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My bilingual journey
In 2003 I began my professional music career teaching a developmental music and movement program for children ages newborn to 7 years. I was soon approached by a group of families with children adopted from China asking if I could create a Mandarin music curriculum for their young children. Soon enough, families of all cultures and backgrounds were interested in my Mandarin music class. The importance of learning a second language, specifically Mandarin, became obvious in our globalized economy. Although what I created at that time was great for small classes, I eventually realized that I needed to create something so that many more could enjoy the benefits that I had started in my small music studio. Little Laura Music was thus created in 2007 with the hope of inspiring families to raise their children bilingually. I then wrote the award-winning children’s book: Little Laura and the Birthday Surprise, a bilingual musical storybook adventure.
For the past 4 years, I have designed and conducted Mandarin Music classes at La Casita Bilingue Montessori, sharing music with their preschool and Kindergarten classes. I have been invited for special Mandarin story times at local libraries including Hercules, Pinole, Crockett, Oakland, and Albany libraries, as well as being invited to present musical story times at Lunar New Year celebrations.
Most recently, I created, launched and directed the K-8 Mandarin Music Program from 2015-2017 at Yu Ming Charter School, the only public Mandarin immersion charter school in the East Bay. I taught percussive instruments, boom whackers, glockenspiel, soprano recorder, ukulele, flute and saxophone to over 350 students. I ran successful school-wide music performances 2-3 times each school year, conducting all my classes in Mandarin Chinese.
For the past 4 years, I have designed and conducted Mandarin Music classes at La Casita Bilingue Montessori, sharing music with their preschool and Kindergarten classes. I have been invited for special Mandarin story times at local libraries including Hercules, Pinole, Crockett, Oakland, and Albany libraries, as well as being invited to present musical story times at Lunar New Year celebrations.
Most recently, I created, launched and directed the K-8 Mandarin Music Program from 2015-2017 at Yu Ming Charter School, the only public Mandarin immersion charter school in the East Bay. I taught percussive instruments, boom whackers, glockenspiel, soprano recorder, ukulele, flute and saxophone to over 350 students. I ran successful school-wide music performances 2-3 times each school year, conducting all my classes in Mandarin Chinese.