Sign-a-SongTM at a Glance"In Brooklyn, babies are flocking to Sign-a-Song classes..." We all naturally sign with our babies -- we wave, we point, we clap our hands. Imagine taking it a step further -- adding American Sign Language. There are endless possibilities. Infants and preverbal toddlers can let you know when they are tired or hungry. They can indicate that they prefer milk or a cracker. Early exposure to American Sign Language is a fun way to build communication, alleviate frustration, and encourage further language development. At Sign-a-Song babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers are introduced to American Sign Language vocabulary through live music, finger-moving songs, stories, and activities.
Sign-a-Song was born in Park Slope, Brooklyn in November, 2001. Andrea Fixell, then a new mother and teacher, started a musical sign language class for friends and their babies. With its innovative curriculum, live music, and original songs, Sign-a-Song has been hailed as an educational and entertaining language enriching experience.
 Founder/Director received her Masters degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in Deaf Education in 1991. She has been a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students in both private and public New York City school settings, and has provided services as an educator and consultant at St. Francis School for the Deaf, LaGuardia Community College's Program for Deaf Adults, the New York City Department of Education, and Sesame Street.
 Greg Barresi
Guitarist/Songwriter began playing guitar at six years old and hasn't stopped yet. In 2006 Greg received a BA in Theatre Arts from SUNY New Paltz. Since then he has been working as both an actor and musician. He has worked extensively with the Vital Children's Theatre performing in the musicals "Pinkalicious" and "The Bully," and has taught workshops in creative movement , storytelling and music. Greg currently lives in Brooklyn where he writes and records music on a daily basis.
Tessa Hersh
Instructor is a 2004 graduate of Carleton College. She developed her American Sign Language skills performing with the Imagination Stage Deaf Access Children's Theatre, in association with the acclaimed National Theatre of the Deaf. Tessa has worked with autistic children as a drama and American Sign Language teacher. More recently she taught sign language to special needs children at the Mother Theresa Missionary in Ethiopia. We are very excited to have Tessa join us as an instructor at Sign-a-Song.
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