ryanjoelbrown

lecture, instructor, lecture room-3986809.jpg

Get a High Paying Teaching Job at an International School: The 6 Things you Need to do

It was the best career move I made, getting a job at an international school. It’s easy to be complacent after several years living the life that, not too long ago, I only dreamed of, so I try to remind myself of my own journey.  

It wasn’t easy.  It took months of working out the landscapes of the international school systems, applying for jobs, improving my qualifications, and making myself more employable.  To make things worse I’d just come out of a long relationship, moved back in with my parents, and still didn’t have a permanent, full time teaching job.  

Fast forward six years.  I’m now writing from a comfortable position in middle leadership, teaching a 4-day work week, and sharing my experiences online.  But how did I get here?  It took a lot of trial and error, research, networking, and failed interviews, but I’ll get those gory details soon.

I wish I had someone to guide me along the way, or share at least some of these secrets to get a high paying teaching job at an international school.  It took me a year to figure out all the tips and secrets in this article and land a job that I was excited to accept.  I hope this finds and helps someone who, like me seven years ago, was desperate for a change and keen for adventure.  

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already looking to move your teaching career international or at least interested in the benefits of working away from home at an international school. They can pay very well, facilitate career advancement, and make travel a breeze. 

Like anything, of course, there are some downsides, but for me at least, it has enhanced my career, allowed me to travel extensively, and has brought me together with my tribe of people.  Not to mention, I’ve saved some money along the way!

Before we get started, I’d like to go make a couple of caveats before you read too much further: 

These tips are geared more towards already, or soon to be, qualified school teachers.  For more information on how to get a good job as an international TEFL or TESOL English teacher, please read my article on the subject.  

Another is that most international schools (and I stress most here) want candidates to have at least two years experience in their home countries before they offer them a job teaching internationally.  There are a few ways to get around this, and I know teachers who have been employed in international schools with less experience, but if you’re fresh out of college you will have more of a challenge, or a wait, ahead of you.  

1. Be all about differentiation. 

This will likely be a major focus of any job interview in your home country, but for international schools it’s even bigger.  If you can’t cohesively explain what it means for you and provide examples of how you execute it, your interview may not go much further.  

This is because international schools have a very disparate student cohort at all times.  There will likely be equal mixes of students from a huge range of countries, all with greatly varying schooling experience, religious, and cultural values. Many families will have just moved to the country and still be trying to figure out at what level to place their children, and get used to the new system.  

If your current employer doesn’t offer comprehensive professional development in differentiation, it would be worth taking a short course that will enhance your pedagogy.  These not only make you a better teacher, but showing initiative for your own professional development is a very attractive quality to schools and recruiters. 

Coursera courses for teachers
Coursera has a great range of courses for teachers, many free.

2. Become a creator on LinkedIn. 

And I don’t just mean fill out your bio, you need to get involved.  Quality international schools are not just looking for someone with the qualifications, they want someone who is active in their field of expertise and could even play a role in raising the status of the school or adding to professional development. 

This means writing, or at least sharing, the odd article to your peers on appropriate LinkedIn groups, actively participating in discussions, and actively reaching out to other educators to form a learning community.  Turn on creator mode and write; you can write about something in your field that you’re passionate about, or simply share your experience teaching in certain conditions.

Going further, signing up with LinkedIn Learning courses will get you a month of free premium membership, in addition to the free month of courses.  With this, your profile will be more visible, and you’ll have more tools to navigate the international school job landscape. You can cancel the subscription once you’ve found a job or, if you’re like me, continue to enjoy the benefits of being able to network and share more effectively.

These days  LinedIn is a must have for aspirational international teachers, and potential employers will look at your profile.   Within a couple of weeks of being more active on LinkedIn, I had recruiters and schools literally reaching out to me to interview.  

Also, LinkedIn is where you’ll make contact with a lot of recruiters, bringing me to my next tip:

Linked in creator mode
Sharing articles on Linked helps you stand out to schools and recruiters.

3. Talk to Recruiters. 

As I just mentioned, this would be as easy as reaching out on Linked in, but there will likely be several companies based in your country that will specialize in teachers with your kind of background.

Keep in mind that, just as with the various international school systems, keeping an open mind will broaden your possibilities.  Therefore, don’t limit yourself with a local recruiter.  There are many out there that specialize in different regions and different types of curriculum, and your perfect job could be somewhere you had never considered.  Recruiters will generally specialize in an region, for example, Asia or the Middle East, so it’s worth making contact with a few from different  

recruitment, opportunity, employment3942378.jpg
Recruiters are your eyes and ears on the international school job market.

4. Go to TES.com start applying

Start applying for jobs BUT be sure to do your research.  Because international schools generally advertise internationally (duh), they receive a LOT of applications.  From experience I can tell you that your resume won’t even make it to the desk of a head of school if you haven’t addressed the selection criteria.  

I applied for approximately 70-80 positions before I found a good fit.  Looking back, I could have saved myself the time I spent applying for jobs that I could now easily see were not a good fit.  

There were a few positions offered to me that, when I started to look into the school more to find out if I wanted to work there, I discovered some aspects that didn’t really align with my expectations and I had to turn the job down.  At the same time, I was applying for jobs that were way out of my reach in terms of where my career was a the time.  While I’m all for aiming for the stars, I could have been focussing on applications for better suited roles. 

tes.com job search
tes.com is a one of the best ways to find international school jobs.

5. Get familiar with the various curriculums.  

British Curriculum, IB/MYP/EYP, GC, American, Australian.  Chances are you already have experience in one of these systems/curriculums, but there could also be a perfect, or higher paying, job for you in another.  Do your research on each, especially in relation to your specialty, and be ready to talk about it.  

Most of the higher paying international schools are those which offer IB) International Baccalaureate Programs) or British Curriculum, but that’s not to say that you won’t get a better offer from a school of the lesser known systems, it happened to me!  

Depending on the country in which you’re already a qualified teacher, you may be able to simply complete an online application to the UK government to receive your QTS that many British International Schools require. Many British schools will want you to have experience in the British National Curriculum, but this will be up to the discretion of the schools themselves.  There are online courses available that, while not the same as experience, will demonstrate that you are more than familiar with the curriculum structure and standards 

For IB curriculum schools (including MYP and PYP), the certification course is a bit more lengthy.  Eight months in one of their recognised programs of study will earn you a certificate, which will enable you to apply with IBO directly to gain accreditation. 

6. Get your qualifications in order and certified. 

Because teachers at international schools recruit from a range of different countries it can be difficult for schools to verify qualifications and accreditations.  Most schools will want your degrees, academic transcripts, accreditations, and background checks all verified before a contract is finalized.

This means that you’ll need to get official documents from your university/accreditation body and have them authenticated by a notary, or other equivalent signatory in your home country.  It’s worth making several copies and having these authenticated as some schools will want a physical copy.  

In my experience, this was one of the lengthiest and frustrating processes, having to bounce around between institutions, notaries, and police stations.  If you’re having to do this while trying to pack up your life and move to another country, it will only add to the stress!

Bonus tip:

Get a TEFL/TESOL Certificate anyway. I say “anyway” here because the truth of the matter is that, if you’re a qualified school teacher and native English speaker, you do not need a TEFL qualification to work at an international school. However, many international schools (or ALL, depending on the location) will have a majority cohort of students who speak English as a second language and therefore require more structured instruction.  

So, if, for example, you’re an art or math teacher, the fact that you have a TEFL qualification tells employers that you’re well-prepared to teach their English as second language students (and this could be close to 100% of the cohort, as is the case at my school). This could be particularly helpful if you are one of the newly qualified teachers with less than 2 years experience that many international schools require. It shows you have an idea of the challenges of international teaching. 

A warning here, the online TEFL/TESOL world is littered with poor quality schools and straight up scams.  Make sure you choose a course that is accredited, otherwise you might find yourself putting in more than hundred hours of study for nothing!

Be Consistent and don’t be disheartened

When I first started applying for teaching positions at International Schools it didn’t take long for me to get disheartened.  Even after 20 applications, I didn’t even have a request for an interview.  Part of that was the fact that I didn’t know then what I now know, and part of that was just the fact that sometimes it takes patience and persistence. 

In my discussions with HR representatives since working internationally, I’ve found out just how many applications they receive for each position (hint: it’s a lot!) There is a reason why International School jobs are highly sought after; they pay well, they have good benefits, and the facilitate travel.  

In this world of international business and easy travel international schools are only going to become more popular.  Each year dozens of new schools are opening their doors and they are looking for quality teachers to help them with the process.  Taking the leap can be daunting, but in my experience it is one that you’ll never regret.  

For more tips, stories, and recommendations, please subscribe to our international teachers newsletter.  If you’re an international teacher with a story to share, we’d love to hear from you!

Learning while traveling

7 Ways to Learn and Upskill While Traveling 

Your travels could be an untapped resource for new learning experiences, add to your career development, and put you in contact with inspiring people and unforgettable experiences. International teachers are very lucky in this regard, having lots of holidays each year, and are often based in a region ideal for traveling.  I started treating holidays as opportunities for learning, and here are some ideas to get you started at vacay-versity!  

Wait… you want me to learn on vacation?  Don’t get me wrong, I fully endorse the chill out, do nothing, bring me another margarita style of vacation.  It’s often well-needed and always well-deserved. But for those who are looking to enrich their travels and learn something in the process, here are a few activities you might like to consider. 

 For me, it was perhaps the most profound ‘first-world problem’ that I’ve run into:  with the amount of traveling I was doing each year, I felt I was not dedicating enough time to developing myself, or improving my skill set, and therefore career. 

It’s ridiculous, I know.  Traveling in itself is already an incredibly rich tapestry of learning experiences, getting to know yourself through other cultures, and challenging your understanding of the world.  

I did, however, start to feel like I could be getting more out of my holiday time.  I could be using that time to learn something new, work on some passion projects, or develop my own career. At the same time, the FOMO I get from not taking every opportunity to travel is very strong.  So, in typical stubborn fashion, I decided I could do BOTH.  Travel AND learning experiences.  

Since then I’ve not looked back.  Seeking out organized learning experiences on your travels not only gives you a sense of fulment, but also connects you with people and communities you may never have made contact with.  

For teachers, or anyone in education, these are incredibly valuable professional development experiences.  Whether you plan to use the skill set in a class, or as an enriching co-curricular experience, you’re bound to be able to use these to add value to what you do.  For international teachers, you’re probably already doing a lot of travel, why not take it to the next level and throw in some personal development?

Here’s a list of learning experiences I’ve tried on holiday, and a few I plan to.  

1.      Start Surfing (or learn any local sport, for that matter)

Always wanted to learn how to surf?  Imagine spending the morning at the beach, exploring local villages in the afternoon, sipping cocktails as you watch the sun set over the beach, and after a week of it being able to drop into a wave and surf like (or at least look like) a pro.  Surf schools of a few days to a week run in some of the world’s most beautiful beach locations such as Sri Lanka or Costa Rica. Take that skill back and not only will you get ample bragging rights, it’s a skill you can pass on to others.

Learning to surf on vacation
Learning how to surf on your travels is a win-win. You gain a new skill, get great exercise, all while taking in paradise.

2. Take Music or Dance Lessons

There may not be a better way to engage with a local culture than to immerse yourself in the creation of the music they make.  Music-rich destinations (pretty much everywhere!) will have a local music school or cultural centre that will offer workshops or lessons.  If they don’t explicitly offer these, reach out to them, or message an artist on Instagram, and more often than not they will be happy to give a lesson. In my experience, this has been the most rewarding experience, and often these musicians will invite you to small shows and concerts that you otherwise not know about.  Learn Salsa in Cuba, Taroob Music in Zanzibar, Didgeridoo in Australia, Drumming in Rwanda, and many more. 

After my friend and I took some Taroob music lessons in Zanzibar, our teachers invited us to a show in a beautiful old courtyard restaurant.  After meeting the other musicians and watching a show, our teachers dedicated a song to us – the same song we had been learning.  Such a heartwarming musical experience only took place because I reached out and contacted a musician, so don’t be shy!

Learning taroob music in Zanzibar
Learning Music on your travels is a wonderful way to develop your own skills and make contact with people who are at the heart of local culture.

3. Learn a Language

This is a no-brainer.  Want to scrub up on your Spanish or French skills? Well there are a few holiday destinations for that.  But what about being able to talk about the weather in Swahili, ordering food in Arabic, or thanking your cab driver in Thai?  

While you can’t expect to be fluent or even conversational over the course of a holiday, the affect that learning a few key words or phrases in someone’s native tongue is priceless, especially when that language is rare where you live.   Nothing beats the smile and gratitude you receive when you brighten someone’s day with the language they love to speak with their family.  

When working in sales, I dropped a few Hindi words with an Indian customer, and not only did he come back to me (and me only) repeatedly, but invited me to his wedding in Goa!

4. Learn how to take great pictures or videos

What’s the biggest thing that will help you improve any skill?  Practice and repetition.  And where do you take the photos?  On holiday, of course.  

Whether you simply put in some time researching and reading great photography blogs, or take an actual class in your destination, you’re going to upskill in a big way.  Several photography schools/teachers offer classes and workshops in most destinations, but if you don’t’ find what you’re looking for, track down some local photographers on Instagram and ask them if they’d be willing to take you out for a lesson.  Chances are you’ll pick up some great tips but also uncover some little-known local spots.  There are plenty listed on Trip Advisor.

I’ve never had much of an eye for photography so this is something I need to do on my next trip!

Woman taking photos on travels

5. Learn to cook amazing Ugali…….or Paella….or Pasta…or fish curry…)

 I’m sure you’ve either taken a cooking class on holiday or know of someone who has, but there’s much to learn if you don’t have the time (or focus!) to get through an entire cooking session.  

Ask a waiter what the dish is called, and how it’s made; you may not get the full recipe but you’ll get to know the name, components, and be able to find a recipe with a quick google search. If your Airbnb host offers to make you a meal, say absolutely yes, and watch them make it, asking the questions along the way.  

In Rwanda I mentioned to my guesthouse host ho much I loved Ugali (cassava starch boiled bread) and he was so delighted, he took me straight to the kitchen and showed me how to cook it. 

6. Become a skipper of a yacht… or a dinghy.

Now this one takes more time and energy, but completing a sailing or boating course in some of the most pristine sea holiday destinations feels so good it couldn’t possibly be learning.  The UK-based Royal Yachting Association has certified training centers around the world.  The courses offered at locations vary but you could spend a couple of days learning how to sail a dinghy, to having international certificates qualifying you to operate a motor boat or sailing vessel.  

The best part about this is that it’s the gift that keeps giving:  complete and international certification and you can charter your own boat/yacht in boating destinations all around the world.  Greece has many certified training schools, and certainly some of the best sailing in the world. After a day on the water practicing maneuvers you ‘ll pull into a tiny marina on a Greek island, walk 4 steps to a taverna for some Fresh squid and a rose, before sleeping soundly to the water lapping at the side of your boat.

I completed my international certification on a week-long cruise around the Saronic Islands in Greece. It was me, two other teachers from the Netherlands, and our instructor. While I learned a lot each day, and had to pass key maneuvers and procedures, it certainly didn’t feel like hard work. Each day we’d have a lazy lunch and swim while anchored in a secluded cove, and most nights we’d moor or anchor not far from a taverna with fresh seafood and good wine. Hmmm, I think I need a refresher course…

International teacher Learning to sail
Becoming a certified yacht skipper is a fun and relaxing way to learn while traveling.

7. Be  a teacher

For the teachers out there, this might be the last thing you want to do with your vacation but hear me out.  Teaching in a community outreach program or charity program is going to be a rewarding and unforgettable experience.  Besides that, it will give you fresh inspiration for you regular classes and boost your credentials as a professional.

I might be biased, but teaching something effectively requires a unique knowledge base and a skillset, one that will benefit you greatly if you aren’t already one.  Teacher’s need to think about their topic from a new perspective, break it down into its components, and structure this in a unique way, depending on the student.  Lucky for us, there’s a huge number of programs to travel and volunteer, teaching English, Maths, or even Sport, to students in need.  You’ll be performing a great service but also developing your own skills in a big way.  Search for a program in your destination.

I spent a day at a remote school in the Ethiopian highlands, and the wholesome energy the children there were bringing warmed my heart.  My colleague and I taught them a song in English, we played, took photos and even played a little football.  

Teaching in Ethiopia while traveling
Teaching while traveling is both a rewarding experience and reinvigorating for your career. These lovely children followed us across the plateau to say goodbye after we spent the day at their school.
planner, plan, planning-3485976.jpg

The 4-Day-Week International Teacher

For me, one of the best (and unexpected) perks of working at an international school in the UAE came about at the end of 2021, when the government boldly announced that the country would be switching to a 4 or 4.5-day work week.  At first I didn’t believe it, but it did in fact come to be, and here I am, using one of my extra days off each week to write this article. 

The switch came about with the desire to align the calendar with the western markets.  And so, a Sunday – Thursday work week became Monday – Friday, but with only a few hours of work on Friday morning to accommodate midday prayer.  

Some Emirates within the country took it upon themselves to go even further, and mandate only four working days (Monday-Thursday).  My school happens to be in one of these Emirates so, after 18 months of four-day school weeks, I write to share my experiences.  

Sharjah in the UAE
Sharjah in the UAE adopted the 4-day work week at the beginning of 2022.

Is a 4-day work week actually better?  

It’s this question, and countless other similar questions that have been asked of me and by me.  Naturally there are positives and negatives to consider, and I’ll get to those. But, before we answer the big question, perhaps we should start with another, perhaps more pertinent question:

Why the five-day school week?

Or why the 5-day work week at all?  When you step back and remove yourself (as much as one can) from the societal routines that have been ingrained in you, the number seems fairly arbitrary.  Five days out of seven; not 4, not 6.  Five.

Since pre-industrial times religion has played a key part in deciding when a worker can rest but it hasn’t been the only contributing factor.  In Roman times, every eighth day was a nundinae, a market day on which students and the ruling class were exempt from school.  If you were a farm laborer, you were lucky enough to have a day’s reprieve from working in the field to take your produce to market  in the city. How decadent!  A change is as good as a holiday, they say. 

Roman Market
In Ancient Rome, the 8th day of the week was market day. If you were a laborer, you’d get the day off to take your produce to market.

After all the blood and sacrifice of the Revolution, the French Revolutionary calendar only promised workers 1 day off in 10 in a week called la décade.  I’m sure it felt like a decade. 

The soviet calendar had a five or six-day workweek with a color-coded system (various shades of red?) to identify who gets the day off.  

It wasn’t until factory owners and their workers in Britain’s industrial north made a mutual agreement that the modern notion of a weekend took hold.  The agreement: let us finish work at 2pm on Saturday and we’ll come back to work on Monday well rested and sober (more or less).  

Shortly after, in the early 20th century, a cotton mill in New England started giving workers all of Saturday and Sunday off so Jewish workers could practice the Sabbath. 

Things really started moving in the US when, for the first time, a workers union demanded and received the two days off, but it wasn’t until 1938 that a piece of legislation mandated the 40-hour work week in the USA.   That’s less than 90 years of the official five-day work week.  A tiny fraction when you consider the history of human work, but about half of our post-industrial revolution work history.

It would appear that the workweek has been gradually getting shorter, and with good reason.  With technology we’re able to do more.  Also, with modern understanding of human biology and psychology, we know that a rested and happier human is more productive.  But how far should it go, and where’s that sweet spot nestled somewhere between productivity, rest, and contentment? 

In my optimist spin on sometimes-frightening technological advancement, I see humanity eventually doing nothing but leisure activities and passion projects.  If we get it right, and technology allows us to end poverty and inequity, and automation takes care of our every need, we’ll have nothing but time.  Time to enjoy life with our families, engage in activities that move us, or to work on projects which we’re driven to complete for the benefit of all.  I may be getting ahead of myself.  

Back to the 4-day school/work week.

This article is going to be more teacher-focussed.  For the educational, student-focused view point, read my other article on the subject.  But for now, we’re going to focus on us, and why not?  With teachers burning out in higher numbers each year, surely this should be a priority?  After all, what’s good for us will invariably have positive knock on effects for students.  

For me, it has definitely had a net positive effect.  A three-day weekend means I can take care of life admin, socialize, and have a day for myself every weekend.  I do, however, have to work for it.  

To be clear, the change to 4-day weeks wasn’t simply a case of truncating the Friday and being done with it.  To ensure students can get through the same amount of content and fit in multiple classes of all subjects each week, each of the four days had to be extended by about 30 minutes.  It may not seem like much, but with possibly an additional 30 minutes of teaching each day, it does take it out of you.  

On top of that, to ensure that the necessary meetings and professional development can take place, an additional 15 minutes was added to a teacher’s ‘expected attendance’.  Generally, leadership will leave the organizing of personal planning time to the teacher’s discretion, but it’s worth noting that each of those four days are typically longer than a day in the regular five-day week.

So, in terms of total amount of time on the job, rather than simply cutting out the fifth day, teachers have four days + a couple of extra hours.  Each of my colleagues handles this a little differently.  

Some work as late as they need to on their workdays so as to not have any extra work to complete on their three days off.  Others leave as soon as they can on school days, enjoy their afternoons, and then dedicate a few hours to work over the weekend.  

I tend to fall into the former category, although at some times of the year I’ll take home some marking or complete some administrative tasks over the weekend.

Ultimately, for me, it makes for a much more sustainable work/life balance. I now have enough time on the weekends to complete some personal projects, and not simply just recover from the week that has passed.  I’d say the majority of my colleagues feel the same.

Adding to this are the travel opportunities that an extra day off each week affords, especially living in the international hub that is Dubai.  With a wide range of weekend destinations within a few hours’ flight from home, I can quite literally fly out on Thursday evening, spend a few nights on ‘holiday’ and fly back in time to get a good nights’ sleep on Sunday. It’s even possible to treat it as a bit of professional development, as I’ve outlined in my article about learning while traveling.

Just last November, my friends and I had a fancy to visit some traditional Christmas markets, drink Gluhwein, and eat Schnitzel. We made it happen in three days: a flight to Vienna on Thursday evening, a train to Bratislava the next day, and a couple of nights there before flying back to Dubai on Sunday night.  

Teachers enjoying the Christmas markets in Vienna
Christmas markets in Vienna, a possible weekend trip from Dubai with a 3-Day weekend.

There are a couple, however, that would prefer to revert back to the five day week. For them, the augmented work days in the four-day work week are too long and energy draining to make the long weekend worthwhile.  

Even after 18 months of the 4-day work week, we still don’t yet know the full benefits, drawbacks, or long term effects.  This goes for both students and teachers.  My article on student achievement in a four-day work week sheds more light on this.

The truth of the matter is that at some point, we may need to decide whether we’re working to push students and ourselves to reach the highest academic results possible, or whether we aim for a higher purpose.  Perhaps there’s a more meaningful and holistic path of human education, one that values progress and achievement but not at the cost of societal values.

Teacher leans drumming in Rwanda

How Music and Arts Education is helping Rwandan communities

An international teacher visits a creative arts school in Kigali, Rwanda, and learns how they’re funding programs through the outcomes of student learning itself.  Can ‘western’ institutions benefit by using the same model?

If you’re reading this, chances are you also believe that Music and Arts education is one of the richest experiences for a child. Align this with cultural traditions and the activation of communities and you’re providing a rich experience for many.  Many communities in Africa take these experiences one step further, capitalizing on the talent of their students to fund their education. 

I’m an international teacher, specializing in Music, Performing Arts, and English, so visiting this school was right up my alley!

In an earlier article about how to learn on vacation, I made particular reference to learning a musical instrument on holiday.  Not only is it an incredible experience to learn a new and unique instrument, or get a masterclass in a particular genre, but it opens up a range of unique cultural experiences that you’ll only get from the inside of the community. 

On one of these musical adventures, I took on African drumming in Kigali, Rwanda. I linked up with the Irembo Foundation through my host.  The Arts school, which teaches artistic painting, drumming, singing, and dance, is a centre for the community and a regular spot for children, teenagers, and adults to get to together in the evening or on a weekend. My learning started with watching and listening, followed by dancing, before my teacher, Cyusa started to teach me some drumming rudiments.  For someone with a classical music background, this was a novel way to approach learning rhythm.  With no reference to a beat number, and with the cyclic nature of the patterns, I had to learn to go with the flow, and not count, count, count.

International teacher learning African drumming in Rwanda
Rwandan drumming lessons for a classically trained musician meant disregarding the idea of counting!

As I started to become familiar with the center, it became clear that this was very much a holistic approach to learning in the Arts.  At some point, each student would try all the various disciplines before finding their biggest passion.  And in the area of Music and Dance, which is more or less treated as one and the same art form, an unofficial, yet strictly adhered-to, hierarchy is followed.  Children start as Dancers, start developing their singing, learn to drum as part of the ensemble and eventually, become a drum leader.   

On one afternoon was a particularly large practice held in the front courtyard.  A 4-piece drum ensemble warmed up, while male and female dances practiced a popular partnered courting dance.  Eventually, when all came together, they raised their voices in chorus, and the spectacle of rhythm, dance and singing that left me speechless.  My teacher, Cyusa, interrupted my jaw-dropped bliss to inform me that it was a rehearsal for a wedding performance and that a family had paid the foundation a lot of money to have such a large ensemble at the wedding.

In fact, this was one of their biggest sources of revenue – wedding performances.   Weddings in Rwanda are big affairs, and families want to have the biggest display of cultural pride and energetic atmosphere.  The young performers who bring their youthful passion to their music and dance performances provide this and more.  The money that comes into the foundation from these events goes into the schooling costs of the children, including resources and clothing.

Rwandan students at an arts school practise for a wedding
Students practice a dance for a wedding, for which the school will be paid.

Back inside the foundation, more artistic promotion is going on.  Children learn to paint and create traditional crafts.  The craft items, such as accessories, clothes, interior decorations are sold to visitors.  As children develop their artistic craft they get their works featured on the walls of the gallery, with prices reflecting the obvious progression.  And for all this, the children are taught to paint and create for free; the only catch being that once their work goes up for sale, a percentage of the proceeds go back to the foundation and into their schooling.

These type of co-curricular or extracurricular activities are already a major component of student learning.  I’ve already touched on the benefits of such activities to a reduced school hours. While there are obvious problems that may arise from the commoditization of learning outcomes for children, if carried out with the children’s education as top priority, the benefits could be exponential and cyclical.  An arts education – to real world experience – that leads to funding to further their education –to real world experiences…

Is this a model of Arts funding that could be applied more directly elsewhere?  In the schools I’ve worked in, we’ve often sold tickets to help cover the production costs of musicals and other concerts, but perhaps we’re not thinking big enough. 

Music and dance schools could offer grand performances suited to weddings, parties, or corporate events.  Why not include an educational aspect to it; hire a dance school to do a workshop at the function, or group drumming.  I believe that actual engagement and participation is the next great level for entertainment, a type of full circle for the evolution of music and dance.  There will be professionals, or leaders, but everyone will be involved. If there’s one experience more cathartic than listening to your favorite artist live at a show, it’s producing that music itself and sharing it with other humans.

Teachers meet inside an art school in Rwanda
Inside the Irembo foundation Art Gallery, where student works are showcased and sold.

Art programs could do the same, teaching students to create crafts that can be sold directly to the community, or even using a platform like Etsy.  More advanced students could gain the real-world experience of selling their works, liaising with galleries and clients, and even earning real money.

While I have reservations about the commodification of the Arts and Arts education in general, I am realistic to the sometimes-transactional nature of the society we live in.  I received a high-end conservatory-based music education and I am incredibly grateful for everything I learned but I was missing the real-world experience of turning my Art into a business or profession. Music and Arts leaders should be a guide and champion for young artists; the outcomes not only benefit the student but the institution (big or small) and the teacher themselves.