Janet, you create magic with your music.

You are so gifted that you are able to motivate middle school students to write, sing and enjoy music in all they do.

You are inspirational!!!

— Claire F. Barton Sheridan

Principal of the Columbia Campus – Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy

Janet Feld was born for this.

She creates a warm, welcoming, safe, and joyful space within which to learn music with a grace and ease that makes, what to me seems like a miracle, feel like everyone can do it. I’ve been involved in music all my life, I’ve never seen anyone better at this.

— Don White

songwriter, storyteller, humorist, author, teacher

Janet has been a pillar of our School of Music since its inception in 2000.

She has helped us learn how to match up classes with the needs of our students. Because she loves learning about guitar herself, she is able to convey that love of her learning to her students, especially those just starting out. We love Janet and we love having her as a leader and mentor in our community.

— Jim Wooster

Executive Director at Passim

She was our Miss Frizzle and music class was our “Magic School Bus.”

Being African American in an Irish Catholic school could at times feel unfamiliar. But with my introduction to 7th grade music class and to who would become a surrogate mother and eternal mentor for all students who enter her class, we finally had a safe space to express ourselves and share our culture. The students Ms. Feld met were jaded and disinterested, but in time she was able to reach each of us and find what bonded us – that feeling of being “other”, “different” in a space with unbearable crystal clear expectations and no detours. Greeting us with a genuine interest that before alluded us. Lessons of “Strange Fruit”, and its singer Billie Holiday but also its Jewish composer, Abel Meeropol. Every child walking into Ms. Feld’s class had this feeling of entering a transformative space. She taught us about music, revolution, self identity and pride in that identity. No matter what space we were in.

— Asia Cooper

Being a part of Ms. Feld’s music classwas one of the highlights of my middle school years.

As someone who never took music too seriously, Ms. Feld did a wonderful job showing us how important music can be to people and what positive impacts it can have on you. I was never a musician, singer, or anything like that but Ms. Feld always made sure we had a good understanding of what music can do for a person, not only in the classroom but outside of it. Being a shy kid growing up, Ms. Feld always made sure we had opportunities to step out of our shell and learn, like when she gave me a solo in our middle school show! I thank her to this day for showing me the the power of music and giving me the opportunity to grow as a person in her class.

— Joe Barkowski

My guitar classes with Janet have been a God-send.

It’s my ‘me-time,’ it’s revitalizing, it breaks up my week. I even bring my guitar to work sometimes to practice during meal breaks, and it is so uplifting. This is the best thing I’ve done for myself in years. Plus? Janet is so great, I’ve learned so much from her outlook on learning in general. After working with her, I feel like I can do anything.

— Jess Deshayes