Imagine music without Michael Jackson. Imagine music without the Beatles. Pop would have never been invented nor would it have lead to further genres in music. No one would have been able to enjoy the songs ‘Thriller’ and ‘Yesterday.’ Not only pop, but many other composers and artists have pioneered new branches of music which people nowadays listen with different tastes.

If music was never born, the lives of musicians would have never been highly-regarded,

Music takes up a great part in the history of the artists’ lives. It was their choice to indulge in music and develop their interest and talent. They did not overlook the opportunity of continuing

Two lives in TCIS did music snatch away from the indefatigable grasps of science and math. One life has already travelled half the journey while one will soon begin the strenuous journey to being a true artist. The IB music teacher, Ms. Kubala has dedicated herself to music over 40 years and Peter Choo (12) has already solidified his career as a guitarist.

Recently, Ms. Kubala’s old friend, a friend whom she met at choir at church, passed away. All the way home, the song “Can’t Smile Without You” was harmoniously singing through her head. The song had come out from nowhere, but Ms. Kubala did not consider it strange, but considered it neat. Her life seems to absolutely surrounded with music.

“Music is my life. Everything I do is music.” Ms. Kubala shares a phrase commonly used, but enough to describe her life concisely.

Ms. Kubala’s desire to pursue music in her life was established as early as her high school years. Science had been an interesting subject for her, but in her junior year, she realized the thing she did best was music. All through high school, she was in band, orchestra, choir, girls’ ensemble, and singing group; basically, all the classes one would relate to music.

Majoring in piano at college did not satisfy her. Fortunately, her professor fixed her

“I’ve always wanted to teach. It is my job, it is my life, and I have music going through my 24/7, honest to God,” comments Ms. Kubala.

Since 1971, Mary has been teaching the same classes she took in her past years: marching band, choir, and jazz band. TCIS students generally recognize the high school music teacher as Mr. David Miller, but many students simply forget the IB teacher. However, Ms. Kubala is more than a mere IB instructor; she had been the vocal director of a recent musical “The Fiddler on the Roof.”

Ms. Kubala hopes for further room in the school schedule for students to enjoy music. Many cannot appreciate music during their school days because the fine-arts classes interfere with the mandatory subjects. She believes that is wrong for people to judge music as something that is less important and secondary.

She emphasizes the positive externalities that results from music. Teamwork and cooperation, needed especially when performing your designated portion faithfully for the whole team, can be one of many skills that can be developed.

“I love the juniors. They’re absolutely fabulous, just amazing. I just enjoy them so much and they do what they’re supposed to. Just purely great performers and great kids.” She openly

Ms. Kubala has reached maturity in her musical career, but there is a student yet to fulfill his destiny as a musician. You can frequently see him going into his classes with his guitar hanging over the shoulder. He performs in a praise team during Chapel, singing with the chords. Peter Choo (12) is another person walking down the path of music.

“I already knew what do with my life at the age of fifteen. I was searching for that one thing in my life.”

Peter Choo began playing the guitar at age 12 in Portland when he got it as a Christmas present. After he taught himself for year, he started getting lessons from a professional guitarist. He acknowledges the difference in style between creative self-education and formal, structured instruction.

In the IB music program,  Peter has been building his experience in guitar based on performing and learning from teachers. He eagerly manages to practice and perform on his own time and broadens his knowledge in music’s history and culture on his own volition.

“When I hold the guitar, it’s like an onion with two layers,” Peter goes on, “The first layer is just for pleasure when you sometimes get sick of it. Most of the time, it’ll be the second layer where I just want to pick up the guitar, just for fun.”

In a LASA trip he had went in the past, people randomly contributed to his guitar playing by beatboxing and singing. He was amazed at how he became friends with strangers only through music. It had certainly reminded him that music is still indeed the common medium amongst people.

Peter’s personal experiences allows him to establish his own philosophy. He deems music as an universal language with no significance in nationality. He believes it is not the scholars and politicians who lead the world, but actually the musicians and artists who have such a powerful influence on the public.