Student Highlight - Alice C.

Meet our talented violin student Alice. She began her musical journey in our Harmony Road program at the age of four and now studies violin with Teacher Shaoqing.

1. What is your name and how old are you?
My name is Alice and I am 10.

2. How long have you been studying music and how old were you when you first started?
I started six years ago. I was 4 years old.

3. Who is your teacher?
My teacher is Mr. Shao

4. What pieces are you currently working on?
I am working on Spring by Vivaldi.

5. How often do you practice?
I practice every day for around 30 minutes.

6. Why do you love music?
I love music because I find it beautiful and it is very fun.

7. What pieces are you working on right now?
I just finished an etude and passed on to the next one. I also managed to play a pop piece of music with my dad just by listening to it. It was very fun.

8. What are some things you like doing besides music?
I really like art, math, and programming.

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a scientist.

Student Highlight - Vinca Lu

Vinca is a gifted young pianist who started her musical journey in our Harmony Road program when she was just 3.5 years old. She has not looked back since and continues to thrive in her piano study with Dr. Alexander.

1 What is your name and how old are you?

My name is Vinca and I’m 13.

2. How long have you been studying piano and how old were you when you first started?

I’ve been studying piano for 9.5 years. I started at 3.5 with the Harmony Road program taught by Director Christine in NMSM’s old church location.

3. What instrument are you studying now, and who is your teacher?

I’m studying Piano with Dr. Alexander. I have also studied Guitar for a couple of years with Teacher Larry.

4. What pieces are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a few pieces in various stages:

Fantasie-Improptu in C# Minor by Chopin;

Winter Wind Etude in A Minor Op. 25 No. 11 by Chopin

Revolutionary Etude, in C Minor, Op 10. No 12 by Chopin

Intermezzo in A Major by Brahms

5. How often do you practice?

When I was younger I practiced a bit more (roughly 1 hour a day), but now with busier schedule I try to practice 30-45 minutes a day. Sometimes longer when I feel motivated or in the mood for improvising/composing.

6. Tell us about some of your musical accomplishments. 

I just won 2nd place for the Best Chopin Performance for the Great Composer Series Competition. Last year I won 2nd place in the US open music competition in the category of Piano Solo Showcase Junior. Just recently, I also arranged and performed a broadway musicals medley to help my school friends with a Zoom Fund Raising concert to help the Broadway Costume Industry Coalition.

I’ve also participated in the US Open music competition in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and won 1st place every year, cross the categories of contemporary elementary level, Baroque intermediate level and mid-level open solo. As a prize winner of the American Protege Piano Competition, I performed at the Carnegie Hall in December 2019.

7. Why do you love music?

Music provides a unique way to express myself that cannot be replaced by anything else.

8. What are some things you like doing besides music?

Pondering about the meaning of life, Playing Minecraft, creating memes, and sometimes playing different types of Rubik’s cubes.

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Thermal Dynamics plus Chemistry theorist

Student of the Month - Lucas Qiang

Lucas is a curious and talented young musician whose commitment to excellence has inspired us ever since he began taking lessons at New Mozart a little over a year ago. He has been practicing everyday from his very first lesson and has written several songs on his own. We often come across students and parents who are easily discouraged when they don’t see quick results. Not Lucas! He innately understands that learning an instrument takes time. Undeterred by what he can or can’t do at the moment, Lucas focuses on who he is in the process of becoming with the most positive attitude.

Congratulations Lucas! We look forward to seeing your musical journey to greatness!

---

1. What is your name and how old are you?

My name is Lucas. I am 8.

2. How long have you been studying piano and how old were you when you first started?

I have been studying piano for 1 year and 2 months. I started playing piano when I was 7 years old.

3. What instrument are you studying now, and who is your teacher?

I am studying piano and Paul is my teacher.

4. What pieces are you currently working on?

Country Dance, and Hickory Dickory Dock

5. How often do you practice?

Every day for 20-30 min.

6. Why do you love music?

Because it makes me happy.

7. What are some things you like doing besides music?

I go to Taekwondo class twice a week and I enjoy playing soccer and basket ball and tennis.

8. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A soccer player

Student Highlight - Alli & Ella Katila-Miikkulainen

Alli plays at the New Mozart Summer Recital in June 2018

1 What is your name and how old are you?

My name is Alli Katila-Miikkulainen. I'm 10 years old.

2. How long have you been studying music and how old were you when you first started?

I started with Music in Me and I was 4 and a half.

3. What instrument are you studying now, and who is your teacher?

I’m studying piano with Teacher Ella and also clarinet at school.

4. What pieces are you currently working on?

"My Pony," and two duets with my little sister: Waltz and Lyric Piece by
Heinrich Wohlfahrt.

5. How often do you practice?

I try to practice every day. I am a morning person, so I play the piano
first thing when I wake up

6. What do you like best about studying piano?I love the sound!

7. Tell us about your interests or accomplishments outside of music.

I fence and I like building things like robots.

8. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Be an author.

Ella plays at the New Mozart Summer Recital in June 2018

1 What is your name and how old are you?

My name is Ella Katila-Miikkulainen. I'm 7 years old.

2. How long have you been studying music and how old were you when you first started?

My first music class was Harmony Road 1 and I was 4 and a half years old.

3. What instruments are you studying now, and who are your teachers?

I’m learning piano with Teacher Ella and voice with Teacher Diane.

4. What pieces are you currently working on?

I play March of Pioneers (it's so hard) and Sick Doll, and two duets with
my big sister: Waltz and Lyric Piece by Heinrich Wohlfahrt.

I sing "Cruella de Vil" (it rhymes with my name!) from Disney's 101
Dalmatians and "Maybe" from the Musical Annie.

5. How often do you practice?

I try to practice often, most nights of the week.

6. What do you like best about studying piano and voice?

I like when I play the piano and sing at the same time.

7. Tell us about your interests or accomplishments outside of music.

I love soccer.

8. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A famous soccer player.

---

Questions to Alli and Ella's parents:

1. What are you most proud of in regards to Alli and Ella's music study?

They are developing a fundamental appreciation and love for music that we
hope will last their whole life. It is not always easy, but they
are learning to persevere and take pride in their progress.

2. Why do you think music education is important for children, and why is it important for your family?

Enjoyment of music is such a big part of life. The discipline and
determination that's required to learn to play an instrument prepares
children for other challenges as well.

3. There are many choices in music lessons; why did you choose New Mozart?

The teachers are professional and supportive, and the twice-year recitals
are a positive and encouraging experience. We also love supporting a
school in our local neighborhood.

Student Highlight - Allyson Dinh

Allyson at the New Mozart Winter Student Recital on Dec. 3, 2017.

1 What is your name and how old are you?

My name is Allyson Dinh and I will turn 13 on March 16th.

2. What instrument are you currently studying, and who is your teacher?

I have been playing the cello with Teacher Cynthia since June 2015 and also study viola with Dr. Elizabeth. 

3. What pieces are you currently working on?

I am working on the first Bach Suite and I recently worked on “The Swan”  by Camille Saint-Saëns.

4. How often do you practice?

I try my best to practice everyday.  I spend between 15-60 minutes 6-7 times a week.

5. Why do you like playing the cello?

I like playing the cello because it has a warm and earthy tone, and it brings me to my happy place whenever I hear or play cello music.

6. You've been selected to join the prestigious Cambridge-Heidelberg-Montpellier Youth Symphony this summer.  What do you hope to achieve through this experience?

I am so excited to experience German culture, food, landmarks, and their general lifestyle as I stay with my host family in Heidelberg.  I also hope to understand the similarities and differences between young musicians from the UK, Germany, and France.  Most importantly, I want to experience an intensive music program and also learn from my fellow young musicians in Europe what playing music means to them.

7. Tell us about your interests or accomplishments outside of music.  

I am a Freestyle 5 figure skater at Winter Lodge, the only outdoor ice skating rink in the Bay Area. I have been skating for almost five years and I’m a member of three performing teams (Ice Crystals, Jazz, and Specialty Group) and skate 4 times a week. Sometimes I also help with my brother’s Boy Scout troop at donation drives and fundraisers.

8. What do you want to be when you grow up?  

I want to be a pediatrician when I grow up so that I can work with children and watch them grow up and progress in life.  My pediatrician has been taking care of my brother and me since the day we were born. It seems like a truly challenging and rewarding job.

---

Allyson is one of the three New Mozart students accepted to attend the prestigious CHMYO (Cambridge-Heidelberg-Montpellier-Youth-Orchestra) in Heidelberg, Germany this summer.  

Student Highlight - Matias Santisteban

Matias with Teacher Valerie and Teacher Christine at the New Mozart Winter Recital 2017

1 What is your name and how old are you?

My name is Matias Kiyoshi Santisteban and I am 7 years old.

2. How long have you been studying music and how old were you when you first started?

I have been studying piano since I was 4, so it has been 3 years now. Before that, I learned music since I was a baby with my family, and at a music program for little children when I lived in Pittsburgh since I was like one.

3. What instrument are you currently studying, and who is your teacher?

I am studying piano with Teacher Valerie. I was in Harmony Road with Teacher Christine and Teacher Lea before the private lessons.
 

4. What pieces are you currently working on?

"Ecossaise" by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, "A short story" by Heinrich Lichner, and I just started composing a new song.

5. How often do you practice?

I practice everyday... except if I am on vacation :). 

6. Why do you like studying music? 

 I like it because it's fun, I can make my own songs (the ones that I have in my head), I like to explore and discover new sounds and scales, I can play the songs I like, not only listen to them.
 

7. Tell us about your interests or accomplishments outside of music.  

I received the Peace Maker award at school. I like to learn and help others. I speak Spanish, English and a bit of Japanese. I like math, science, building my own spaceships with LEGO, houses for my toys with Magnatiles. I like sports... I like playing ping pong with my family, soccer with my friends, and I'm learning how to ski... it's a lot of fun,  I also like drawing and painting. The paintings of my class at school were selected this year to be displayed at the Mountain View City Hall Rotunda!

8. What do you want to be when you grow up?  

I want to be many things. I want to be a spaceship engineer at NASA, a software engineer, a music composer, an architect, and a teacher.

---

Questions to Matias' parents - Beatriz Maeireizo & Javier Santisteban:

1. What are you most proud of in regards to Matias' piano study?

We love to see Matias enjoying music so much. He practices with excitement, without even being asked to. Not only is he learning how to play the piano, but he is also composing, writing music, playing by ear the songs he hears everywhere.

2. Why do you think music education is important for children and why is it important for your family?

Although we are not professional musicians, we love music as it is the universal language of the heart. Our parents and grandparents nurtured this love for music in us since we were little, and we are passing it on.  Through music, we are happy to see that Matias has found another way to express himself and have fun.  By studying music, he is also learning some key skills that are so helpful in life such as discipline, perseverance, self-confidence, sensitivity, and even posture, just to name a few.  We believe that music helps us further develop problem solving and emotional skills.

3. There are many choices in music lessons; why did you choose New Mozart?

New Mozart is an amazing music school with teachers for every level and style. We love that New Mozart encourages children to enjoy music, and to be creative and have fun while learning. The teachers are fantastic, knowledgeable and caring. Their passion for music is contagious.  We also like the recitals, as an opportunity to see the kids' progress.  Recitals have helped Matias gain more confidence, and be more comfortable sharing in public. Most importantly, Matias loves to know that he is helping other children in need with his music (donations go to Escuela Caracol, Music in the Schools Foundation and Common Hope).