About Dr. Natalie Alexandra Tse
Biography
Dr. Natalie Alexandra Tse is a SonicPlay™ artist whose work moves across performance, pedagogy and research. Rooted in improvisation on the guzheng, voice, objects and environment, she approaches sound not as something to produce, but as a relationship to inhabit — a means of reconnecting with self, others, and the more-than-human world.
Her practice centres on SonicPlay™, an artist-developed approach shaped by doctoral research and motherhood. Emerging from babies’ innate musicality, SonicPlay understands listening as a responsive dialogue, where curiosity, care and awareness precede technique. Here, ancient philosophies of attunement meet contemporary lived experience, inviting participants of all ages into sound as ritual, play and relation.
Through LittleCr3atures®, which she founded, Natalie engages families, babies and educators in SonicPlay™ experiences through sound, song and storytelling. Grounded in the belief that we are all inherently creative beings, LittleCr3atures® offers space for both children and adults to listen, play and be. As a SonicPlay™ Pedagogista and Atelierista, she develops listening-centred environments that nurture empathy, presence and connection.
Her artistic inquiry extends into academia through publications in the International Journal of Music in Early Childhood and edited volumes including Arts and Creativity in East and Southeast Asian Preschools and Visions of Sustainability for Arts Education. She lectures at LASALLE College of the Arts, the National Institute of Education and the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Through performance, teaching and scholarship, Natalie works towards cultivating attentive, connected communities—where listening becomes a shared way of being in the world.
Work History
Leading Arts-Based Initiatives
(2013-Present)
Singapore
Director
Leading SAtheCollective's Young Audience, Community Engagement, Education and Research Initiatives. I've developed Little SA's "Thining through the Arts" approach, where Creativity, Criticality, Desig Thinking and Aesthetic Thinking are developed through sound-making, storytelling and somatic experiences.
(2020-Present)
Singapore
Educator
Adjunct Lecturer and arts researcher at various institutions including LASALLE College of the Arts and the National Institute of Education. Teaching interests and specialisation include: world music pedagogy, improvisation, Asian philosophies in music, early childhood music, pedagogy and practice.
(2008-Present)
Global
Artist
Multi-disciplinary artist and musician specializing in the Guzheng and sonic arts. I have performed internationally and participated in various artist residencies, exploring the intersections of sound, listening, and child-led creative processes as a form of social practice.
PhD in Arts Education
2016-2021
NIE / NTU
Doctor of Philosophy in Education at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. My doctoral research focused on creating sonic experiences for infants 18 months and under
Specialized in early childhood arts pedagogy and phenomenological research to understand the young child's perspective on creativity.
MA Music
2009-2010
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Management. This program equipped me with the strategic skills to lead creative organizations and manage complex artistic projects within the cultural sector.
Focus on arts leadership and the sustainability of community-based arts organizations in a digital and globalized context.
BA with Merits Communications and New Media
2006-2009
National University of Singapore
Bachelor of Arts with Merit in Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore. I specialised in communications management and completed an exchange with the Bachelor of Journalism programme at The University of Hong Kong, which shaped my PR writing skills and how I communicate ideas to the community.
This grounding in communications and journalism now informs my musical practice, helping me frame sonic experiences with clear narratives, craft accessible texts for audiences and partners, and translate experimental sound work into stories that resonate with diverse communities.
2013-2014
Nanyang Technological University
This experience grounded my pedagogical knowledge and was where I first recognised my curiosities about children’s musical cultures and their relationships with world music pedagogy, which now directly inform my SonicPlay™ practice with infants and young children.
2015
SEED Institute
Certified instructor under the Ministry of Education and Art & Music Instructor Scheme (AMIS). Validates my capacity to deliver high-quality arts education programs within primary and secondary schools.
Regularly updating pedagogical skills through MOE-approved workshops and professional development in arts assessment and classroom management.
Education
Academic degrees and certifications
Specialist Diploma in Arts Education
Skills
Expertise and methodologies
Arts Pedagogy
(01)
Specialized in early childhood arts education, curriculum development, and creating child-centric learning environments that prioritize agency and creative exploration through listening and sound.
Research
(02)
Expertise in qualitative research methodologies, including phenomenology and arts-based inquiry. Capable of conducting deep longitudinal studies into educational impact and creative processes.
Music & Performance
(03)
Professional Guzheng performer with experience in classical, contemporary, and improvisational music. Skilled in cross-disciplinary collaboration between sound, visual arts, and performance.
Arts Management
(04)
Strategic planning, project management, and leadership within the non-profit arts sector. Experienced in grant writing, community engagement, and managing large-scale cultural events.
Public Speaking
(05)
Frequently invited to present at international conferences and seminars on arts education and early childhood. Skilled at communicating complex academic concepts to diverse audiences.