Committed to nurturing every aspect of a student’s growth—intellectual, personal, emotional, and social — Apeejay’s IB School, Apeejay School International, Panchsheel Park, offers a range of diverse International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. Among these, the Extracurricular Program (ECP) truly stands out. Why? Because it seamlessly blends rigorous academics with practical vocational training, ensuring that students gain the confidence and skills they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
What makes the ECP particularly effective is its structure, which combines career-focused studies with the traditional IB Diploma curriculum. Students have the option to pursue industry-specific tracks like business, healthcare, or the arts alongside core IB subjects. This tailored approach equips them with both a solid theoretical grounding and valuable hands-on experience in their chosen fields, ensuring a well-rounded education.
While the IB Primary Years Programme (IB-PYP), Middle Years Programme (IB-MYP), and Diploma Programme (IB-DP) provide strong academic foundations, the ECP builds on these by integrating career-centred learning into the overall curriculum.
So how to align the extracurricular music programme with the IB’s learner profile and philosophy? According to Ms Muskan Gautam, Western Vocal Facilitator at the school, it is important to align the programme by emphasising creativity, communication, and self-expression, which are integral to the IB learner profile.
“Through vocal exercises and performances, students learn discipline, collaboration, and reflective thinking. The sessions encourage risk-taking by performing in front of peers and appreciating music from diverse cultures, fostering open-mindedness. Using structured vocal practices, breaking them into manageable steps, and encouraging repetition to build confidence. Students are motivated by regular opportunities to perform, individual attention during practice, and creating a supportive environment where they can grow at their own pace,” the educator stated.
By exposing students to vocal styles from various regions and traditions, they understand how music reflects cultural identities. Discussions about the origins and meanings behind songs encourage them to think globally and appreciate cultural diversity.
To balance structured skill-building with creative exploration in extracurricular music sessions, these are primarily focused on structured vocal exercises to strengthen technique. “However, it is necessary to allow space for students to interpret songs in their unique way during practice. For instance, while perfecting a song, they might experiment with dynamics or phrasing under my guidance,” Ms Gautam said.
To measure or track students’ musical growth and achievements in an ECP setting, where participation is voluntary, progress is tracked through vocal improvement over time, observed during repeated practices and performances. Regular verbal feedback and noting the student’s ability to sing more confidently, handle challenging songs, and maintain pitch and rhythm is the way forward.
For those wanting to fulfil their dream of studying abroad, participating in the programme demonstrates dedication to extracurricular development, teamwork, and cross-cultural understanding. “It helps students build confidence in public presentation and develop a unique skill set that strengthens their college applications, especially for institutes valuing the arts,” Ms Gautam added.
Sharing a similar view, Chumbemo Khuvung, Music Facilitator at the school, the musical elements within the ECP help students understand and appreciate different cultures by exposing them to a variety of musical styles, traditions, and instruments from around the world.
“At Apeejay IB School’s extracurricular music programme, we embrace the IB Learner Profile by encouraging students to be inquirers through exploration and learning new musical concepts. They develop as thinkers by problem-solving in their musical practice, communicators by collaborating with peers in ensembles, and reflective through self-evaluation and improving their performances. We nurture risk-takers by allowing students to perform and experiment with different instruments or styles, fostering creativity, the educator shared.
· To keep students excited and engaged in music outside of regular class hours, it is important to encourage them to explore different strategies:
· Students should watch various musicians on YouTube to get inspiration and learn from different playing styles and techniques.
· Students can listen to various genres of music, which helps them appreciate different sounds and improves their versatility as musicians.
· Introduce students to fun challenges, like learning a new song or mastering a specific technique by a certain date, to keep them motivated.
· Encourage students to participate in solo or group performances whenever possible, as it helps build confidence and provides real-life experience in music.