After hours of guitar strumming, singing, and saying, “One more time!”, we finally felt ready for our performances. On Monday, November 20th, 20 performers, mostly from 11th and 12th grade, shared their musical talents during the IB Music Concert. Some people performed alone, others in duos and trios, and there was even one ensemble of six. There were many wonderful performances including a 12th grader who sang a beautiful song with her dad, an awesome dance combination while singing, and a couple original pieces. We all felt proud performing as the supportive audience, made up of teachers, staff, and parents, cheered us on.
I’m in 11th grade, and although the IB is still relatively new to me, I’m already grateful for IB music. In 11th grade music, we’re a small, tight group of nine. I feel no sense of competition in this class, and I already feel as though we are forming a musical family. Being in an environment where everyone shares a passion for music, where everyone is willing to give constructive feedback and support, feels really special. After a difficult math class, it’s refreshing to walk into a room where the atmosphere radiates with creativity. Compared to other school subjects such as literature, psychology, or physics, creating music requires using a different part of your brain. Writing a song, practicing guitar, or adapting a piece of music is unlike memorizing, doing problem sets, preparing presentations, or writing essays–the kind of work I do in other classes. Music has always been part of my life, so I tend to see it as fun rather than work.
Still, there is a lot of preparation that goes into IB music and the concerts. You have to make decisions about what songs you want to perform, with whom you want to collaborate, what instruments you want to play, and how you want the music to sound. There are so many details to consider in every performance. And of course you have to practice! If you are playing in an ensemble, you have to practice individually and then in a group until you feel confident and ready.
Some students will use the recordings of these performances for their IB portfolios, but even if they don’t, the IB music concert was a success and a joy to be a part of. Thank you to all the students who contributed to a wonderful night. Thank you to the tech crew for making this experience possible. Thank you to the audience for your enthusiasm and support. And thank you to Ms. Bronwyn for your warmth, expertise, and dedication.
Photos from the performances:
