Nord Anglia International School Al Khor’s very own Head of Performing Arts, Ms. Laura Opperman, has recently assumed the role of Nord Anglia Education Regional Lead for Juilliard, a position she describes as beyond her wildest dreams: "I still need to pinch myself to believe that I actually got the job." This role builds on her deep-rooted passion for music education, which she has pursued since her early career at NAISAK, where she implemented Juilliard-based classes.
In her new capacity, Opperman plans to ensure schools in the region are employing the most effective applications of The Juilliard School curriculum. She remarks, "My main job would be to get other schools involved and implement the Juilliard curriculum with them," emphasizing her commitment to expanding the program's reach.
The Juilliard School, widely regarded as the world’s foremost and renown private performing arts conversatory, was founded in 1905. Its name is synonymous with excellence, boasting faculty of distinguished artists and education, possessing a highly-selective admissions process, producing outstanding alumni and offering rigorous training programs in dance, drama and music. Also, their innovative curriculum and instructional approach provides best practices for learning and teaching in the evolving landscape of the performing arts.
Reflecting on her teaching philosophy, Opperman emphasizes the importance of music as a universal language: "Music is a universal language – if you learn how to read music notes, then you can learn how to read a song in Qatar, Brazil, America, Africa or anywhere in the world." Also, students participating in music and performing arts at NAISAK develop a broad skill set and transferrable skills applicable to all subjects. Along with developing language skills, research shows how reasoning skills are enhanced, hand-eye coordination and motor skills are increased, the ability to creatively think is boosted and maths aptitude is enriched through pattern recognition – across all curriculums.
She also speaks about the transformative impact of music on students: "To watch a student have this (aha) moment where they realize they can understand any song in the world, in any language, and really connect with it is why I do what I do." In fact, one of her students, Mehron Taylor, recalls one time when he initially struggled playing a new instrumental, the ukelele. He fondly recollects, “she showed me famous songs played on the ukelele and her teaching approach helped me more easily remember the right notes and chords to play.” As a result, Mehron received 3rd place in the Nord Anglia Education Global Campus Virtual Musician of the Year competition in 2023 and is steadily progressing as a multi-instrumentalist.
Opperman's approach to teaching is inclusive and adaptive, focusing on cultural understanding and student-centered learning: "Cultural barriers will always change and you need to be liquid, you need to flow with it." Because NAISAK is proud to be a premium, world-class British-international school that’s enriched by Qatari culture, heritage and experiences, Opperman has fostered a rich, diverse and comprehensive performing arts program that also shows respect and homage to a wide array of cultures through her curriculum design, classroom activities, performances, teacher training sessions and community engagement and collaborations.
In her quest to further enrich the educational experience through music, Opperman aims to gather insights and lesson plans from diverse educational settings: "We will see how other schools do it and how they break barriers. Then, we would know how to make a tailor-fit curriculum and journey for our students."
Overall, her dedication to music education is palpable as she looks forward to collaborating with educators and specialists to enhance the curriculum and community at NAISAK and beyond.
