founded the Little Music Maker business in 2004 (and renamed it Miss Ellie in 2025) with the mission of helping parents bond with their children through music and movement and keeping the joy alive for beginning musicians. "Miss Ellie" has 29 years of teaching experience and 46 years performing experience. She teaches songs through movement and repetition, using puppets, props, finger play, games, poses, dances, percussion instruments, guitar, ukulele, cello, piano, recorder, harmonica and more for a super fun, active and engaging experience. Her classes provide a very strong foundation in listening, singing, and rhythmic repetition. Benefits to the grownups include increased physical and emotional strength, stronger bonds with the children, a repertoire of songs to use for many different parenting situations and lasting connections with a community of other adults 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 group sessions.

 

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, Jenny Van-West, Sara Hallie Richardson, and The Portland Symphony Orchestra. She is thrilled to be singing with the Magic of Christmas Chorus this year!

 

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. She donated her time to record an album with An Overnight Low and serves in the music ministry of the Saco First Parish Senior Choir. She plays live cello or singing bowls for FishMoon Yoga and other yoga studios and teaches at various private Preschools, Portland Public PreK, and for Senior Living Facilities. She has performed as "Kiki Dee" with the band, Piano Men, and performed at Ossippee Valley Music Festival for 2 summers in the Children's tent with her all female pick-up band,The Honeybees. She is releasing original songs as singles about every 3 months since her mountain bike accident on 9/21/24. To learn more about that and her current and past endeavors, listen to the interview on the Sidebern Podcast!