Mississippi Monday | Music for Aardvarks

Happy Monday, friends! We are so excited to share with you our Q & A with Katie Hathcock, head musician at Music For Aardvarks! Katie is a music teacher who combines song, dance and rhythm for a foot stompin', rockin' good time. Read on below to learn more about this fun, talented lady, and be sure to follow her on social media for upcoming classes and events!

What is Music for Aardvarks?

Music for Aardvarks is a music class for babies and toddlers and their caregivers. But it's not your typical music class. You won't find me singing Twinkle, Twinkle Star, or Mary Had a Little Lamb. Not that there's anything wrong with that! I love the classics! But Music for Aardvarks is based on all original music and is really diverse in its musical styles and activities. We sing, dance, shake, drum, twirl, and play in every class. Music for Aardvarks began in Brooklyn, NY, when dad and musician David Weinstone wanted a fun music class for his kids. The songs he writes often include details about city life. There's the taxi song, a song about riding on the subway, a song about living in a walk-up, etc. I want my own children to have a broad world view and this is just one way to introduce them to some things they may not see everyday. We took my daughter, Stella, to NYC to visit friends when she was around 2 years old, and I will never forget when she made the connection between the yellow car we were riding in and the taxi song. It was super fun. How did you get started and what was the inspiration to take the small business leap? I first heard about Music for Aardvarks when we lived in Memphis, TN and my daughter was about 8 months old. A friend from work said, "You have to take your baby to Music for Aardvarks classes. It's so fun!" And that was pretty much all she wrote. Every Saturday for the next 6 years, we rocked out with Mr. Joe at his studio in Memphis. What is your background? I grew up in a small town in Florida. My dad is a musician, and he and my Mom opened a music store when I was a baby. My dad taught lessons in the back and my Mom sold instruments and accessories in the front, while I played in my play pen nearby. I took violin lessons first. Then I picked up the guitar, bass, and a little bit of piano. Of course by the time I was old enough to go to college, I thought the last thing I wanted to do was keep playing music, so I decided to get a communications degree and go to work in a non-profit.But I never could seem to get very far away from music. I worked for the Alabama Symphony doing fundraising and events. I was interested in Irish and folk music so I started taking violin lessons again. And then when my daughter was a baby, we started going to the Aardvarks classes. Life is just one big circle, folks! Where do you find inspiration? Well--again, getting kind of schmoopy--I've found a community in these classes. Parenthood can be kind of isolating, paradoxically. Especially at first. And in class, you meet other families you might not run into otherwise. At the end of a semester, I'll hear parents ask each other, Are you doing Thursday mornings again? They want to hang out! What do you like to do when you aren't "at the office"? I'm married to Barrett Hathcock, a writer/musician/insurance professional. Together, we have a daughter, Stella, who's now 8, and a 5 year old son, Carter. When I'm not teaching classes, I'm usually hanging out with them. I love to read (both grown-up books and kid books), take yoga classes, and hang out with friends. What are your favorite local places to shop and dine? My whole family loves Lemuria--especially the children's section known as Oz. I love hearing live music at Duling Hall and Hal and Mal's. We often get treats at La Brioche and Campbell's in Fondren. When my husband and I get a rare date night, we love a leisurely dinner at places like Lou's Full-Serv or Surin of Thailand. And of course, when I need a fun gift or card, I head to Thimblepress' new pop-up shop in Highland Village. What are some of the reasons you call Mississippi home? My husband grew up here. His parents live in Jackson and as our children got bigger, we wanted to be closer to family. I didn't know it when we first arrived here, but it's also a great place to start a business. How do you think what you are doing is helping to shape your local community as well as the image of Mississippi? My hope is that I'm fostering a love of music in our youngest citizens and creating a light-hearted, inclusive community for parents to enjoy their kids and bond/commiserate with other parents.