Life at ISM

MUSIC AT ISM

The General Music Program at ISM has adopted the concept that all students should experience music by making music, making up music and then making sense of that music. By giving students the opportunity to make music they experience the arts by doing. Making up music gives each child the opportunity to create music in class and in performance situations. Making sense of the music gives the student not only knowledge, skills and literacy, but also the aesthetic experience that is essential to responding to the arts. These varied experiences include singing, playing (the Orff instrumentarium, various percussion instruments and recorder), moving, speaking, improvisation, acting, poetry and the spoken word.

STUDIO

STUDIO is the name of an after-school performing group. This group learns the skills of playing barred music instruments (such as xylophones and marimbas) as well as various percussion instruments. Performance skills are important lessons taught at each rehearsal. STUDIO begins each year in January and rehearses once a week for the remainder of the school year. Students must be in STUDIO for at least one year before they are invited to join Kuzanga.  

Kuzanga Marimba Ensemble

Kuzanga Marimba Ensemble is an after-school performing group of 15 elementary school students who are motivated to create the highly rhythmic music found in the cultures of southern Africa. Students commit not only to a rigorous rehearsal, but also to performing their music for the ISM community and the people of Yangon. Kuzanga has performed at community service events, International Diversity celebrations and music festivals for International school students as well as many school functions. Kuzanga begins each year in August and rehearses throughout the school year.

Kuzanga Marimba Ensemble

Kuzanga Marimba Ensemble is an after-school performing group of 15 elementary school students who are motivated to create the highly rhythmic music found in the cultures of southern Africa. Students commit not only to a rigorous rehearsal, but also to performing their music for the ISM community and the people of Yangon. Kuzanga has performed at community service events, International Diversity celebrations and music festivals for International school students as well as many school functions. Kuzanga begins each year in August and rehearses throughout the school year.

Band & Choir

The General Music Program at ISM has adopted the concept that all students should experience music by making music, making up music and then making sense of that music. By giving students the opportunity to make music they experience the arts by doing. Making up music gives each child the opportunity to create music in class and in performance situations. Making sense of the music gives the student not only knowledge, skills and literacy, but also the aesthetic experience that is essential to responding to the arts. These varied experiences include singing, playing (the Orff instrumentarium, various percussion instruments and recorder), moving, speaking, improvisation, acting, poetry and the spoken word.

Band and Choir
in MS and HS

Musicians at MS/HS, vocal or instrumental, experience different facets of expressing ideas and emotions musically:

  • Performing, through voice instruments, music from a variety of cultures, present and past, as ensemble members or, (optional) in a leading capacity, as ensemble directors/conductors
  • Responding to their own and other’s musical performances through informed critique and reflection, taking into account their own growing understanding of context, conventions and musical elements
  • Creating musical ideas through improvisation and/or manipulation of selected musical elements/free composition/arranging
  • Connecting different aspects of musical practice, listening and performance to their own experience and/or other areas of knowledge