Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Cross.
Erin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in a musical family. I am the third of eight children and the daughter of an educator and pastor. There has never been a time that I was not surrounded by children. I grew up singing in church. My three sisters and I were locally known as the Cross Sisters and my four brothers would play the instruments as we sang gospel music. I was in choir in middle school and high school eventually pursuing a degree in Music Business from the University of Texas at Arlington. As I went through six years of college, the idea of music education lingered in the back of my mind but I never felt that I possessed the skill set to teach music. I took on positions in Corporate America and enjoyed the business aspect of it but never felt fulfilled.
After years of running from teaching, I finally decided to give it a try at the urging of my parents. I went the Alternative Certification route and applied for positions within local districts. teaching the curriculum, I noticed there was little to no representation within my ethnic group. Much of the content had very little cultural relevance, not just for myself but for children of color here in the United States. Additionally, children’s music is dominated by European influence when it comes to the strategies and approaches used to educate our kids. Thus I started Beatrice and the Beat, to create iconic representation in the music education industry.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not always been an easy path, I am still in the place of small beginnings with more content waitlisted to be created. Aside from the manpower struggle, was the internal conflict as Music education is dominated by individuals who possess higher degrees have lived and breathed music for years. I’m a newcomer with a passion not only to educate kids in music but to create music that is relevant and engaging.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the owner of Beatrice and the Beat, an interactive music education experience that aims to create academic and cultural relevance for today’s young musician. We fulfill this mission by using an energetic and interactive curriculum complete with videos, lessons, activities, and games.
Beatrice and the Beat core-values are ingrained in our brand:
● Respect – We have a profoundly deep respect for music, people, culture and the creative process. We encourage young musicians to grow in self-respect and artistry.
● Discipline – We believe self-discipline is a vital part of musicianship. We have made the habit of consistently improving all aspects of our curriculum second nature. Music evolves, so we must evolve with it. Practice is necessary for mastery.
● Technique – We expose our young musicians to proven methods and create opportunities to develop and refine their individual technique.
● Creativity – We nurture individual creativity by challenging levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Each lesson grows knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, evaluation, leading to the creation of original works.
● Mastery – We equip young musicians with knowledge and skills that are comprehensive and cognitive.
● Cultural Appreciation – Music has always been a product of people, places and times. We believe music education should create a cultural impact through maintaining relevance with the current generation and time.
We specialize in creating an interactive music education experience. Both students and teachers have remarked about the excitement created in our lessons and workshops.
We are most proud of the relevancy we create within music education. Most of the songs that are sampled to teach early childhood music is public domain which means it was created before the early 1920s. Much of that music is not relevant to modern times. One of our goals is to build from the past and propel forward by creating music that uses musical genres and styles that are current. I believe this also sets us apart from others.
What were you like growing up?
I one time asked my mother this very question and she said I was demanding. LOL. I have always been outspoken, sassy, creative, singing sporadically and making a song or rap out of everything. Music has been second nature and developing children has been a passion for the longest.
Growing up in a household often you have to make your voice heard. I’ve always been ambitious and going after various pursuits. I was always one who was imaginative and would write short stories, poems, and songs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beatriceandthebeat.com
- Phone: 682.214.3088
- Email: info@beatriceandthebeat.com
- Instagram: @BeatriceandtheBeat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beatriceandthebeat
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/beatricesbeat
Image Credit:
Allie Lamb with Lamb Photography
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