Walking to the beat of a different drum

Child's play

Their current teaching team includes many part-time educators who are college students at, or graduates from, professional music universities in China, and who have finished their teacher training courses.

"I have always had an interest in young children learning about music. I've been studying children and children's music and how we can develop that," Webb says.

In 2018, Webb authored a children's book in both English and Chinese called Charlie's Musical Adventures: Brazil, and launched a music curriculum for early learners that helps the children to learn about percussion and culture through stories.

According to Wang, they have collaborated with the Central Academy of Fine Arts to teach the curriculum to kindergartners who study arts.

"The story unfolds in the Amazon rainforest, where we follow the Amazon River and encounter its associated wildlife. We embark on a mission to stop loggers and rescue the animals," she says.

During this journey, children not only grasp the essentials of Latin music, but are also introduced to the art of Brazilian jujitsu, enriching their learning experience with different cultural elements, Wang adds.