We’re excited to welcome two new teachers candidates to SJS. Ms. Coulson and Ms. Graham will be joining the SJS music department in both the Junior and Senior School for their ten-week placement as part of the UBC Education program. We sat down with the teacher candidates to learn more about their passion for music and what they’re looking forward to learning at SJS.
Ms. Coulson, Ms. Graham, welcome to SJS! Tell us about when your love of music began.
Ms. Coulson: When I was in Grade 3, a wonderful teacher started a choir at my school. It’s where my love of singing began. There wasn’t a band program in school until I started at a private school in Grade 9, so my voice was my instrument and I strengthened it in choir and musical theatre growing up.
Ms. Graham: My first introduction to music was on the gamelan, which is the traditional instrument of Indonesia, where I grew up. My mom also put me in piano lessons when I was young, which was my introduction to classical music. Eventually that led to voice lessons too. Music has always been a part of my life.
When did you first start considering teaching as a career?
Ms. Coulson: For me, my first inspiration came from Ms. McGregor, who started that junior choir. With limited resources, she brought something special to our school and showed me the impact that a passionate teacher can have on a community. Later on, I had a wonderful choir teacher Ms. Fitzpatrick, who really empowered me and became my mentor. She inspired me to take that leap into teaching.
Ms. Graham: My mom and dad are both teachers, and my grandpa was a lecturer at UBC, so it’s always been in the family. And there have been a lot of teachers throughout my life that inspired me. I think about the kindness of my Grade 2 teacher, who supported our curiosity, and my music tutors who helped me find my individuality as a musician. My variety of experiences have all led me to become a teacher myself.
Why do you think it is important to have music in a curriculum?
Ms. Coulson: I think music teaches kids about who they are. It gives them a vocabulary to express themselves with that is outside of themselves, and it puts them in the driver’s seat of their own learning. I love that you really get out what you put into it and it gives students agency, not to mention skills that they can use beyond the classroom, like how to communicate with your bandmates, self-critique and also take feedback effectively.
Ms. Graham: Music is a way to express your creativity, and it gives you a way to get to know people better. You share in the learning as a band or as a choir, you learn music from across instruments and from around the world. It teaches collaboration as well as discipline; skills that help students in school as a whole.
What has been your experience with the IB programme prior to SJS?
Ms. Coulson: The IB is new to me. I went to an all-girls school in Toronto where I took AP courses, but those were limited to specific subjects and the number of courses you could take. I’ve always loved school—I guess that’s why I’ve become a teacher, right? So I’m excited to learn more about the IB programme in this placement.
Ms. Graham: I did the IB Diploma Programme myself at Jakarta Intercultural School. It was a great advantage for me going into university. It was really hard, but totally worth it to me. I learned a lot of resilience through the programme. Resilience, reflection, reasoning and relating. The high expectations really taught me how to push through challenges. I can look back and see the benefits and how it helped shape me as a person.
What are you most looking forward to about working at SJS this term?
Ms. Coulson: Everyone has been so welcoming so far, I’m really excited for the weeks to come. Given that my concentration has been in voice, I’m looking forward to expanding my experience in band, working with Mr. Deans and Ms. Van Inwegen in the Senior School. I’m excited to help students explore their interests and be drivers of their own learning.
Ms. Graham: I’m excited to be a part of the community. There’s a really big, family vibe at SJS. It’s nice to see how the teachers know so many of the students as they’re walking down the hall. I’m looking forward to learning from Mr. Florencio and working with the Junior School students.
If you see Ms. Coulson or Ms. Graham in the hallways, be sure to say “hello” and welcome them to the SJS community. Learn more about how SJS faculty are shaping the next generation of educators like Ms. Coulson and Ms. Graham.
