In our PYP music program at Northbridge International School Cambodia, we have been enjoying starting to use our new NUVO j-flutes in Grades 4 and 5. Ms Jennifer was lucky to be able to visit our sister Nord Anglia school BIS Ho Chi Minh City last year and learned a lot from the Music Director there, Mr Ian Alexander.
One of his recommendations was the j-flutes as they are very durable and living in Cambodia we struggle to find instrument repair technicians. They have proven to be very durable and as they are washable, we get to share a set of 28 instruments between around 150 students.
The students overcame that initial struggle of making a sound and are now able to play simple songs. It has really developed the students’ resiliency and risk-taking to start to learn a difficult instrument and they are now so proud of themselves!
We have also been using more of the Orff approach of music education in the primary. Orff uses music, movement, drama, and speech to develop young musicians in a natural way. It has been a great way of bringing the other performing arts into the music room.
At the Festival of Lights performance, you may have noticed the use of xylophones and percussion instruments as well as some of the grades including some movement as part of their performance. That was integrated using an Orff approach and the students helped to create it.
The Orff approach is a great fit with the PYP and this is summed up well with a quote from the composer Carl Orff himself “Tell me, I forget, show me, I remember, involve me, I understand.”
Northbridge International School Cambodia (NISC) is excited by the coming launch of its new adventure playground in October 2025. This nature-inspired space, set among the trees, invites students to climb, explore, and imagine, blending adventure with a connection to the natural environment.
World Book Week is here, and at NISC and we've been diving headfirst into the enchanting world of stories! This year, our theme is "Reading is Magic," and it's been a week filled with wonder, imagination, and the sheer joy of books.
Action Learning Camps, or ALCs, are often cherished highlights of students' school years. Memories of playing team sports, roasting marshmallows, and sharing whispered conversations into the early hours of the morning leave lasting impressions. But ALCs are more than just fun—they're foundational experiences that support students’ growth in a number of ways.
