Notes from Christine (Yr 2006)

explains why we started Harmony Road at New Mozart School of Music

Hi,

I'm Christine, director of New Mozart.

The birth of New Mozart's Harmony Road was the result of my own quest to find the best program for my son Julian. As a music educator of 18 years and a performer since a young age, I felt that many of the music programs I attended with my son had deficiencies that could be improved. I began searching for a comprehensive program that doesn’t underestimate the musical abilities of young children. In preparation, I researched and studied different early childhood music education methodologies, including Orff at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and Dalcroze at the Juilliard School of Music. After three years of serious planning and preparation, New Mozart's Harmony Road began in the summer of 2005. To ensure the quality of our classes, I have been heavily involved in teaching, teacher training, and refining our curriculum with the help of my husband, Dr. Paul Lee, a Stanford-educated cognitive psychologist.

New Mozart's Harmony Road curriculum is influenced by Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, and Dalcroze. Going one step further, we have made piano an integral part of our curriculum. The graduates of Harmony Road are often further ahead on piano than students enrolled in general group piano classes or private lessons. With their strong musical foundation, our graduates are then ready to start lessons on any instrument.

Approaching the summer of 2006, New Mozart's Harmony Road program has grown to 120 students, ranging in age from 2 to 7. The graduates of Harmony Road II will be performing their very own piano compositions in Palo Alto this June.

I feel that I have now come full circle in my musical career. Before the birth of my son Julian, I thought I had to choose between being a singer or a pianist, or between teaching piano and teaching voice. Through my quest to find the best musical education for my son, I discovered that there was no need to separate my musical experiences. I am happy that I can utilize my years of education and experience in piano, voice, and early childhood music to teach a curriculum that brings them all together for a more holistic approach to music education.

The major source of my desire to improve and refine our program is New Mozart's Harmony students themselves. They inspire me with their love of music, creativity & talent and by allowing me to witness the realization of my belief that young children are capable of so much more.