Michelle Junia of the hit revival song, “Ocean Deep,” wants balladeer Christian Bautista for her leading man in the video for her next single, "Lambing.”

“His singing style is quite similar to mine kasi theatrically-trained ako---and he’s quite good-looking, I must say,” she explained in an interview held right after her successful mall show last Nov. 15 at SM Center Las Pinas.

Although they have not yet met, Michelle said she and Christian have another thing in common.

“We’re both available---and that’s the most important thing,” she joked.

Michelle’s show at SM Center Las Pinas was a leg in a series of shows in support of her CD titled, “Back In Time,” under Aeon Records.. Her next mall shows will be at SM Manila on Nov. 22, SM Rosario (Cavite) on Dec. 3, SM Fairview on Dec. 11 and SM Baguio on Dec. 27.

Aside from promoting her album, Michelle, who is a US-licensed early childhood music educator, looks forward to opening her Musicgarten school along EDSA in December.

Based on the preeminent early childhood music education approach in which children learn music by listening and participating, Michelle aims to make her enrollees “brighter” and “smarter” kids.

“Studies show that kids respond more effectively kapag na-a-associate sa music ang activity. Ang mga bata kasi, maiksi ang attention span nila by nature. Using certain music helps lengthen that,” she said.

According to the Musicgarten website, the approach is for young children ages zero to age nine. The children gain by taking the music and movement program, encompassing musical, physical, emotional, social and cognitive growth.

Michelle became a licensed educator for Musicgarten by studying it in Chicago, USA.

“It’s very scientific but at the same time, a lot of fun. Unknown to many, music involves math. It’s not just language and rhythm---kaya nga na-re-recognize ng babies ang repetition and sequence [in music] dahil patterns exist in songs which, in turn, help children learn how to organize their thoughts,” Michelle explained.

One of few local recording artists who has a formal background in music, Michelle has another school in Paranaque called Stardev Music Studio where her students are not only taught how to sing properly but how to take care of their voices.

“I assess my students before I take them in. It’s important for me to know their present level kasi the vocal cords are very tender. You must not force someone to sing, say, a Beyonce song if it’s not within her range kasi baka magasgas ang mga muscles na ‘yon.

“Among all musical instruments, boses lang and ‘di nakikita kaya mas delikado kung ma-a-abuso.”

Michelle’s next music video will be directed by Charlotte Dianco.