MEET THE TEACHER: MR. JO

Meet our Music teacher, Mr. Jo!

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I am from New Zealand, my wife and two daughters moved to Germany in 2025. I have spent the last 20+ years writing, recording and touring music around the world.

What first sparked your love for Music, and how do you try to pass that same spark on to your students at ISW?

Music has always been a consistent for me in life, whether it’s listening to it or making it. That feeling of creating something from nothing is like nothing else for me, and that is one of the biggest things I try to pass on.

If a student asks, 'When will I ever use this in real life?', what is your favorite example or project you share with them to prove its value?

Music is about problem solving and overcoming fears of ‘I can’t do this' or 'it’s too hard’ and in ‘real life’ that feeling never goes away.

What is one specific concept or topic in your subject that students usually find challenging at first, but absolutely love once they 'get' it?

Working together/playing as one, it’s so much harder than it looks but when it clicks, it’s always so cool to watch.

Describe what a typical 'high-energy' day looks like in your classroom. What are the students doing, creating, or discussing?

Lot’s of singing, analysing music, playing beat games, and being introduced to new instruments.

What is a 'fun fact' or a surprising part of your subject that most people don’t know about?

When we make music with others or experience a concert in a group, for example, another wondrous bodily substance comes into play. Oxytocin – the so-called bonding hormone – is said to promote trust and affection between people. As a result, you automatically feel comfortable and secure in a community.