Our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) Music students submit a portfolio that includes recordings of their creations and/or performances as well as written explanations that include rationale and commentary of their research, process, and understanding of diverse music material.

We invite you to listen to the recordings from each of our IB Music students accompanied by their rationales for the pieces they performed, whether it be the inspirations behind the original pieces they created or the reasons they chose the piece they performed.

Piano performance: 5 Variations on Lit, by Kensuke Ushio, arr. by Animenz 
For the DP portfolio component: Presenting Music as a Performer 

“This piece is an arrangement by Animenz but is initially an original soundtrack from the animated movie Koe No Katachi, composed by Kensuke Ushio. The movie is about a deaf girl called Shoko Nishimiya being bullied by a boy called Shoya Ishida. In the arrangement, each variation symbolizes Shoya Ishida’s emotions toward the scenario of bullying. For example, the theme symbolizes Shoya Ishida’s regret toward his bully, Shoko Nishimiya. The first variation is livelier since it illustrates Ishida getting closer to Nishimiya and slowly improving the relationship. The fifth variation symbolizes the final stage of Ishida overcoming his own fear and regret for bullying.” 

 

Digital composition: Blind
For the DP portfolio component: Presenting Music as a Creator

“As a fan of Alan Walker’s digital music, I always wanted to compose a song using synthesizers. In this song, I borrowed elements from Walker’s music. For example, I imitate the structure of having two choruses: one using vocals as melody, the other using synthesizers as melody, and vocals as harmonies. The emotional inspiration comes from someone close to me who suffers from depression. To portray this person’s internal world, I used an instrument called “Air bells” in Garage Band, which provides an empty yet dark atmosphere. In chorus B, I used a plug-in named “Spring verb” from Cubase Elements. The plug- in produces an ethereal sound and also puts an emphasis on the instrumental compositions.” 

 

Piano performance: Estampes, II. La Soireé dans Grenade, by Claude Debussy 
For the DP portfolio component: Presenting Music as a Performer 

"Estampes is a 3-movement work composed by Claude Debussy in 1903. Each movement represents a distinct culture – the Far East, Spain and France. The second movement, La Soireé Dans Grenade, evokes musical characters of Granada in Andalusia, Spain. The melody is inspired by the Spanish Moorish heritage. The broken chords imitate strumming of the Spanish guitar. Also, the preface writes Mouvement de Habanera. Habanera is an Ibero-American dance with a marker rhythm of a dotted eighth note, a sixteenth note, and two eighth notes.  

I took inspirations from artists from different sociocultural backgrounds, such as Israeli pianist Sally Pinkas. Pinkas is famous for her extensive discography across composers of different cultures and strives for cultural authenticity. In her La Soirée Dans Grenade, there is sharpness, exuberance and a rolling inner turbulence within the Habanera rhythm. Inspired, I played my middle registers clear, with the lower notes denser, and the high notes more 'shimmery'." 

 

Digital composition: Film Music Experimentation 
For the DP portfolio component: Experimenting with Music as a Creator 

“Earlier in the year I composed a piece influenced by J-pop on GarageBand. For this portfolio, I decided to experiment with my original J-pop composition and adapt it in the style of film music. In this adaptation, by changing the instrumentation and rewriting some parts, I tried to create a peaceful, pastoral mood and an image of a cozy countryside. I believe that one essence of pastoral film music is to have a sense of cyclic, continuous feeling. Therefore, throughout the composition, I left many of the phrases unresolved, smoothly connected one melody to the next. I added a reoccurring motif and also experimented with structure, melodic phrasing, and instrumentation.”

 

Digital composition: Night Sky
For the DP portfolio component: Presenting Music as a Creator

“This piece is inspired by Hisaishi’s style of music and various films from the Ghibli Studio. This piece attempts to replicate the serene, delicate instrumentation and harmonies of Joe Hisaishi’s music. Both of Joe Hisaishi’s pieces and this particular composition are created through digital technology. This composition is written digitally through a mixing program called Logic Pro X.” 

 

The Performing Arts program at AISG is robust, comprehensive, and founded on the belief that Band, Strings, Choir, and Drama are part of a balanced and effective education. From Preschool to Grade 12, we provide students with experiences to develop curiosity, interest, enjoyment of their own creativity and an appreciation for the performances of others.  Click here to learn more.