18 | the xpat journal | 201718 | the xpat journal | 2017

Music for AllAT THE ISUTRECHT Music is a universal language and makes for a wonderful bridge between different cultures. That is why the International School Utrecht has embarked on a journey to become a school where music will truly take centre stage.

Responsible for designing the music curric-ulum and creating a primary school choir, school orchestra and secondary vocal en-semble is music teacher and choirmaster David de Geus, who joined the ISUtrecht

throughout the MYP grades, aimed at giv-ing students the opportunity to choose music as an IB Diploma subject. “This is something we will build on, ensuring our students have access to various instru-mental specialists during and after school hours,” Mr De Geus explains. “I want our Diploma students to be able to go directly to a music conservatory, and to that end I am looking to work closely together with the Utrecht music conservatory.”Australian music teacher Amber Vincent joined the school in August 2016. Ms Vin-cent has since designed music units for the kindergarten and grade 5 classes, which she now teaches once a week. Last winter, she also taught the grade-1 students when their unit of inquiry revolved around mu-sic. Another full-time music teacher will be

a year ago. He now teaches all the Inter-national Baccalaureate Middle Years Pro-gramme (MYP) grades, 2-3 hours per week.It is the beginning of the ‘ISUtrecht Mu-sic Academy’, a continuous programme

the xpat journal | 2017 | 19

RUBRIEK

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EDUCATION

the economics of music. The grade-10 stu-dents, for instance, have immersed them-selves in the music industry, writing their own song, or creating their own music video and pitching their ideas to a music producer from Hilversum who visited the school. Later on, the students visited na-tional radio station 3FM.The first part of Mr De Geus’ mission to in-troduce music to the ISUtrecht is a success, judging by the popularity of the rehearsal studio at the secondary campus. “Students ask me to use the studio to practice – and the guitar and keyboards teachers use the space for lessons.” He smiles. “Students are playing and singing all the time now, and that is exactly how I envisaged music edu-cation at the ISUtrecht.”

International School UtrechtVan Bijnkershoeklaan 8, 3527 XL UtrechtTel.: 030 870 04 00www.isutrecht.nl

hired next academic year, ensuring that all the PYP and MYP grades will have weekly music lessons. Next academic year, the school will also see an extension of one-on-one music lessons by instrumental special-ists – students can currently choose guitar and keyboards – and the founding of the ISUtrecht orchestra.The most important thing in music educa-tion, according to Mr De Geus, is making sure the students enjoy music. “First and foremost, it is my job to make the children want to make and listen to music,” he says. “Once they are engaged, you can create the need for more skills.” And that is exactly how it works with the newly-formed pri-mary chorus and secondary vocal group. De Geus: “The secondary vocal group, an acapella ensemble, is learning to sing in four-part harmony, whereas with the pri-mary chorus it is all about learning how to use your voice. As the students are keen to learn to sing better, you have a great oppor-tunity to teach them different techniques.” Both the choir and the secondary ensem-ble had their first performances this winter and will also be on-stage during the annual ISUtrecht ArtBurst – a day when the whole school celebrates the arts with performanc-es, workshops and a visual arts exhibition.

Oldies for the OldiesEarlier this year, the grade-9 students re-ally stepped out of their comfort zone as they participated in a music project named Oldies for the Oldies. This kicked off with

the students visiting a nearby care home, where they talked to a few of the people who live there about their favourite music from when they were young. This then led to a list of five songs – by the Beatles, Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers – which the students learned how to play, using instru-ments like guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and drums. After a couple of weeks of prac-ticing, the students went back to the care home for a special performance. “It was lovely to see everyone have such a good time,” says Mr De Geus. “On top of that, the students all got a sense of achievement, as for most of them it was the first time they performed music in front of an audience.”

Creating MusicBesides playing instruments and singing, the students also learn how to use tech-nology to create their own music, they get to grips with music theory and learn about

Primary students are in for a special treat this spring, as grades 2-4 will participate in a unique project called Young Composers, led by music centre and concert hall TivoliVredenburg. Over the course of ten workshops, the students will learn to compose their own piece of music. Mr De Geus: “This project is all about the students being risk takers, and being creative, which is exactly what music education should be about.” The project will culminate in a concert at TivoliVredenburg, where the students will perform their own music together with the French Danel String Quartet.