"I had to revisit my philosophy...I had to rewire my brain"

Anastasia Mousouli was trained to sing and play the flute in a rigid and formal setting. It allowed her to become a professional flute player and perform in some incredible contexts. However, as Anastasia entered the international school music classroom, it became clear that some considerable unlearning might need to happen to provide access to music and support as many students as possible. What ensued was a period of incredible growth, transformation, and new experiences in just about every educational setting. Anastasia has taught early years, elementary, middle school, high school, tertiary, band, choir and El Sistema. 

She's now based at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona and teaches early years and elementary/middle school choir.

In this episode, we explore:

Anastasia is such a passionate educator who epitomises what it means to transform one's practice to help better support student learning. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Get in touch with Anastasia:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-mousouli-86916131/

Links and resources from this episode:

International School Brussels: https://www.isb.be

North Western - Master of Music Education degree: https://www.music.northwestern.edu/academics/degrees/mm/music-education

Kindermusik: https://www.kindermusik.com

Musik Garten: https://www.musikgarten.org

Internationally small schools by ECIS: https://ecis.org/intentionally-small-schools/

UDL (mentioned in the list of professional learning experiences): https://www.understood.org/en/articles/universal-design-for-learning-what-it-is-and-how-it-works

This episode is brought to you by AIM - the Australian Institute of Music.

Jeff Tollefson is the Fine Arts Director at Colegio Menor Quito in Ecuador.

I first heard about Jeff during my interview with Jefferson Aranda for Episode 17 of the MTIIS podcast. Jefferson spoke super highly of Jeff and referred to his mentorship numerous times during the conversation. So, after a few back and forth messages via LinkedIn, it became clear that it would be a great idea to speak with Jeff about his work and life in Ecuador. 

Jeff provides a bounty of ideas and insights and demonstrates an example of what it means to relearn, unlearn and self-reflect as an international school music teacher. Jeff has found a sense of place in his role and epitomises the incredible reflexivity that we find in many long term international school-based music teachers.

In this episode, we explore:

Please enjoy this wide-ranging and inspiring interview with a wonderfully experienced member of our international school music teaching community.

Get in touch with Jeff:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-tollefson-66562548/

Links and resources from this episode:

More info about Jay Byron - https://louisville.edu/music/academics/areas-of-study/jazz/past-events/2015-jazz-fest/jay-byron-trumpeter

Chris McLeay didn't really start getting 'into' music until his twenties.

Music became an expressive outlet and tool for personal growth for Chris. 

After completing a music education degree, some time spent working with a powerful Musical Futures program in South Melbourne (Australia), and multiple other music ed projects, Chris moved into the role of Primary Music Teacher at Discovery College, Hong Kong.

In this episode, we explore:

Chris is such a fun guy. Seriously, when you hang out with the dude you can't help but laughing and joking most of the time! Chris is also a keen hiker and took me on a beautiful hike in HK when we were together in November 2023 - all avid hikers/trail runners should definitely add HK to their travel bucket list! 

We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging and enlightening episode.

Get in touch with Chris:

Email: [email protected]

Links and resources from this episode:

Ta-Da!!! Music - FREE online sing-alongs made by Chris: 
Full channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Ta-Da-cq3hx

Featured Songs:
- Build It Up - https://youtu.be/flbYa5_j-dY?si=jNHOR6Cd1hNidIJ0
- I'm a Little Robot - https://youtu.be/9Mo8Bml5rsE?si=684rjIfm1mLH5qAz
- Evergreen Desiduous - https://youtu.be/rqJG2ENqH3M?si=83q6xMjxxkkH705U

'ESF (English Schools Foundation) Schools' - 22 international school in HK: https://www.esf.edu.hk 

'What comes before phonics' book: https://www.amazon.in/comes-before-phonics-Sally-Neaum/dp/1529742250

Planbook - planning tool: https://planbook.com

Future AdHD - specific ADHD Planner: https://futureadhd.com

Musical Futures International: https://www.musicalfuturesinternational.org

Learn more about MTIIS here: https://mtiis.co

Rebecca Wade-Chung is the current MYP/DP Music Teacher and the MYP Music Subject Coordinator at the International School of The Hague in the Netherlands.

I met Rebecca through MTIIS regular contributor, Samuel Wright, and knew a podcast conversation was on the cards. 

Rebecca epitomises the evolution of an international school music teacher. Starting out as a pure string orchestra teacher, Rebecca then discovered the power of the MYP music during her time at Atlanta International School in the USA. Her time in this role was the catalyst for a large portion of this conversation, where Rebecca discusses the overall concept of international schooling in the USA, plus much more!

In this episode we explore:

Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation and be sure to check out the links that Rebecca has kindly shared below.

Get in touch with Rebecca:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-wade-chung-540728244/

Links and resources from this episode:

For more info on the images unit, please check out Samuel Wright's book MYP Music Year 4&5 from Hodder Education at: Tinyurl.com/MusicMYPbook

Link to a composition example from the 'Do images have sound?' unit:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rebecca-wade-chung-540728244_musiccomposition-ibmyp-musescore-activity-7138844184626491393-Dh4j?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

For more info on the Atlanta Tiny Doors Project, please see the following link: https://tinydoorsatl.com/

An MYP 3 example of a Middle School Ensemble based Unit task: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_angJpIK7GhFlTxW2QaFKjgBvluMQKvK/view?usp=drive_link

Also, here's a cool reflection assignment that the kids can do which is also middle school based but can easily be adjusted and upskilled for Senior High school students: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WxWdG9ymEnGeTc3ZyvxuSTuveXoc4LFm/view?usp=drive_link

EPISODE SPONSOR:
This episode is brought to you by the Unviersity of Warwick's new PGCEi iQTS program that now includes the perfect qualification to help music educators prepare to find the position of their dreams in an international school. Learn more here: https://warwick.ac.uk/cte

w/ Callahan Davenport, Adam Gaensler, Lana Skrgatic & Dylan Norcross

In this second instalment of recordings from the AMIS Music Educators' Conference in Zagreb in November 2023, I speak with 4 international school music teachers:

Each interviewee brings a super unique perspective to two central questions:

Enjoy!

Sam Wormald was starting to lose passion and interest in teaching music...until she threw out an outdated exam board model and started fresh!

This episode explores Sam's journey as Head of Curriculum for the Performing Arts at Dubai English Speaking College (DESC). It gives us all a new potential option for revitalising our international school music programs through exam board choice. It's not an easy journey but in Sam's case, it's been an extremely successful one!

In this episode, we discuss:

Sam is such a passionate music educator who walks the talk. She's super positive, but not all sunshine and roses. Sam is real, no nonsense and 'to the point'. 

As we often talk about at MTIIS, international schools are such an exciting space for changing things up, going against the norm and trying new ideas! This episode exemplifies just that. Get into it!

Damir Odobasic is Head of Music at Shanghai United International School, China.

Growing up in Serbia and following a formal route to learning piano accordion, Damir came to a crossroads regarding his future. On the advice of a friend, he was encouraged to look at music teaching jobs in China. Fast-forward a few years and Damir has found his direction. A place where, as he calls it, he can "swim".

We start this episode with a beautiful piano accordion performance from Damir, before delving deep into a step-by-step walk through of his technology-focused middle school music curriculum. 

In this episode we explore:

Damir is such a lovely guy who is clearly passionate about what he is doing. Damir is excited to connect with the wider MTIIS community to share ideas and help others. This is also a fantastic interview for those who are non-dominant passport holders looking for guidance and inspiration for a move to international school music teaching.

Get in touch with Damir:

Damir Musicverse: https://www.damirmusictech.com/

Links and resources from this episode:

Damir's complete Grade 6, 7 & 8 Music Technology program outline:

https://www.damirmusictech.com/post/introducing-my-tech-powered-music-curriculum-grade-6

End of year student survey guide:

https://www.damirmusictech.com/post/hear-your-students-voice-end-of-year-survey-comprehensive-guide

​GarageBand use cases guide:

https://www.damirmusictech.com/post/35-garage-band-use-cases-in-music-classroom

Other apps and tools mentioned in this episode:

This episode was an interviewers dream. I tend to prepare every interview quite meticulously and had a solid bunch of meaty questions based on my knowledge of Eivind's work, but nothing really prepared me for the insights that flowed during this conversation!

Eivind Lodemel is the current Head of High School Music at the United World College, South East Asia, Singapore (East Campus). I met Eivind during one of our MTIIS Conversations. Eivind had some super useful ideas for helping students to explore music technology for performance, an important part of the new IBDP Music syllabus. I'd also read about the way he'd developed a powerful service learning program with his students and couldn't wait to find out more!

In this episode, we explore:

This is such a valuable episode for those looking to deeply embed service learning into their music curriculum. It provides insights into the sustained (10+ years!) development of a music-based service learning program that has impacted students and the local community in such a profound way. I hope you enjoy this episode. A massive thank you to Eivind for giving his time and energy to this discussion.

Get in touch with Eivind:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eivind-lodemel-3a2042243/

Links and resources from this episode:

MTIIS Community principles (spoken about by Chris in the intro): https://mtiis.co/about/

FUXI app on the Google Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codingforgood.projectfuxi

RC505 Loop station: https://www.boss.info/au/products/rc-505/
More info on the IB Systems transformation pilot: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/collaborative-review-of-the-dp-and-cp/alternative-assessment-pathway/

Learn more about MTIIS: https://mtiis.co

This was my keynote address from the AMIS Music Educators' Conference in 2022 at American School of The Hague.

You can watch the YouTube version with all of the supporting graphics/pictures/slides on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/vbLWLLBPPz8

This episode features:

Melvyn Sawyer from International School of Düsseldorf, Germany;

Lindsay Stirrat from St. Gilgan International School, Austria, and;

Tracy Sons from Zurich International School, Switzerland.

This episode give us wonderful insights into 3 unique international school music education contexts. I explore each teacher's background and then ask them two key questions:

1) What is your favourite thing about being an international school music teacher?

2) What is one thing you've changed in your approach to music teaching since becoming an international school music teacher?

Each individual provides a unique contribution to both questions. I found the conversations both fascinating and super fun! Having interviewed many international school music teachers, I always find it inspiring to hear how teaching practice transforms over the years. International schooling is a space where personal and pedagogical shifts are commonplace and rapid. It's an exciting space to work!

Please enjoy the episode and do take two minutes to leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you haven't done so already. Much appreciated 🙏🏻

Get in touch with each guest via email:

Melvyn Sawyer: [email protected]

Lindsay Stirrat: [email protected]

Tracy Sons: [email protected]

Learn more about MTIIS: https://mtiis.co