Music Together^® came to the eastside of Manhattan in 1992, and to the westside shortly thereafter, in the spring of 1993 when founding center director Deanna deCampos started her first class with seven families in a little basement studio on Riverside Drive. That was just a few months after first discovering Music Together as a mom when her oldest was just 10 months old.  Together with her friend and business partner Sally Woodson (d. 2013), who came on board in 1994, they built ESWS into a thriving center, expanding and growing over the years on the UWS and UES, in preschools, and into the hearts of over 50,000 families, singing "Hello Everybody" more times than one can count!

In January 2022, after nearly 30 years at the helm of Eastside Westside Music Together, Deanna handed over the reins to long-time teacher Liz Richter and her partner, Austin Turner, both passionate and talented music educators.  She says, "ESWS has been a labor of love and an incredibly soul-satisfying journey for me since my first class in 1993 on Riverside Drive. Bringing music to families, watching little ones grow, and fostering a love for music in all who’ve come through our doors, has been one of the great joys of my life." Deanna remains deeply involved with Music Together as Director of Curriculum Development and Educational Services at Music Together Worldwide and continues to teach in upstate New York, where she now lives. 

"Liz and Austin are perfectly primed and ready to lead ESWS into a new era," says deCampos. They share her and Sally's mission for this work and she is absolutely thrilled for them and the future of ESWS, serving the next generation of families in our community.  May they sing, dance, and playfully guide ESWS into a bright, shining future!

A blast from the past... In 2018 ESWS celebrated 25 years of music making in Manhattan with a joyous concert at Symphony Space on the UWS. Families whose kids are nearly grown sang along with families new to the program. It was a beautiful celebration and we are grateful for all who helped to make it happen. 

Music Together began in 1987 as an educational project of the Center for Music and Young Children of Princeton, NJ. The program, which is designed for children birth (yes, birth!) to five years, is based on the knowledge that all children are musical and have the same innate ability to learn music as language. At Music Together we believe that music ability is as much a basic life skill as walking and talking and that all children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with pleasure and confidence in the music of their culture. We nurture the child's natural enthusiasm for music and movement as we sing, dance, chant, and play instruments in an informal setting that will enrich their musical environment and guide them towards a lifetime of music making enjoyment.