Juilliard Music Specialist Visits NAIS Pudong

In the last couple of days – and following the November Drama and Dance visits -  we’ve had the pleasure of hosting Brian Drye, our Music Curriculum Specialist from The Juilliard School, one of Broadway's standout trombonists!

Brian, currently taking a hiatus from his role in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown, generously shared his wealth of musical knowledge through immersive workshops. During these sessions, Brian showcased not only his exceptional trombone skills but also delved into the intricacies of effective music teaching. He is adaptable, connects with our children, and was able to pitch our music teachers very quickly.

From tailored lesson plans to innovative teaching techniques, he emphasised the importance of creating a dynamic and engaging classroom environment. He also addressed advanced teaching methodologies to ensure our educators stay at the forefront of music education.

But it wasn't just about the technicalities; Brian passionately discussed the art of nurturing a child's musical sensibility. He highlighted the significance of understanding each student's unique characteristics and adjusting teaching methods accordingly. For the little ones, he suggested interactive and playful approaches, using games and stories to introduce musical concepts. This fits in with our aim of providing a close, personal learning environment for all of our students.

Moreover, Brian emphasised the role of age-appropriate techniques, tailoring lessons to suit the developmental stage of each child. For older students, he encouraged more in-depth discussions on music theory and history, fostering a deeper connection to the subject.

In a nutshell, these past few days have been a journey into the heart of music education excellence. The scaffolding and resources that Juilliard provide us matches very well with the inquiry-based learning which all our students need, especially for the IB Diploma programme. We're grateful for Brian's invaluable insights and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Stay tuned as we continue to integrate Juilliard programme into our IBDP course.

Brian Drye’s Bio:

Trombonist and pianist Brian Drye is an integral part of NYC's creative music scene. His debut as a leader, was hailed as “one of the best introductions to a new band” by the New York Times. Brian has spent the last two decades exploring and performing the vast array of music that is available in the NYC area which Includes Jazz, Rock, Funk, Salsa, Gospel, Reggae, Balkan, Pakistani, Mexican, Haitian, Brazilian Forro, And Klezmer. Brian is currently playing the trombone role on Broadway for the Tony award winning show, Hadestown. Brian spent his formative years touring with groups such as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Paul Ankaand The Four Tops. In 2008, he developed a performance and rehearsal space, Ibeam Brooklyn which has become a home for the creative music scene in Brooklyn.

For over fifteen years, Brian has been a teaching artist for Carnegie Hall and numerous arts organizations where he has worked across the city in partnerships with public schools, detention centres, homeless shelters, and community programs. He has developed curriculum and resources for the Weill Music Institute and for the past ten years has served on faculty at the Music Educators Workshop which supports NYC music teachers. In 2017 - 2019, Brian was a guest lecturer at Lincoln Centre Education Summer Institute where he collaborated with teaching artists from around the world, representing many artistic disciplines. Brian is also program director of the community music school Brooklyn Conservatory of Music where he oversees lessons, classes,curriculum,and ensembles for students ages 0-100.