By: M’KIS Marketing & Communications Department

At M’KIS, music forms a critical aspect of a child’s development. As they grow, elementary students progress from basic singing and movement towards playing instruments - first the recorder in Grades 3 and 4 and then to playing as part of an ensemble band or strings orchestra in Grade 5 and beyond. Grade 5 students may also choose to participate in the choir instead of playing an instrument. Music education at M’KIS is also supported by Theater, Dance, and Visual Arts programmes.

MS/HS Fall Concert

The Fall music season was kicked off by our Middle School and High School music students. The MS and HS Strings students played famous pieces such as “Clocks” by Coldplay. They also presented “African Adventure” , a piece incorporating Djembe drumming techniques and a melody/genre different from classical European or East Asian folk music. They were followed by the Middle School Band, where the students showed their burgeoning skills in their instruments through a rendition of Canon of Peace, arranged by Paul Jennings, followed by Jodie Blackshaw’s “Whirlwind,” an ethereal piece using non-traditional instruments and effects. The HS Jazz band, with more experienced musicians, capped off the concert with “Bags Groove” by Milton Jackson. 

PreK2 - Grade 2 Concert 

The following week, our youngest learners in PreK - Grade 2 took the stage. Dressed as Christmas Trees, the PreK3 - Kindergarten students each danced to songs such as “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” and the “Happiest Christmas Tree. ”The Grade 1 students played a charming rendition of “This Little Light of Mine,” with two students even playing accompanying keyboards! The Grade 2 students, demonstrating skills in inquiry, risk-taking, dynamics, decision making played “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" on various instruments - the violin, keyboard, xylophone, triangle, and percussion instruments, to name a few! The PreK - Grade 2 concert was capped off by a multilingual performance of Jingle Bells, with students combining English, Mandarin, Spanish, and French in singing various portions of the song.

Grade 3 - Grade 5 concert 

The concert season was capped off with the Grade 3 - Grade 5 concert. An opportunity to showcase about 9 weeks of progress in playing instruments, students played songs such as “Ode to Joy” and “Jingle Bells,” two classic tunes that honed the students’ new knowledge of the eight major music notes in band, percussion, violin, and recorders.

After each grade’s musical performances, the students gathered to sing well-known tunes. The Grade 5 choir sang “Christmas Come to Town.” Grade 3 students gathered to sing “Best Day of My Life,” by the American Authors. Grade 4 students ended the concert first by charming the crowd with Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” They then blew the crowd away with an energetic rendition of the world-famous smash hit “Dynamite,” by BTS! 

Throughout all the performances, parents could be seen clapping, cheering, and humming along to the songs. When the kids first appeared on stage, many could be seen trying to find their parents in the audience, waving and greeting them!

Pride in Our Students 

M’KIS Music teachers were instrumental in the success of the music concerts, choreographing the performances and mentoring students to fulfill their musical potential. Here’s what they said about the concerts!

As a teacher, it fills me with immense pride to witness my students working tirelessly as a team, navigating through challenges and triumphs together. Watching them shine on stage, showcasing their growth and passion for music, is a moment that reminds me why I love what I do. - Ms. Yi Chen Chew 

What a rewarding experience to see how hard the students have worked over the last few months and to be a part of their growth. Their efforts really shined on stage and it was incredibly gratifying to be able to have fun with them for the final performance. We were able to show what our classroom environment is like while on stage, which I was happy for the school community to see. -  Mr. Kevin Pham 

I am very proud of the progress our band students have made this year, and I look forward to seeing them grow even more as musicians in the future. I am also grateful to my amazing colleagues in the music department for their inspiration and collaboration. It's wonderful to be part of such a cohesive team. - Mr. Dylan Dwyer 

I am incredibly proud of the remarkable progress my students have made since the beginning of the year. The young artists have embraced collaboration, improving their ability to connect with audiences through choir performances and playing as an orchestra in the winter concert. Our grand finale featured a creative rendition of "Jingle Bells" presented in various languages, promoting musical diversity and enhancing the students' understanding of music while fostering open-mindedness as global citizens. -  Dr. Ece Genis