Music in the Wild: Community Service through Music

The Middle School Symphonic Band at International School Bangkok (ISB) was thrilled to be able to participate in its fourteenth community service initiative that fosters global citizenship through service and the sharing of talent and passion for music. Music in the Wild is a service trip organized by teachers and the Service in the Wild foundation to provide cross-cultural and musical exchange as well as service opportunities for our students.

Long Tradition of Cultural Exchange & Service 

There is a long tradition of ISB performers using music to build relationships and support remote Thai communities. Since it first began, over 350 ISB students have visited schools to perform, experience traditional Thai instruments and dance, and interact with their counterparts through cultural exchange activities. Brent Poling, ISB Middle School Band teacher and founder of this trip remembers what first inspired this trip and the value it adds to students: 

“My mom instilled in me a passion to help others in need. From my earliest memories, I can remember going to rest homes, retirement homes, and an orphanage singing and performing for the people there. From there, I branched out by inviting some of my friends in high school to join and start a service organization called YIS–Youth In Service. I am now fortunate enough to have the opportunity to teach my students that there are many ways to give back to others; in this case, through music. The Music in the Wild trip has inspired several students to create their own similar groups that travel through the Bangkok area. When the socioeconomic differences, the language barriers, the opportunity differences all dissipate, the students realize how much they have in common–that we are all human. This is when the magic and power of this trip becomes apparent.”  

The first such event was in 2008 and involved The Middle School (MS) Symphonic Band, 32 members of the MS Jazz Band, and the String Chamber Ensemble. Working in partnership with ISB's After The Wave Foundation (now known as Service in the Wild), the musicians visited and performed at the R-35 School in Khao Lak, 100km north of Phuket. After The Wave, as the name suggests, was founded by ISB teachers following the 2004 tsunami. The 2008 visit was followed by annual visits to Khao Lak through 2017, with students from both schools learning and benefiting from the experience and forming lasting memories. 

Focusing Local: Music in the Wild

In 2018, as Khao Lak recovered, the foundation's work shifted to focus on the communities neighboring ISB's  Environmental Wilderness Campus in Phetchaburi province, 90 KM southwest of Bangkok. In partnership with Service in the Wild, the MS Symphonic Band first visited the Nong Ya Plong Whitaya School in the fall of 2018. This was repeated in 2019, joined by Concert Strings.

Since then, the trip has been renamed "Music in the Wild.” Continuing the tradition after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, members of the MS Symphonic Band visited and performed at two local schools in the Nong Ya Plong community last year. This trip teaches our young musicians about Thai traditional instruments and dance through performances by local students and artists. It also fosters cultural learning and helps build new friendships through various activities. Last but certainly not least, each year we donate much-needed equipment and supplies to the schools with the help of Service in the Wild and the generous support from ISB families.

Students and Experts Learning and Connecting Across Barriers 

This year, 61 members of the ISB Symphonic Band were joined by the internationally renowned Thai instrumental ensemble from Kasetsart University named SMG – Smooth Melodic Group.  This ensemble gave masterclasses on the Thai classical instruments to our students and the students from the Nong ya Plong school. They also performed with our Symphonic Band and the two student ensembles from the Nong ya Plong school in two final numbers.  

What makes this trip so special is that everyone can come together to learn, bond, and connect through music. One student on the trip, reflected, “I felt like I understood the saying more of ‘how we are all human.’ The kids there weren't any different from us. They liked playing with us despite the language barrier. They wanted to talk to us even though we don’t come from the same backgrounds and maybe even the same country as them.” Another student reflected, “I enjoyed getting to know about Thai culture and music because I think it is really interesting. I also like how they could learn about the western instruments. I also enjoyed meeting the Thai students.” 

At International School Bangkok, we cultivate well-rounded learners who are globally minded, care about their communities, and who are curious about the world, the people, and the cultures around them. Inquire today to learn more about the education and opportunities ISB provides to our students.