The highly anticipated Chicago, The Musical is set to grace Beijing on Nov 24, promising an unforgettable theatrical experience for all.

This timeless classic has captivated audiences worldwide with its dazzling choreography, memorable songs, and compelling story. Set in the 1920s, the musical follows the lives of two murderers, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, as they navigate the criminal justice system and seek fame and fortune.

The production boasts a talented cast of performers who bring the characters to life with their exceptional acting and singing skills. The elaborate sets and costumes transport the audience back to the era of prohibition and flapper girls, creating a visually stunning backdrop for the story to unfold.

The music of Chicago features iconic numbers such as “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango” that will surely have the audience tapping their feet and singing along. The energetic dance routines, choreographed to perfection, add an extra layer of excitement and entertainment.

Chicago has won numerous prestigious awards. It received six Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival, and multiple Laurence Olivier Awards. The show’s success is widely recognized for its outstanding performances, choreography, and production values.

Whether you are a fan of musical theater or simply looking for a night of entertainment, Chicago, The Musical is not to be missed! It offers a unique combination of drama, comedy, and spectacle that will leave you spellbound from start to finish.

Book your tickets early by scanning the QR code on the poster (upper QR is for weekday play dates while the lower QR is for weekend play dates). This is an opportunity to witness a world-class production that will leave a lasting impression in your heart.

Find it:
21st Century Hotel, 40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区亮马桥路40号(21世纪饭店）

Images: Courtesy of organizer, Pexels, theBeijinger

It’s beginning to cool down and that means indoor entertainment’s beginning to rev up for the upcoming colder months. We’ve rounded up some great-looking family-friendly English performances that will play in Beijing in October and November, all featuring international casts from overseas.

First up, A.S.K – The Art Space for Kids is proud to present Miss Ophelia – a multimedia puppet theater show from The Netherlands. This fun performance blends light and shadow, paper puppets, and live action, and will intrigue audiences from age 5 to age 105! It will be performed in English with interactive Chinese translations specially tailored for local audiences. Get your tickets easily through their mini program on WeChat by searching 小不点大视界 (xiǎo bù diǎn dà shì jiè).

The Netherlands, Utrecht, 05-04-2016
Het Filiaal – Mw Ophelia
Photography: Remke Spijkers www.remkespijkers.com
Copyright 2016 Remke Spijkers. All rights reserved. When you use this image please mention the photographers name and website. Thank you.

Title: Miss Ophelia
Genre: Multimedia puppet theater performance
Showtimes: Oct 12-29, Thursdays through Sundays (7.30pm on weekdays, 10.30am, 2.30pm and 7.30pm on weekends)
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes (including interaction)
Venue: Beijing Tianqiao Art Center
Age recommendation: 5 years +
Price: RMB 320 before discount

Another offering from A.S.K happening in November is a Spanish animated dance performance themed around a magic carpet! This physical performance features no speech but uses the universal language of the human body to convey its emotional and imaginative journey.

Title: The Desertion
Genre: Animated dance theater
Showtimes: Nov 2-19, Thursdays through Sundays (7.30pm on weekdays, 10.30am, 2.30pm and 7.30pm on weekends)
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes (including interaction)
Venue: Beijing Tianqiao Art Center
Age recommendation: 4 years +
Price: RMB 320 before discount

Next, the live musical adaption of the popular kids’ story “The Tiger Who Came To Tea” comes to Beijing all the way from Britain for a special two-day run! For those who are unacquainted, the story is of Sophie and her mother one fine afternoon when a hungry tiger knocks on their door and asks to join them for tea. The outwardly simple story comes to life with singing and dancing and teaches values such as charity and kindness. Young ones from age 3 and up are sure to enjoy the rich performances of the international cast. ShowBeijing is offering a 20 percent discount on selected seats right now, so scan the QR code below to get your tickets now!

Title: The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Genre: Musical performance
Showtimes: Nov 4 (3.30pm, 7.30pm) Nov 5 (10.30am, 3.30pm)
Duration: 55 minutes
Venue: Tianqiao Theatre
Prices: From RMB 80 to RMB 580 before discount

Last but certainly not least, and I’m personally super excited about this one as my son and I just recently watched the 80s movie version – Matilda the Musical comes to town in November! This multi-award-winning show is based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name and tells the fantastic tale of a wondrous little girl who is mistreated by her family and finds solace in a kind teacher at a school run by a horrible principal. This musical treat is brought to us by the Royal Shakespeare Company and has clinched a multitude of accolades and awards including Best Musical. After touring over 91 cities, it is back in Beijing!

Title: Matilda the Musical
Genre: Musical performance
Showtimes: Nov 17-26, Thursdays through Sundays (7.30pm on weekdays, 2.30pm and 7.30pm on weekends)
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes, with a 30-minute intermission
Venue: Erqi Theater
Prices: From RMB 780 onwards before discount

KEEP READING: Interactive Painting Performance Lets Kids Know Messing Up Is OK

Images: Pexels, Courtesy of The Art Space for Kids, ShowBeijing, Remke Spijkers www.remkespijkers.com

Does your kid love Frozen? Did Anna and Elsa captivate their imagination? And have you literally listened to “Let it Go” a million times already? Well, Frozen 2 will be in Beijing for two more shows on Aug 12 and 13 for the kids to enjoy the magic in person.

Tickets to see Frozen 2 will cost you around RMB 680 per person, but if you know how to buy stuff on Douyin, there are tickets for as low as RMB 340 per person for both days.

The cast will only be in Beijing for two shows, both taking place at the Century Theater 国家世纪剧院 guó jiā shì jì jù yuàn near Liangmaqiao.

Show times:
Aug 12 at 5pm
Aug 12 at 7pm
Aug 13 at 12.30pm
Aug 13 at 7.30pm
Aug 13 at 9pm

The show is entirely in Chinese, but even with the most basic understanding you’ll be able to follow along. After all, you probably know the whole story plot by heart by now anyway.

To see the show, tickets can be purchased on Dianping by searching 冰雪女王 bīng xuě nǚ wáng or in person at the theater in advance.

Find it:

Century Theater 国家世纪剧院
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang, Beijing

Images: Dianping, Douyin

Like some parents, I get tired of visiting indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks every weekend. Plus, every so often, I feel guilty that I haven’t exposed my kid to enough arts and culture. That’s why I started looking for kid-friendly stage performances and concerts to bring my boisterous child to. I’m happy to report that one of my recent findings is this little gem of a place called 小不点大视界 (xiǎo bù diǎn dà shì jiè) which I translate, with some liberties, as “Small Kids, Big Vision.”

This production company specializes in bringing English-language plays and musical performances from the UK, that are suitable for kids as young as 2 years old, even though they have seen 6-month-olds in the audience before.

From now until Mar 27, they are showing The Anatomy of the Piano, a 50-minute performance with Chinese subtitles starring British pianist Will Pickvance. The plot goes something like this: “A young boy who wants to be an astronaut writes a letter to Santa asking for a spaceship. On the night of Christmas Eve, however, he finds a piano at the foot of his Christmas tree…” The performance features numbers by Bach, Beethoven, and the “Father of Jazz” Fats Waller, among others.

What’s nifty about this company is that you can view and book all their performances, present and upcoming, via their mini-program in WeChat, so there are no phone calls or other hassles. They also offer an honest rating system that suggests how suitable the performance is for kids of different ages.

Below is the guide for The Anatomy of the Piano. Even if your kids are younger or older than the target audience, they are still welcome to attend as long as they can observe the conduct of the theater.

Xiao bu dian da shi jie’s next performance, titled I Wish I Was a Mountain, will take place from Apr 1-17. This highly imaginative performance received great reviews in the UK where it was commissioned by The Egg Theatre as part of Theatre Royal Bath, with The Guardian (UK) dubbing performance poet Toby Thompson, “A star in the making.”

On Mar 26 and 27, there will also be a special one and a half hour Marine Life Environmental Workshop by Creation Academy – the education branch of the production company – which will introduce music, visual arts, installation art, shadow theater, physical theater, and spoken word theater to kids from 5-8 years of age.

With tickets to each performance costing RMB 320 no matter your age, it’s worth considering the eight-ticket pass for RMB 2,240 (which whittles the ticket price down to RMB 280 each) or the 20-ticket pass for RMB 5,200 (making each ticket RMB 260). The card is applicable to all venues in China where the company has performances, including its Shanghai headquarters, as well as Hangzhou, Tianjin, Foshan, Xian, and many others. Beijing is slated to offer 10-15 performances in 2022, and you can see the lineup in the mini-program once it’s updated.

I’ve booked my tickets for The Anatomy of The Piano and cannot wait to bring my 7-year-old for some artistic entertainment. It’ll be the first time in two years that we’ve caught a musical stage performance and I really hope it will evoke his appreciation for the finer things in life, at least until the next new trampoline park opens in Beijing.

Go into WeChat and search 小不点大视界 (xiǎo bù diǎn dà shì jiè) in the Mini Programs to find them.

KEEP READING: Beijing-Only Shows and Performances To Catch While You Can

Images: Unsplash, 小不点大视界

This time of year is an extremely busy one for schools all across Beijing. Between preparing for exams, organizing Christmas fairs and bazaars, and mounting plays and musicals, students and teachers alike are pushed to the absolute limit of their capabilities. It has been no different at the British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi), where within the span of a few weeks, students prepared a wildly successful musical adapted from the popular 80s movie, Little Shop of Horrors, a show performed over two days with matinee and evening performances.

The ensemble cast of BSB Shunyi perform Little Shop of Horrors the Musical

Even with a talented and diverse cast as that of the BSB Shunyi theater group, it still takes dedication, commitment, and an experienced hand to guide the production from inception to its successful completion. This responsibility falls on Ms. Haley Clark, Director of Performing Arts at BSB Shunyi, and the genius behind the musical numbers so flawlessly executed by the ensemble cast for the Little Shop of Horrors musical.

We spoke with Ms. Clark about what it takes to put on a show of this scale, and what inspires her to keep the tradition of performance art alive.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

HC: I have dual citizenship – I’m from both Brazil and the US. I studied Music Education in the US and Ethnomusicology in Brazil for my Masters. I’m primarily a pianist, but also play several instruments and sing.

What inspired you to go into the world of teaching?

HC: I have always enjoyed teaching. I tutored other students at a young age and just couldn’t stop.

How long have you been at BSB Shunyi?

HC: This is my fifth academic year, so 4.5 years.

Ms. Clark leading the school orchestra

What was the reason behind the selection of Little Shop of Horrors as this year’s musical?

HC: Choosing a show takes months of planning – I look at what students we have, their singing and acting abilities, what shows are currently being licensed in China, what shows the school has done in the past, etc. We try to give the students a good variety as well as a challenge. Last year we did Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which was a family friendly comedy, so Little Shop of Horrors required completely different skills with the acting, singing and dancing. It was the right time and the right group of kids to do this show.

How did you go about preparing your students for their roles and the performance as a whole? 

HC: As the Musical Director, I spend a lot of rehearsal time with the singers – learning and then memorizing correct notes and then putting some soul or emotion into the singing. Students feel so exposed when singing on stage, so often they come to me to request more time going through their songs so they can feel more confident. We set the bar very high and share expectations of professional shows with the students. They are always eager to rise to this challenge.

What were some of the challenges that you faced in the making of the musical?

HC: All the 60s backup harmonies were very difficult to rehearse – one voice at a time and then all three voices together – and then memorizing all of it. It is easiest just to sing the melody, especially when the person next to you is singing something else. We all had to work very hard to get it right.

Another challenge is having to adapt some things after the set is built. We had to redo some dances or change some scenes after we saw how big some of the set pieces were. But this is standard for any show, and we are always prepared to make some adaptations in the final weeks.

Do you have the next production lined up? Care to give us a hint?

HC: Not yet. We’re still not finished with Little Shop – the cast party will be held in the last week of school! But anything is possible in the future, unless we’ve already done it!

What is your plan for the students of BSB Shunyi and what sort of impact would you like to have on your students?

HC: Every year the actors take on more and more responsibilities for the production. We had students who participated in their fifth production this year, and they made their own acting choices and much of the choreography. As a Music teacher, I always tell my instrumental ensembles and choirs that the way I know they’re doing well is if I don’t have to play along with them, if they can do it by themselves. It is the same with the students in the show.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years? What are your teaching or personal plans for the future?

HC: I am happy being the Director of Performing Arts at BSB Shunyi, and truly enjoy working with all ages of children on bringing music to life both on stage and in the classroom. I see myself doing this for a long time.

Photos : Courtesy of BSB Shunyi 

Titanic the Musical

12 Nov 2019 – 24 Nov 2019 | 2:30 PM-7:30 PM

Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre Grand Theatre – Building 9, Tianqiao Nan Dajie Xicheng Beijing

RMB 180 – 880

All ages. Titanic the Musical comes to Beijing! Everyone probably knows the story of the unsinkable ship, the RMS Titanic, sinking on its maiden voyage, costing the lives of 1,517 people. This musical brings the stunning story to life, based on real people aboard the ship and their varying dreams and reasons for being on the Titanic. The original Broadway performance won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. This new production from London has similarly won critical acclaim from across the world. Buy your tickets here.

RMB 180 – 880. 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre Grand Theatre.

The Future of Education Now Conference

For grades 7 and up. Interested in attending one of the world’s leading educational conferences? Get your tickets today. The Future of Education Now is a festival/conference that emphasizes learning in today’s modern world. Attend workshops, and presentations from some of the world’s leading innovators and disruptors in international education. School leaders from all over the world will share their best practices and visions on what learning now should look like. Click here to get more information and to register.

RMB 500. WAB parents and student tickets are available at reduced rates. Registration needed. Western Academy of Beijing.

Mindful Positive Discipline Parenting Workshop

Parents. Have you ever felt lost when dealing with your child? You are not alone. Every parent feels like this sometimes. This workshop focuses on mindfulness practices to help manage your anger while learning better techniques for managing your child’s behavior. Learn to respond positively rather than react in anger. Help yourself develop a daily meditation practice that you can use for the rest of your life. This is is a six-week workshop held on:

September 12 and 19
October 17 and 31
November 7 and 14

Scan the QR Code in the poster for more information.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE

Are you new to Beijing? Or perhaps this is your first Christmas here. You haven’t the slightest idea about where to possibly get your yearly Christmas gifts and decorations? Well, worry no more. International Newcomers Network of Beijing has organized a Christmas Shopping spree for you and the entire family. Come browse at your leisure and experience the joy of Christmas shopping. From vintage clothes to Christmas decorations, all your festive shopping desires are sure to be met.

Rumble in the Jumble

This month’s Rumble in the Jumble is taking place on November 16 at That’s Mandarin, in Dongzhimen.

German Ball Beijing 2019

The German Chamber of Commerce in China – North China is excited to invite you to the 19th German Ball 2019, the largest social event for the German community in Beijing. Join the celebration of  the 100th anniversary of the most influential modern design school of the 20th century – the Bauhaus in Germany. Get prepared for an immersive experience into the Haus of Art – a world full of imagination that is shaped by triangles, squares and circles.

The night’s festivities include an exclusive gala dinner served by some of Bejing’s best chefs, with a fine selection of wines by Bremer Ratskeller, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a 600 year tradition in wine trading, to be followed by a mesmerizing performance by the Bauhaus ballets. After all this, dance the night away to the beats of the German live band “Lounge Society” and DJ AIDA.

Scan QR code to book your spot.

Distinguished Speaker Series: Anton Nel

Join the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) for an intimate concert and discussion with Anton Nel. Nel is a world-renowed classical pianist and winner of the 1987 Naumburg International Piano Competition. His remarkable and multifaceted career spans five continents and four decades. It includes the release of several solo albums and performances with some of the globe’s most famous symphonies and orchestras. The concert will start at 5pm and last for an hour, and will be followed by an hour and a half talk. Please contact wabinfo@wab.edu for more information.

Free. 5pm – 7.30pm. Western Academy of Beijing, Blu Theater. 

3e Tea Talk: Assess & Address Learning Disabilities in Young Children

Adults. This 3e International School Tea Talk will focus on childhood learning disabilities, including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Parents can learn how to recognize and assess any learning deficits and become equipped with strategies, interventions, and a multi-disciplinary approach to address any issues and provide support to their children. Click here for more information. Presenter: Dr Ira Canada, 3e Learning Support Specialist.

Free, registration needed. 9am – 10.30am. 3e International School. 

Suicide Prevention Workshop

Counselors, therapists, teacher, people who work with vulnerable groups. Lifeline and Livingworks are hosting an “Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)” session in Beijing. They have held ASIST courses in Shanghai for many years, but this is the first time it has come to Beijing. The workshop provides valuable skills training on how to spot someone who is at risk for suicide and how to support them. It also helps remind people of the benefits of working together to help keep people safe. ASIST is an internationally accredited course and space is limited. Go here to learn more or email director@lifeline-shanghai.com. If you need someone to talk to call 400 821 1215.

RMB 3,200 (before Oct 23) RMB 3,800. All day.

BSB Shunyi Secondary Production Little Shop of Horror

Come and see this exciting show performed by the secondary students of The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Sunyi). With music and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, this show will surely entertain. This musical stars Seymour, a shy shop assistant whose life completely changes after finding a strange plant. Expect the unexpected and enjoy the sensational 60s style music and dance along the way! There are three performances: Nov 23 at 2pm and 7pm and Nov 24 at 2pm.

RMB 65 (kids) – 100 (adults). 2pm and 7pm. www.bsbshunyi.com. BSB Shunyi Campus.

Photos:The Toronto Star, public.1871.com,heymama.co, Chicago Tribune, longislandadvance.net, Courtesy of event organizers

Not often does an expat come to Beijing who has influenced numerous lives in the way that Chris Verrill did with his founding of the Beijing Playhouse (2006) and the Charity Readers Theater (2013). Along with introducing English language community theater to Beijing, he sparked an interest in many actors and other participants involved in these stage shows that they may have otherwise never knew existed. 

We at beijingkids have featured Verrill in our magazine and blog on numerous occasions because we have always appreciated the hard work he has put into his stage shows and the strong connections he has made with the greater community. When we heard about his upcoming departure we couldn’t let him go without asking him about his plans for the future and what he will miss most about life in Beijing.

Though it is always sad to say goodbye, the good he has done outweighs this sorrow and will hopefully create a new generation of stage show enthusiasts that will continue building this art form with the same vigor and passion as Verrill. We wish him good luck on this new adventure as he brings his Charity Readers  Theater to the US. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Throughout your time here in Beijing you’ve completed numerous performances. How did you begin working here and what has been the trick to keeping active and helping to develop Beijing’s theater community?
China’s English Broadway theatre did 20 shows in 12 years. A total of about 200 performances, I think. For those 12 years, we were the largest locally produced English theatre in China. Plus we did about 40 or 50 educational children’s programs. And 100 or 200 drama workshops. I’ve long since lost count. When I got here, Beijing was probably the largest city in the world without a local English language theatre. We did the first show as a lark.  There was never supposed to be a second show. But the audience loved it and told us, in no uncertain terms, that we were going to do more. And they said they wanted us to start a drama education program to train children, too. At first, I resisted. But the love of theatre prevailed. 12 years is about 11 years longer than I thought we’d last.

Were there any challenges at the beginning?
When we started in 2006, a year before China’s National Center for Performing Arts opened, the Chinese audience didn’t even know what Broadway theatre was. The closest thing we could compare it to was Beijing opera. But that wasn’t always helpful. The audience of our first show was 90 percent expat. 12 years later, the audience of our last show was 90 percent local Chinese. The market had grown wonderfully. 

We know there must be many memorable moments throughout your time here, but what have been some highlights that you would like to share with us?
We had seven paying patrons on the opening night of our first show (plus a dozen or so curious media and other onlookers). But word of mouth spread. By the time that show closed, the 200-seat theater was full.

What are your plans for your upcoming move?
I have no idea what I’m going to do next. I wish I could stay.

Living in Beijing you see a lot of friends come and go. How does it feel to be finally leaving and what are some things that you think you will miss after you make the move?
I’ll miss the multinational expat community that has an insta-family feel to it. I’ll miss the resilience and perseverance of the Chinese people. I’ll miss cheap, delicious Chinese food. I’ll miss the family at the corner fruit stand that sells me jasmine green tea every day. 

What’s going to happen to Beijing Playhouse after your departure?
The current crew and teachers and students will continue the education programs. Except the shuttered main stage shows, other aspects of Beijing Playhouse will continue.

What advice do you have for people wanting to get involved in theater in Beijing but don’t know where to start?
The best option is Charity Readers Theatre (CRT). It’s not as big or professional as Beijing Playhouse shows were. But it’s still artistically rewarding. And the audiences have loved the last six shows CRT has done. Of course, the monthly drama club workshops will continue, too. Those are a fun, easy way to learn about theatre, have a few beers, and make some new friends all at the same time.  

Do you have any parting words for your fans or your extended Beijing family before you take off?
Audition for a Charity Readers Theatre show. If you’ve sometimes had that nagging thought in the back of your brain that you’d like to walk the boards, CRT is a great way to give it a shot. Instead of the three-month rehearsal and performance schedule of a Beijing Playhouse main stage show, Charity Readers Theatre is a show in a week. For an actor, it’s a much easier commitment. A great way to test the waters and get involved. 

Photos: Courtesy of Chris Verrill

This week’s Shunyi Happenings highlights interesting events from plays to cooking classes that are all based in or near Shunyi. If you have an event, store opening or closing, sales, and other fun family friendly events taking place in Shunyi, get in touch with our Shunyi Correspondent Anjana Kainikkara by emailing anjanakainikkara@beijing-kids.com.

Little Shop of Horrors at DCB, Mar 30-31
Ages 7+. DCB’s young thespians will be performing this Broadway style production, titled Little Shop of Horrors, on March 30 & 31. The stage is an elaborate set with a live band and an unbelievably talented group of performers. Punctuated with humor, the story will appeal to all ages. Tickets can be purchased online (Wednesday, March 30 and Thursday, March 31) or at the school’s reception desk. RMB 50 (adults), RMB 30 (kids). 7-9pm.  Dulwich College Beijing (6454 9000)

DdW Handmade Textiles & Antonia Sampson Jewelry at WAB, Mar 31
All ages. Time to spoil yourself and/or others with DdW’s Handmade Textiles, such as towels, blankets, throws, and more! Also find Antonia Sampson’s beautiful jewelry their spring collection comes on sale. Free to attend. 10am-3pm. WAB Koi Garden (5986 5588)

Stars and Rain: World Autism Awareness Day, April 2
For adults. China Children’s Charity Relief Foundation will mark the 9th World Autism Awareness Day with the 6th Annual Imagine Gala Dinner that promises to be a wonderful and fun evening while supporting a great cause! RMB 660, RMB 6,000 (table of 10). 5.30-8.30pm. Hilton Beijing Capital Airport (8537 3236)

Ayi Western Cooking Workshop at Chopstix and Sporks
For adults. Enjoying a balanced Western meal cooked by your ayi can now become reality! Sign your ayi up for classes that take place every Thursday for her to acquire the basic skills to make delightful meals with a focus on health, nutrition, and food safety. Checkout their April schedule as they have loads of options available. Scan the QR code (on the flyer) to join their WeChat group or Facebook page and get regular updates. Registration required. RMB 200 per class, RMB 680 for four classes (paid in advance. 10am-3pm. Chopstix and Sporks (Scan QR code)

Photo: Courtesy of Dulwich College Beijing, Cindy Young for Chopstix and Sporks.

A Teacher’s Perspective

Hungarian Vera Mitford began learning the cello at the tender of age of 6 and took her love of music through to university. She graduated first from the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest, then obtained her cello teaching certificate and performed as a chamber musician at Szechenyi Istvan University in Gyor.

Mitford moved to China six years ago when her husband relocated to Beijing for work. The relocation meant an end to playing professionally, so she became a teacher and started working at the British School of Beijing (BSB) Sanlitun in 2007, subsequently qualifying as a primary music teacher at the University of Buckingham in the UK.

As well as teaching music classes at the school, she leads the choir and orchestra, and in her spare time plays cello for the Beijing International Chamber Orchestra.

Mitford has two children, Emma (age 5) and Benjamin (age 2), both of whom attend BSB Sanlitun. As a music teacher and a mother, she is well-placed to understand how to encourage musicality in children. We recently caught up with Mitford to get her take on music education at home.

Why is music an important part of a child’s education?
The number one [benefit]of music is its recreational value. If people have been brought up with music, they find it so much easier to enjoy a concert.

It also has strong benefits for literacy, math, and creativity. I have a large selection of percussion instruments at school and I can just throw the kids into it. They discover they can create something, whereas previously they may not have believed musical creativity was their forte.

What steps should parents follow if they want their children to be musical?
Early and regular exposure to music is key. Parents should offer a wide variety of engaging music at home, and make music part of everyday play and routine. You can play percussion instruments (even bang on pots and pans) to your favourite tunes. I recommend dancing, singing, and listening to live music whenever possible.

What kinds of music should parents listen to with their kids?
I’m a classically trained-musician, so when I started my teaching career I was way too rigid and rigorous when it came to choosing the “right” piece of music. I learned the hard way that you can’t reach certain children unless you throw something popular in the mix; you can gradually introduce them to better-quality music over time.

Is there such a thing as “tone deaf”? What if a child has no ear for music?
Anyone can distinguish between different pitches to a certain extent with regular training in a friendly environment. Children with less courage to sing or the ones who get carried away with the excitement of singing and lose control over their voices are often classified as non-musical or tone deaf.

Children are often assessed on their musicality based on their singing skills, but I would be very careful about doing that. You really don’t have to be able to sing to be good at music. I went to music college with students who didn’t have the vocal control necessary to sing in tune, yet turned out to be excellent performing instrumentalists. Rhythm is a very important part of music as well.

There are kids who have no sense of control or pitch. Piano is the best instrument for children with less singing ability; I wouldn’t start children with less of an ear for pitch on the violin. With the piano, there’s a feedback loop; you learn to recognize pitch because you are playing a perfect note [unlike violin].

At what age should parents introduce their kids to a musical instrument?
Learning an instrument requires a minimum concentration spurt of 20 to 30 minutes and good coordination. Children typically reach that level by the age of 5 or 6 depending on the individual. We offer instrumental tuition at BSB Sanlitun starting from Year 1 based on that principle.

What are your top tips for parents?
If you want your child to approach music with love and enthusiasm, you need to be their role model. Without your active participation, they’re unlikely to get excited about music-making.

Encouraging your children to share their instrumental skills with you gives meaning to their hard work and makes them proud about doing something you probably can’t (unlike all the other school stuff you’re better than them at).

At BSB Sanlitun, pupils are encouraged to share their instrumental skills at every level with their peers during music lessons, assemblies, and recitals.

What kind of children take to playing an instrument?
Most children can learn an instrument to a certain level; to become a musician is a different story. That takes talent, passion, and a lot of hard work.

The Primary Instrumental Programme at BSB Sanlitun provides every child with an opportunity to explore an instrument in small groups and this is something the children really enjoy. After the initial exposure, some of them choose to take individual lessons and learn more about playing that instrument.

How much time should a child practice an instrument?
I would suggest short but regular practice sessions. Ten minutes daily for beginners, which can be gradually increased as the child gets older and practising becomes part of their routine.

What’s the best way to encourage kids to practice?
Each child responds best to a different approach; however, most children enjoy working towards little goals, such as a small performance or sharing a session with family or friends. Praising and occasionally rewarding good work also gives children confidence and encourages them to keep going.

What should parents do if their kid wants to stop learning an instrument?
Learning an instrument requires hard work, dedication, and resilience. Many children reach a point when they want to quit or switch to another instrument. In some cases it is fine, depending on their talent, the length of time they have learned the instrument for, and their reasons for giving up.

Is it better to take exams or learn for fun?
Some children respond well to pressure and some enjoy working towards smaller goals. The right tutor should be able to tell you if taking exams is the approach for your child. Some exams can also be fun, providing a nice selection of pieces to choose from.

Would you recommend a career as a professional musician?
It’s brilliant to play for fun, but becoming a professional musician is not a good career choice. I was brought up in a communist country where classical music was culturally important. It was a competitive environment and not many of us made it as professional musicians. My brother is a professional – a violinist for an opera house orchestra – and life is a struggle.

Where do you recommend buying instruments? 
Most music shops in Beijing are either on Xinjiekou Nanjie or Gulou Dajie. They offer a huge selection of instruments and accessories for every level and price.

A Student’s Perspective
Nine-year-old Jason Fung (from Hong Kong) is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, performer, and composer – a little boy bubbling over with enthusiasm for music. Head of Music Vera Mitford explains: “Teaching Jason is amazing. He can do anything. It’s really challenging because it’s hard to stretch his skills within a normal music class. His piano skills are way above average, and he is extremely musical.”

Jason and his mom Phoebe Fung arrive to our interview fresh from a musical assembly where he sang “My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean” with other students singers at BSB Sanlitun. Soon, it becomes apparent that Jason is in the process of losing one of his baby teeth. “My tooth is bleeding,” he announces and grins to display a wobbly incisor. “I don’t believe in the tooth fairy,” he adds, “so I don’t think I’m going to get any money for this.”

While he may not succeed in trading his ivories for renminbi,
Jason is highly successful at tinkling the ivories. He excels not only at piano and organ, he plays at least one instrument from every family of the orchestra: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. “I play flute, trumpet, violin, ukulele, piano, organ, and the drums,” he says with a smile. “I’ve been playing music for longer than I can remember. The first instrument I learned was the organ; I started when I was 3.”

Phoebe Fung interjects, “When he was in Hong Kong, we started Yamaha organ courses and added piano when he was 3 1/2. We realized he was really talented when he was around 6 years old. He was one of a couple of children selected for a specialist class at Yamaha. He began composing songs and performing them, and then we understood that he was gifted and had a unique talent.”

Jason’s musicality came as a surprise to his parents. “Neither I nor my husband Willy are musically-gifted,” Fung adds, “though his brother Kayden (age 5) is musical too.”

Mitford witnessed firsthand Jason’s ability to master new instruments in a short period of time. “He learned the violin at BSB and picked it up so quickly. Now he has started learning the flute. All I can do to stretch him is give him an instrument he’s not that confident at and try to get him out of his comfort zone.”

Jason works hard, receiving Distinctions and Merits in all of his Associated Boards of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) grades. This year, he is studying for his Grade 8 piano exam, which is more commonly taken by children twice Jason’s age. To achieve this advanced level, he practices piano and organ every day for an hour and a half. “I enjoy practicing,” he says. “I tell myself that if I keep going I will get really good at music, and maybe one day I could even become famous! First, I play the piece slowly a few times and then I play it faster until I get to the right tempo. Never giving up is the most important thing.” He is currently learning Chopin’s “Minute Waltz,” but the piece he dreams of learning one day is Mozart’s “Rondo Alla Turca.”

Jason was introduced to composition through advanced classes at Yamaha. “I write all types of music,” he explains. “I composed my first song when I was 6 1/2. I listen to different types of music and get ideas from it. Then I improvise a motif and add to it. I repeat the melody, improvise and play with it, making variations until I hear something I like, and then I develop that.”

Jason’s extraordinary gift had a knock-on educational effect on his mom. Phoebe Fung explains that she learned musical theory by following his progress. “I am gradually becoming more informed about his process. I can’t do what he does but I’m learning about it through Jason. When he was doing Grade 2 and Grade 4, I sat beside him when he was practicing, but at Grade 6 and Grade 8 I couldn’t help him anymore. The notation is so complex; I can’t read the music or follow the part he is playing. Now I just let him learn by himself.”

To date, Jason has composed three songs: “What a Wonderful World,” “Praise for the Great Wall,” and “The Sound of Northern China,” which he performed at the China National Junior Original Concert in 2013 hosted by Yamaha. He is currently working on a new piece.

“He is very creative when he writes his own music,” says Mitford. “I can give him a bassline and ask him to go next door, and he comes back with a piece. He really understands music; it’s not that he has just picked it up by repetition.”

In addition to performing his own compositions, Jason plays a key role as accompanist for the school choir. “He’s been [accompanying the choir]for two years now, since he was in Year 3,” says Mitford. “I can give him a piece of music and tell him ‘There’s a concert in two weeks’ and leave him to get on with it.”

As assured as Jason is backing up the assembled voices of BSB Sanlitun, he prefers playing by himself. “Playing with a choir is harder,” he says. “Sometimes they sing faster or slower than they should, and I have to change my speed to keep up.”

Given his commitment and passion, it is not surprising that Jason dreams of a career in music. “When I grow up I’d like to be a composer or work for an orchestra. Music is fun, and it makes me feel relaxed, happy, and good. I love music because I can enjoy it every day, and I can make music whenever I like. I think a world without music would be boring and negative.”
photos by Mitchell Pe Masilun

This article originally appeared on p40-43 of the beijingkids February 2014 issue.

Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com