Songs and Signs, LLC, is owned and operated by Denise Schmitz. She teaches Music Together and Signing Smart classes with families in the Greater Des Moines area.  She also teaches Simply Music group piano lessons in her home.

Denise was awarded Music Together Certification Level 1 status, having demonstrated outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy, and parent education. The award was granted by the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ, Kenneth K. Guilmartin, Founder/Director.

Denise holds a B.S. in Vocal Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University. She taught K-12 Vocal Music in public schools for seven years and early childhood music and movement classes over the past seven years. She has also had several private voice students. She and her husband Dean have a son. 

Denise won the DEKKO Award for Teaching Excellence at her first teaching assignment as the K-12 General Music Teacher at Murray Community School in 1997. Denise and Kristi Tiesma shared the honor of becoming the Des Moines Symphony Academy's first "Teachers of the Year" in 2003.

She loves working with children and families and looks forward to having you in a class soon!

Ann is a registered Music Together teacher. She attended Drake University where she studied Music Education and Violin. Ann has experience teaching vocal and handbell choirs at several area churches.

She has three college age children herself and has been actively involved in their music development throughout their childhood years. Ann enjoys teaching and working with children of all ages.

Kristen Richer is a registered Music Together teacher. She attended Loras College in Dubuque, where she was a member of the concert choir and church choir. She has also been active in theatre since her youth, and has had the opportunity to be cast of a number of musical productions.
Kristen has her degree in Elementary and Special Education and taught for eight years before making the decision to stay home. It was in staying home that she found the Music Together program, and enrolled her son. Now she is looking forward to being able to share her love of music with other families in the program!

Ingrid, a registered Music Together teacher, attended the University of Minnesota and was a member of the women's choir. She has a BA in Criminal Justice and has worked in social services and politics. She was active in voice and piano lessons in her youth, as well as church choir and teaching music in Sunday School and Bible School. She is very excited to share her passion for music and children in her classes!

Signing  Smart™ Instructor
Chrissi was exposed to signing when she was in elementary school. One year she opted to give up recesses and take an "Intro to Sign Language" class and LOVED it. To this day she knows the alphabet from that class, along with many other signs she's shocked to remember. When she became pregnant with her son she researched the AMAZING benefits of signing with infants/children and knew it was something she wanted to do with him.   After reading a book about Signing Smart, it's strategies and some activities, she started signing with him when he was approximately 4 1/2 months old.  Now at 6 months, he already has 2 signs. Chrissi has a passion for signing and is excited for the opportunity to pass it along to others!

Signing Smart™ Instructor

Sommer Bradds is excited to be the newest registered Music Together in the Songs and Signs family. Sommer has a degree in education, has spent extensive summers around campfires as residence camp staff, is a former Outdoor Educator, and has a passion to keep music and movement in our schools!

Sommer spends her time singing, dancing, and laughing with her daughter. She came to become a Music Together teacher after spending time in a class through Songs and Signs.  There is no doubt that you'll enjoy taking a class with Sommer!