The gig is up

The Harman-ic force behind Music With Mar, for young children, turns over the reins in St. Petersburg but will stay plenty busy elsewhere.

[Times photos: James Borchuck] Maryann Harman, left, continues to teach Music With Mar at the Temple B'nai Israel in Clearwater.

By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 4, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- The music hasn't stopped in St. Petersburg. It's just beating to a different drummer. But parents and children said a sad goodbye last week to Maryann Harman, who has taught her Music With Mar classes in the area for nine years.

Children can still greet Mr. Froggy each week and sing Harman's songs about colors, counting, kindness and the environment with a different teacher. Harman, who will continue teaching classes in north Pinellas, is handing over her downtown class that met at First United Methodist Church to Shawn Forziano. Forziano has already taken over the reins of the Temple Beth-El class.

Heather Munger of Tampa sings to her 22-month-old son, Wade, at the end of class Wednesday.

"The classes were just exploding in size, so I started teaching other people how to do them," Harman said. "I really hated leaving that (downtown) location. I was crying (on the last day of class) Tuesday."

Music With Mar classes are open to children 3 months to 5 years old. They cost $6 a session per family. Children come with a parent or caregiver and spend about 45 minutes singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. Harman has designed her program to instill an appreciation for music as well as foster brain development and relationships with parents and other children.

After she moved to Palm Harbor more than a year ago, the commute to St. Petersburg seemed to get longer each day and take additional time away from her family, Harman said. That's why she decided to turn the St. Petersburg classes over to Forziano.

"She was a mom who came to the class, and she heard me say I wanted to start training people," Harman said. "She used to work for HRS. She loves children and she loves music."

Harman has also licensed instructors to teach Music With Mar in Brandon, Dunedin, Orlando, Jacksonville, Naples, Coral Gables and upstate New York. They pay a licensing fee each year and keep all the money they take in from classes.

"It's kind of like the McDonald's success program. If you go to a McDonald's in Nebraska, it's the same Happy Meal as in Florida," she said. "Parents know if they are in New York or anywhere in Florida, the class will be basically the same."

Harman will continue to teach Music With Mar in Clearwater at Temple B'nai Israel and in Seminole at the Wellington School. She is starting new classes in Tarpon Springs and in Oldsmar across from the Westchase master-planned community. There she will teach at Lifestyles Family Fitness center. The program may soon become part of gym memberships.

St. Petersburg groupies can still catch Harman doing free concerts at the Borders bookstore at Tyrone Square Mall every other month. Her compact discs and tapes are available at all classes.

- For more class times and locations call (727) 545-4MAR or visit the Web site www.musicwithmar.com.

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