OUR MISSION & PHILOSOPHY
To provide a happy place where learning is fun.
To teach young children in a fun and effective way, and to teach anyone who wants to learn, regardless of their talent, experience, or progress. To enrich people's lives with music, meeting students of all ages where they are and helping them reach their goals.
We believe that everyone can and should sing and play an instrument, no matter their current skill level, and that playing once a week is so much better than not at all. We believe that starting young is best, but it's never too late to start, re-start, or continue. All people can make progress and we're here to support and encourage that progress.
We believe in the power of music, and that learning music should be fun.
Raya Grace, Founder
ABOUT
Meet The Team
Learn more about the people behind the program at Raya Grace Music.
Raya Grace
FOUNDER
Raya has a Bachelor of Music from BYU in Elementary Music Education with a vocal emphasis, a Master of Education Degree from ASU in Curriculum and Instruction & Early Childhood Education, and an Educational Administration license from SUU. Raya oversees all of the amazing teachers here at Raya Grace, writes the curricula, and does the admin work. She has 20+ years of teaching experience both at Raya Grace and in public schools, including K-6 music and 10 years of kindergarten. She opened Leavitt Music Studios in 2005 and changed the name to Raya Grace in 2012. That same year, Raya created the Sound Beginnings curriculum for a company called Let's Play Music and trained the first 100 teachers. A year later, she created Music Preschool for her 4-year-old daughter. And, a few years after that, Piano Beginnings, the most fun and effective way for young children to learn piano, was born! Raya loves creating curricula and supporting and mentoring music teachers who love the joy of teaching children music.
Ruth Packard
PIANO/VOICE/UKULELE & PIANO BEGINNINGS TEACHER
Ruth is from Washington state and is currently studying music at BYU. She served a mission in southern Brazil and loves sharing her passion for music with children.
She enjoys playing piano, singing, and creating fun engaging experiences that help children develop a love for music at a young age.
She loves bringing her enthusiasm, creativity and love for children to Raya Grace!
Cheri Henricksen
MUSIC PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Cheri has an abundance of teaching and early childhood experience. She has been teaching preschool at Raya Grace since 2016! Before that, she worked with young children in many different capacities including as a kindergarten aide in Raya's classroom at Provost Elementary School! Cheri is a fun, loving, and skillful teacher! Parents sing her praises every year and the students love her! She has a beautiful singing voice and loves music and children. Her students' recitals are amazing and she loves teaching students reading, writing, science, art and social skills!
Cheri is a local who grew up in the area, married her high school sweetheart, and is an amazing mother of four children. As a mom, she has experience with homeschooling, as well as public and hybrid schools. She is currently working on a Bachelor's Degree in Family Studies! The Music Preschool students are so lucky to have such a fun, energetic and experienced teacher!
Macy Badger
VOICE TEACHER (AND VOICE/PIANO COMBO TEACHER)
Macy is a bold vocalist and teacher with a wide range of expertise in multiple genres including: Soul, Pop, Country, Musical Theater, Rock, Opera, and Jazz. She prides herself on teaching methods such as the Margolis Method that helps create an emotional impact for her students and assists them in telling a compelling story through song. For the past four years, Macy has studied at Snow College Horne School of Music and obtained a bachelor's degree in Commercial Music as a Vocal Performance Major. She has participated in many ensembles including: Spotlight Acappella Group, Snow College Operas, Cadence Chamber Choir, Snow Musical Theater showcases and CME rock bands. Her goal is to make music and the art of singing accessible to every student and to help each student discover and appreciate their own unique voice.
.jpg)
Heidi Burnard
PIANO TEACHER
Heidi’s musical career began the day her great-grandmother gifted a piano to her family and she began lessons with a local teacher in Washington State. She quickly discovered that music has the power to transform any moment into something extraordinary.
​
Almost immediately she knew she wanted to share this joy with others who felt the same and were willing to put in the time to practice and improve their skills. She has been teaching, accompanying and performing since high school and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Pedagogy from BYU. Heidi loves working one-on-one with students of all ages and abilities, encouraging them to develop good practice habits and the technical skills they need to bring the pieces they learn to life, with musicality and confidence.
​
Heidi homeschooled her 6 children and has taught classes in the homeschool community for many years. She loves teaching, literature, classic films, all things German, accompanying, travel, and is also a personal color analyst. In all of those things, it’s connecting with people and building meaningful connections that matters most.
.jpg)
Luke Winters
GUITAR & UKULELE TEACHER
Luke grew up in Lindon, served a mission in New Mexico, and taught at the MTC. He is currently studying Electrical Engineering at BYU.
When he is not studying, he enjoys hiking, reading, or playing tennis with friends.
He has been playing both acoustic and electric guitar for seven years and loves sharing the joy of music with others!
.jpg)
Lilly Allen
VOICE TEACHER
Lily is from Logan and is currently studying musical theater and pre-med at BYU. She served an LDS mission in Northern California and loved it! She has been playing piano since she was six and singing and performing for almost as long. Music is one of her most favorite things, along with reading and BTS. Lily has a wide range of vocal experience from choral to musical theater to jazz and more. Favorite roles include Penny (Hairspray, OMT), and Madame Thenardier (Les Mis, UFOMT Conservatory). She's excited to share her love of music with students and help them find that love as well!
.jpg)
Carter Henricksen
PIANO TEACHER
Carter grew up in Provo and has been playing piano for 12 years. In his music journey, he loved having teachers who loved piano. They helped him enjoy learning and appreciate music and piano in a similar way. As a teacher, he tries to share that love of music with others, and help them find joy in making the piano sing. He recently returned home from a mission in Tacoma, Washington and is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at BYU. Other hobbies he enjoys include basketball, pickleball, chess, and reading.
_edited.jpg)
Kezia Bird
GUITAR & UKULELE TEACHER
Kezia is from West Point and is currently studying Health Science at UVU. She rececently returned home from a mission in Fresno, CA, and some of her current hobbies include playing pickleball, snowboarding, playing games with her family and friends, and anything music related. With the example set by her grandfather playing his banjo, Kezia has been musically inclined all of her life. She has learned to play many instruments including the piano, flute, ukulele, guitar, and also loves to sing! She believes that sharing your talents is part of helping them grow, and loves helping others' talents grow through the gift of music.