares, teaching preschool through first grade in California and England, owning and operating three Gymboree Play & Music centers, and leading Kindermusik with Kathy for nearly three decades. Kathy has also completed extensive training in sensory-motor integration, infant and toddler play therapy, and Orff-Schulwerk music education, and trained under renowned music and movement specialist Phyllis Weikert.
Her love for teaching extends beyond the U.S.; Kathy has traveled to India multiple times, volunteering in the Himalayas and teaching music and English workshops in schools across Indore. Her international work reflects her deep belief that music, love, and joyful connection can transform children's lives—one child at a time.
A proud mother of two daughters and grandmother of two, Kathy pours her warmth, heart, and decades of experience into every class. Today, she offers lively classes and camps for babies, toddlers, and young children in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, blending music, rhythm, movement, and storytelling to spark creativity, confidence, and connection in every child she meets.
Ben Gerstein
Ben Gerstein is a passionate musician, artist, and educator from Santa Barbara, CA, with over 20 years of experience inspiring students through music, chess, and photography.
Growing up in a vibrant musical family, Ben’s creative journey began early. He found his voice on the trombone in elementary school, and by age 17, he was off to New York City to study jazz at the renowned Manhattan School of Music, graduating in 1999. Over the next two decades, Ben became an integral part of New York’s groundbreaking music scene, collaborating with a wide range of artists across the U.S. and internationally in jazz, classical, experimental, and improvised music. His devotion to the arts extended beyond performance—he remained deeply engaged in the study and practice of music, visual arts, and literature, always pushing creative boundaries.
Since returning to California with his wife in 2020, Ben has continued to expand his work, drawing fresh inspiration from nature field recordings, visual documentation, world cultures, ethnomusicology, meditation, and movement practices. His creative spirit thrives on exploration, reflection, and connection.
As a teacher and mentor, Ben brings a rare blend of passion, knowledge, and personal care to his students. He is deeply committed to helping each learner discover their own voice, offering a rich tapestry of global music, sound, and history to fuel their curiosity and creative freedom. He sees each lesson as an opportunity to spark wonder, growth, and self-expression.
Now based in Ojai, Ben is actively teaching in schools and homes throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, working with a wide range of instruments and creative approaches. His work continues to celebrate the magic of music—and the joy of discovery—in every form.