Music Teachers In International Schools Podcast

Chris Koelma

Welcome to the music teachers in international schools podcast! In this podcast, experienced music educator and researcher, Chris Koelma, explores the unique world of music education in the international school context. You will hear engaging stories from music teachers working in international schools all around the world, learn tips and tricks from a global community of leading music ed experts, and be inspired to develop your capacity to be truly ‘international’ in your approach to music education.

  1. EP. 56 – Shaping your primary music curriculum around cultural celebrations w/ Tomos Nicholls

    11/25/2025

    EP. 56 – Shaping your primary music curriculum around cultural celebrations w/ Tomos Nicholls

    Tomos Nicholls is a music teacher at Alice Smith School in Malaysia.Tomos began his journey in international education as a teaching assistant in Myanmar before training as a music teacher under the mentorship of Asta Hodgson (who also featured on the podcast here). Since 2021 he has been based in Malaysia, where he teaches primary music, leads large-scale cultural performance projects, and works within a rapidly evolving arts landscape.  Outside school, Tomos co-directs the Kuala Lumpur Men’s Chorus (KLMC), a musical theatre–focused show choir that recently premiered its first original musical. Tomos is passionate about cultural integration in primary music, Dalcroze-inspired movement-based learning, and helping students connect meaningfully with Malaysia’s multilingual, multicultural heritage.  In this episode, we explore: Tomos’s journey from the UK to an international teaching assistant post in Yangon, and then music teacher in Malaysia.The growth of Malaysia’s arts scene and Tomos’s role co-directing the Kuala Lumpur Men’s Chorus.What deep cultural integration looks like in an international school settingHow his school builds cultural understanding through 9–10 week performance projects for all Year 1–6 studentsThe shift from traditional cultural “events” to immersive, collaborative curriculum experiencesTomos’s commitment to learning Mandarin, Malay and Tamil to deepen cultural access and relationshipsHow Dalcroze Eurhythmics has transformed his teaching practiceDeveloping sustainable cultural programmes that can outlast individual staff membersPlease do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Tomos:Links and resources from this episode: Contact Tomos via LinkedIn here.Kuala Lumpur Men’s Chorus (KLMC)KLPAC Short & Sweet CompetitionDalcroze Workshops (Dec 27–29) with Jarrison Harper Lee & Kay BarkerEPISODE SPONSOR:This episode is brought to you by Trinity College, London. Trinity works worldwide to support the music education of hundreds of thousands of students with assessments across a wide spectrum of styles, including in Classical, Jazz, Rock & Pop and theory of music. If you’re looking for music exams that are super flexible, learner-centred and come with plenty of local on-the-ground support, then Trinity College London could be the perfect option for your international school setting.  To help get you started, Trinity is offering a $250 voucher for all new centres, simply register your interest here: https://tinyurl.com/Trinity-MFI-offer

    41 min
  2. EP. 55 - Living & working in St. Gilgen, Austria: where Mozart is a local legend w/ Lindsey Stirrat

    11/06/2025

    EP. 55 - Living & working in St. Gilgen, Austria: where Mozart is a local legend w/ Lindsey Stirrat

    Lindsey Stirrat t is an international school music educator who was, until recently, based at St. Gilgen International School in Austria. Her journey spans the UK (performer and peripatetic teacher) and roles across Oman, Dubai, Austria (Vienna), Switzerland and Singapore before moving to the Austrian Alps. She taught within the IB (PYP/MYP/DP) framework and helped shape a highly community-embedded arts programme in St. Gilgen, a village that itself functions as the campus. The school’s arts culture is tightly woven into the local context: music classrooms sit beside the boathouse on Lake Wolfgang, performances take place in the former home of Mozart’s mother and a restored 1950s cinema, and students regularly perform around town. A student-led “24-Hour Jam” now anchors the calendar as a Red Cross fundraiser, and a cross-disciplinary Industry Arts course (media, events, music tech, gaming/3D/AI, branding) connects learners with partners such as Red Bull, TEDx and Take Two Studios. In this episode, we explore: Lindsey’s path from UK performer/teacher to Oman, Dubai, Switzerland, Singapore and AustriaWhat it’s like to teach in St. Gilgen where the village doubles as the school campus (yes, students eat lunch in local restaurants)Turning a town into an arts hub: boathouse classrooms, Mozart’s mother’s house as a performance space, a 1950s cinema, and even a floating stage on the lakeThe 24-Hour Jam: a student-led DP CAS fundraiser with continuous music, multiple creative “zones,” and deep community involvementBalancing Austria’s classical heritage (Mozart, opera, orchestras) with contemporary, global and student-driven music in line with IB’s personal/local/global aimsThe Industry Arts programme (Gr 9–10): leadership, event production, short-form media, music tech, gaming/3D/AI, and how it pipelines into IBDP ArtsEco-school priorities and how climate awareness shows up in arts learning and community projects Please do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Lindsey: Contact Lindsey via email at her new school in Singapore: lindsey.stirrat@gess.edu.sg Links and resources from this episode: Industry Arts Course (Gr 9–10): media, events, music tech, gaming/3D/AI - download Lindsey's unit outline here:PDF Download HerePPTX Download HereSalzkammergut / Lake Wolfgangsee (St. Gilgen)“Mozart’s Mother’s House” (St. Gilgen) – performance spaceSt. Gilgen Old Cinema (1950s “Kino”) – performance venueIB Music (MYP/DP) – personal, local and global contexts EPISODE SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by Trinity College, London. Trinity works worldwide to support the music education of hundreds of thousands of students with assessments across a wide spectrum of styles, including in Classical, Jazz, Rock & Pop and theory of music. If you’re looking for music exams that are super flexible, learner-centred and come with plenty of local on-the-ground support, then Trinity College London could be the perfect option for your international school setting.  To help get you started, Trinity is offering a $250 voucher for all new centres, simply register your interest here: https://tinyurl.com/Trinity-MFI-offer

    45 min
  3. EP. 54 – Why you should start your own regional international school music educator group w/ Jaime Wilkin

    10/09/2025

    EP. 54 – Why you should start your own regional international school music educator group w/ Jaime Wilkin

    Jaime Wilkin is a music teacher and professional learning coordinator at the Independent Schools Foundation Academy in Hong Kong. Jaime’s journey into international music education began in the UK before a volunteer opportunity in Thailand opened the door to a series of roles across South Korea and Hong Kong. He now teaches MYP and DP Music at ISF Academy, leads the school’s concert band, and supports teacher development across departments in a whole-school professional learning role. Jaime is also a founding member of the Hong Kong International Music Educators (HKIME) group  - a growing network that brings together international school music teachers and students across Hong Kong through festivals, pop-up ensembles, and professional learning events. In this episode, we explore: Jaime’s teaching journey from the UK to Thailand, South Korea, and now Hong KongHis dual role teaching IB Music and leading school-wide professional learningThe origin and growth of the Hong Kong International Music Educators (HKIME) group.What it takes to build a collaborative music education network from the ground upHow HKIME runs events like pop-up choirs, student festivals, and PL days with no budgetHow regional networks are key in helping connect international school music educatorsPractical tips for starting your own music teacher group in any locationPlease do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Jaime: Contact Jaime via Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-wilkin/ Links and resources from this episode: HKIME WhatsApp Group - access via the MTIIS website hereISME Associate Partnership(HKIME is an Associate Partner of the International Society for Music Education)Doctorate of Musical Arts – Boston University EPISODE SPONSOR:This episode is brought to you by Trinity College, London. Trinity works worldwide to support the music education of hundreds of thousands of students with assessments across a wide spectrum of styles, including in Classical, Jazz, Rock & Pop and theory of music. If you’re looking for music exams that are super flexible, learner-centred and come with plenty of local on-the-ground support, then Trinity College London could be the perfect option for your international school setting.  To help get you started, Trinity is offering a $250 voucher for all new centres, simply register your interest here: https://tinyurl.com/Trinity-MFI-offer

    46 min
  4. EP. 53 – American-style international school music and the future of AMIS w/ Megan Highfill

    09/22/2025

    EP. 53 – American-style international school music and the future of AMIS w/ Megan Highfill

    Megan Highfill's journey into international music education began in Kansas City, before a pivotal move to Egypt sparked a global adventure. Since then, she’s taught music in Indonesia, Panama, and Nepal, and now leads the Association of Music in International Schools (AMIS) - a non-profit organisation that supports 120 member schools through student festivals and teacher professional development. AMIS defines "international schools" as those institutions originally established to serve expatriate children of a community - predominantly those from the USA. In her new role as Executive Director, Megan draws on her experiences as a classroom teacher, event organiser, and passionate advocate for music education that is inclusive, diverse, and community-driven. In this episode, we explore: Megan’s personal journey from Kansas City to Egypt, Indonesia, Panama, Nepal and now the UKHer transition from classroom music teaching to a global leadership roleWhat it’s like leading AMIS and supporting thousands of students and teachers worldwideA behind-the-scenes look at jazz festivals, honour bands, and the community they createHow AMIS festivals differ from the competitive models in US schoolsThe power of music to connect students across countries, cultures, and time zonesAMIS’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice & Belonging (DEIJB) Action Plan and why it mattersTips for teachers interested in getting involved through volunteering or presentingWhat to expect from upcoming AMIS conferences in Kenya and BogotáWhy Megan believes music education should reflect and elevate the voices of all studentsPlease do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Megan: Contact Megan via email - support@amis-online.org Links and resources from this episode: About AMIS (The Association for Music in International Schools)  AMIS Website AMIS Membership Options Volunteer Opportunities with AMIS AMIS Student Festivals  Upcoming Teacher Conferences: Kenya AMIS Conference – https://amis-online.org/page/25-nairobiBogotá AMIS Conference – https://amis-online.org/page/25-mec-bogota  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice & Belonging (DEIJB):  AMIS DEIJB Action Plan(Includes commitments to commissioning diverse composers and platforming a broad range of cultural perspectives in programming.)EPISODE SPONSOR:​This episode is brought to you by Trinity College, London. Trinity works worldwide to support the music education of hundreds of thousands of students with assessments across a wide spectrum of styles, including in Classical, Jazz, Rock & Pop and theory of music. If you’re looking for music exams that are super flexible, learner-centred and come with plenty of local on-the-ground support, then Trinity College London could be the perfect option for your international school setting.  To help get you started, Trinity is offering a $250 voucher for all new centres, simply register your interest here: https://tinyurl.com/Trinity-MFI-offer​

    52 min
  5. EP. 52 - Imposter syndrome, the politics of songwriting and Grade 3 rock bands w/ Hannah Hepworth

    09/04/2025

    EP. 52 - Imposter syndrome, the politics of songwriting and Grade 3 rock bands w/ Hannah Hepworth

    Originally from Ireland, Hannah Hepworth’s journey into international school music teaching took her through classroom roles in Catholic and state schools, a 10-month travel sabbatical, and teaching positions in China before settling in Thailand. Alongside her teaching, she’s pursuing a master’s degree focused on social, emotional, and mental health through music - with a keen interest in the power and potential of music therapy. Hannah’s approach to music education is centred on inclusivity, representation, and learning by ear. She’s passionate about creating spaces where students feel seen, supported, and free to explore music on their own terms. Whether it’s running grade-level bands, teaching electronic music performance, or navigating the complexities of student expression through protest songs, Hannah brings warmth, integrity, and deep reflection to her teaching. In this episode, we explore: Hannah’s journey into international school music teaching from Ireland, New Zealand & China to Thailand.Her current role in Bangkok teaching music and wellbeing in a primary IB context.Why representation matters in music education and how Hannah is integrating more Thai, Asian, and female artists into her curriculum.How teaching music by ear builds access, confidence, and creativity (and a Mamma Mia success story!).Creative approaches to classroom music through electronic music hardware: voice tweakers, beat machines, chord synths and more.Building and directing grade-level pop/rock bands: including performances of “Heroes,” “Like a Prayer” and “Thunderstruck.”How the Meraki songwriting project empowered student bands to write, record and publish their own songs on Spotify.The value of a “low floor, high ceiling” task - like starting songwriting with just three words.A tough discussion about protest songs, political expression, and navigating censorship in international schools.Irish music as therapy, rebel songs, and how Hannah’s studies are shaping her teaching practice.Why music remains one of the most powerful tools for emotional expression - especially for children.

    1h 8m
  6. EP. 51 – A Belarusian in Cambodia: Understanding by Design (UBD) & an Ableton-based Music Tech Approach w/ Pavel Lipski

    02/19/2025

    EP. 51 – A Belarusian in Cambodia: Understanding by Design (UBD) & an Ableton-based Music Tech Approach w/ Pavel Lipski

    Pavel Lipski is the Subject Leader of Music at CIA First International School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Coming through a rigid childhood music education that saw him lose interest in music by his teens, Pavel was introduced to the guitar by a friend and found his place on stage playing Red Hot Chili Peppers songs. After studying linguistics and education and then completing a year of compulsory service in the Belarusian army, it was until a friend introduced him to Fruity Loops (now FL Studio) on a computer that Pavel truly found his passion for music. Fast forward a few years and Pavel is now a professional game music composer with credits on games such as Potion Craft and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Pavel now leads the High School music team at CIA First International School and has developed a full Ableton-based music tech production curriculum based in the Understanding by Design (UBD) framework. In this episode, we explore: Pavel's journey to international school music teaching. What it's like to live and work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia His current role as Subject Leader for Music What it's like to teach a Music Technology-only curriculum How his school has applied the UBD approach to curriculum design. Pavel's approach to teaching music production using Ableton, including his horizontal and vertical '4-layer' framework. Why Ableton is a powerful DAW to use in the classroom. Please do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Pavel: Contact Pavel on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavellipski/ Links and resources from this episode: Music Tech Pathways by Samuel Wright Links to Pavel's music for games: DAW's mentioned in this episode: Soundcloud - free space to upload/share music: https://soundcloud.com/ 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

    1h 2m
  7. EP. 50 – Venezuela, China, Kazakhstan & Indonesia: the “Music Mix” approach & The Big Gig impact w/ Jeremy Van Sluytman

    01/19/2025

    EP. 50 – Venezuela, China, Kazakhstan & Indonesia: the “Music Mix” approach & The Big Gig impact w/ Jeremy Van Sluytman

    Jeremy Van Sluytman is teaching music at Shekou International School, China.  Jeremy featured in a short conversation for Episode 29 of the podcast, but we wanted to do a deeper dive on his context and approach to music teaching in international schools. Jeremy is a thoughtful and reflective practitioner who has insights on a wide range of topics. In this episode, we explore: An overview and conceptual framework for the "Music Mix" approach that Jeremy uses. how Jeremy's context has led him to using/defining the Music Mix approach. Jeremy's journey to international school music teaching, including moving from Venezuela -> China -> Kazakhstan -> Indonesia -> back to China. the impact that attending the Big Gig had on Jeremy. the importance of student choice in ANY context (linking nicely with the previous episode with Adam Gaensler). how choosing music is "not about the genre or whether I'm going to be wearing a tuxedo or not", but about whether students engage with the music and where it might take their expressive journey. Jeremy's Our Mind On Music podcast and blog and why he started it. Please do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Jeremy: Jeremy's email: ourmindonmusic@gmail.com Links and resources from this episode: Music Tech Pathways by Samuel Wright Beginner Orchestra Dr. Daniel Levitin - This Is Your Brain On Music Book This Is Your Brain On Music - Ideacity Speech/Talk Our Mind On Music Podcast & blog 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

    53 min
  8. EP. 49 – Teaching student-centred rock, pop & electronic music in Budapest w/ Adam Gaensler

    01/03/2025

    EP. 49 – Teaching student-centred rock, pop & electronic music in Budapest w/ Adam Gaensler

    Adam Gaensler is teaching music at the American International School of Budapest. As is typical of American-style music education, music learning in secondary school is often siloed into strings, wind band and choir. Adam's role sits alongside these traditional streams by offering students rock, pop and electronic music...and it's no surprise that these courses are mega popular at his school! Adam hails from Sydney, Australia, where he spent time teaching guitar, before moving to Shanghai, China (where he did a post-grad teaching degree) and then Jakarta, Indonesia. Adam has now been in Hungary for 8 years and is loving living and working in this part of the world! In this episode, we explore: Adam's journey to international school music teaching. ​Some top tips for those looking to explore international school music teaching. The role of 'informal performances' in his music program. An overview of the Grade 6, 7 and 8 music programs, which are jam packed with rock, pop and electronic music units. A full lesson plan idea for incorporating sampling into units of work. A deep dive into the elective 'Rock Band' class for Grade 9 and above. How Adam got into electronic music, including a random side-quest where we talk about the "bush-doof" scene in Sydney 😅 The impact of Lucy Green's 'informal learning' model on Adam's approach to music teaching. The incredible CEESA Rock Band Festival that has been started in collaboration with the music team at the American School of Zagreb in Croatia. Please do check out the links below for everything mentioned in the show! Get in touch with Adam: Adam's email: agaensler@aisb.hu Links and resources from this episode: Hip hop and remixing examples from middle school: https://msmusic.AISB.hu Spectra Layers - Stem splitting & other tools: https://www.steinberg.net/spectralayers/ Mono neon - experimental left-hand bassist: https://www.mononeon.com Bush Doof: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doof Trippie Redd - Hip Hop Artist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trippie_Redd Smokepurpp - American rapper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokepurpp Tracklib - Sampling breakdown videos/platform: https://www.tracklib.com Who-sampled: https://www.whosampled.com Dua Lipa - Levitating - great song to show dynamic contrast: https://youtu.be/WHuBW3qKm9g?si=cO7TL7gO_6akoWE5 Kool Herc - early hip hop musician: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Kool_Herc Looperman - website for free loops and samples: https://www.looperman.com Bluesky - alternative to Twitter/X where lots of people are moving to: https://bsky.app Ultimate Guitar - for tabs and guitar music: https://www.ultimate-guitar.com Songsterr - Guitar tabs with rhythm: https://www.songsterr.com Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand - Adam references this song in the conversation: https://youtu.be/Ijk4j-r7qPA?si=6QNNFT-amLFmPwRz CEESA - Central and Eastern European Schools Association - https://www.ceesa.org Lana Skrgatic - American International School Zagreb - I speak with Lana in Episode 37 here. Musical Futures International where Adam attended a PD in Geneva: https://musicalfuturesinternational.org - see below for special deal as they are the episode sponsor this week! EPISODE SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by Musical Futures International. Based in the pedagogy of informal learning from the academic work of Lucy Green in the UK 20 years ago, Musical Futures International has championed and legitimised learner-led approaches to music education around the world for the last 15 years. Their brand new resource platform puts teacher expertise at the front and gives you multiple ways to apply each unit  or resource to suit your context. This not-for-profit organisation has multiple resource subscription levels and options, and MTIIS listeners can get a 1-month free subscription by going to https://bit.ly/mfinternational and filling in their details for immediate access!

    1h 8m
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About

Welcome to the music teachers in international schools podcast! In this podcast, experienced music educator and researcher, Chris Koelma, explores the unique world of music education in the international school context. You will hear engaging stories from music teachers working in international schools all around the world, learn tips and tricks from a global community of leading music ed experts, and be inspired to develop your capacity to be truly ‘international’ in your approach to music education.

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