Welcome
About this Course
The course is not only intended to challenge the "high rollers", those students who want to continue a post-secondary education in music with the potential for a music career. Further, we hope you find the course accessible to students with limited musical abilities, yet with a passion to make and produce their own music. For many students, this might be their only chance to experience music on their own personal level.
Creating a curriculum to meet the needs of the high achievers, yet also address the interests of the novice musician/creator/researcher is a daunting task. Yet, we hope the contents of this site offer ample opportunities for you to address the needs of all your music students across the spectrum.
Our world is becoming more complex by the day. Our tasks as music educators have never been more vital than it is at this very moment. Pablo Picasso said,
"We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realise the truth at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.” (goodreads.com)
As music educators, we have the obligation to encourage and enable our students to seek global understanding. Music is an essential tool with which to seek this truth.
We all need to realise the needs of our students are constantly in flux. There will undoubtedly be countless modifications, edits, and appendixes added to this site as we continue to address our ever-evolving students' persona. We hope this site helps you along your journey.
Please remember that teaching music is not a destination, but a never-ending process.
Dr. Anton D. Luiten
Dr. Luiten is an educator with more than 30 years of experience working in both local and international schools in Japan, Hong Kong and Vietnam, as well as serving on the academic team at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Australia). He prides himself on offering interactive, personalised and inquiry-based lessons that are always meticulously prepared to ensure that students are not only challenged but reaching their personal goals.
He completed his PhD in musicology from the University of Sydney in 2009 on Bartók's last string quartet, speculating primarily on the reasons why the closure to the last movement was changed so significantly from the initial sketches. Interestingly, Bartók did not cross out any of these earliest thoughts, but instead simply left the material incomplete before replacing it with an inward, melancholic reflection. Additionally, Dr. Luiten holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Macquarie University (2006) and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (English Literature), awarded with distinction from the University of Hong Kong in 1997.
Dr. Luiten served as the Head of Music and Extended Essay Coordinator at the renowned St. Paul's Co-Educational College in Hong Kong (2015-2021), which boasts some of the highest IB averages globally (this gradually rose to eventually peak in 2021 at 43.3; see HERE).
In 2022, he relocated to Vietnam to take up the role of Diploma Programme Coordinator, Year 13 Subject Welfare Co-ordinator, and IBDP Music Teacher at the Australian International School Saigon. He is, however, well versed in a number of other subjects, including English, English Literature, Theory of Knowledge, Academic and Creative Writing, Drama, Film, and other skills-based classes.
At present, he is the Director of Music at the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network of schools. In this role, he provides support to music educators across all 24 schools in China and Hong Kong, ensuring the maintenance of high-quality standards.
He has also held a number of posts throughout his career, most notably Curriculum Development Contributor to the new IBDP music course (first assessment 2022) as well as a Lead Educator in the Asia Pacific region, training the next batch of IB Workshop Leaders in the Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma programmes (DP). He also works as a site visitor for schools completing their five-year reviews for the IB, and he is an active contributor to IBDP Music assessment.
Ackowledging the Crowd at a Concert in 2015
He is experienced in curriculum design, teacher training, classroom management, and educational leadership. He also acts as a music critic for concerts in Hong Kong (returning regularly) and runs professional development workshops for teachers. He is also the Manager of the IBDP Music Teachers Worldwide Facebook page, which has over 2000 members from all corners of the globe. He is currently completing another Master's degree in Educational Leadership through Edith Cowan University.
Conducting the musical “Hello, Dolly!” in 2017
For educational updates and further support, you may visit his YouTube channel.
About the Authors
Mr. Jim Yarnell
Jim has more than 40 years of experience with international schools worldwide as an arts consultant and educator. Originally from the Chicagoland Area in the United States, he has made The Netherlands his adopted home. He has both American and Dutch nationalities.
Jim served as the Arts Director at The American School of The Hague where he led and developed one of the most diverse and integrated performing and visual arts programs on the international school circuit. He has been associated with the IB as a teacher, workshop leader, examiner, and consultant. Further, he is a music consultant for the Council of International Schools (CIS) and provides support for international schools through Global Music Concepts.
Jim served on the faculty of Harvard’s Project Zero Summer Institute and has led countless workshops for arts integration in international schools. Currently, he works as a consultant and workshop leader for the International Baccalaureate Music DP Programme. He has been a teacher of IB DP Music for more than 25 years.
He believes a comprehensive arts education is essential in developing cross-disciplinary understanding, enhancing critical thinking skills, fostering inquiry-based learning, respecting international mindedness and promoting student agency for all students regardless of artistic abilities.
His career as a music educator has had many highlights. His music ensembles have performed for four US Presidents including the second Inauguration of President Bill Clinton in Washington D.C., the first international school to receive such an honour.
Jim received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and his Master of Arts in Education at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, Jim has a post-graduate teaching degree from Utrecht Music Conservatory in The Netherlands.