The Polka Therapy Band is made up of Heather Stenner on piano, Cheri Thurston on accordion, Chris Sheafor on bass and guitar, and Andy Sheafor on drums. Various singers and other musicians also participated in the recording of songs on the CD.

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The songs were all created by Cheri Thurston and Heather Stenner. They both worked on composition, lyrics, and arrangements, though Thurston’s specialty was music and lyrics, while Stenner’s specialty was music, arrangements, and musical direction for the singers and the band. Stenner also sings on several of the tracks.

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Cheri Thurston is the founder of Closet Accordion Players of America, an organization that encourages accordionists to come out of the closet and play proudly. (www.capa.cottonwoodpress.com) As Cheryl Miller Thurston, she is also the author of many books for teachers, as well as magazine articles, plays and musical shows. In 1997, she created Moonlighting Teachers, a troupe of teachers, former teachers, counselors and others who sing and act their way through a comedy show that touches just about every facet of the world of education. The group has performed for dozens of state, regional and national educational conferences. Her “real job” is running her publishing company Cottonwood Press, Her blog can be found at www.scattershot.typepad.com

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Heather Stenner is a former public school music teacher who founded Enthusic, a company devoted to allowing anyone to “try on the hat of a musician and discover the joy of music without the pressure of performance.” She is a singer, piano player, and dancer, as well as a composer who has created the music for various CDs, books, and plays, including Singuini—Noodling Around with Silly Songs (a music book) and A Hair from the Head of a Prince (a full-length musical comedy ). She toured with Up with People for a year and now performs regularly with the group Moonlighting Teachers. She is also musical director for the group.