For the young musician, the journey is often confined to the practice room: the four walls, the familiar stand, the trusted instrument. It is a world of disciplined repetition and personal exploration. But last Wednesday, October 22nd, the walls of the practice room dissolved for the IB Music students of Shanghai United International School (SUIS) Gubei. They stepped out of their academic cocoon and into the vibrant, pulsating heart of the global music industry at the Music China 2025 expo in Shanghai.
对于年轻的音乐人而言，音乐之路往往局限于练习室的方寸之间：四面墙壁、熟悉的谱架，以及那把得心应手的乐器。这是一个需要严谨重复练习、专注个人探索的世界。在10月22日上周三，协和古北的IB音乐学子们，打破了练习室的“围墙”,走出校园，踏入2025中国（上海）国际乐器展的现场，沉浸式感受全球音乐行业充满活力、脉动不息的核心地带。
This was not merely a field trip; it was a day that redefined their understanding of music, transforming it from a subject of study to a living, breathing world of infinite possibilities.
这绝非一次普通的校外考察，这一天彻底重塑了学生们对音乐的认知——将音乐从一门需要学习的学科，转变为一个鲜活生动、拥有无限可能的世界。
The International Baccalaureate Music curriculum is renowned for its holistic approach, demanding not just performance proficiency, but also a deep understanding of music theory, history, and the socio-cultural contexts of sound. Music China 2025 became the ultimate three-dimensional textbook. As the students navigated the sprawling halls of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the abstract concepts from their classrooms suddenly gained tangible form.
IB音乐课程以其全面性著称，不仅要求学生具备精湛的演奏技巧，还需深入理解音乐理论、音乐史，以及声音背后的社会文化背景。而 2025中国（上海）国际乐器展，俨然成为了一本“终极立体教科书”。当学子们穿梭在上海新国际博览中心的展厅中时，课堂上那些抽象的概念，突然有了具象的形态。
They saw the principles of acoustics they had studied in physics come to life in the design of a grand piano’s soundboard or the body of a handcrafted violin. They witnessed the global nature of music commerce, understanding how a reed from France, a string from Germany, and wood from Canada converge in Shanghai to create a single, beautiful instrument.
协和古北学子们亲眼见证，曾在物理课上学过的声学原理，通过三角钢琴音板的设计，手工制作的小提琴琴身“活”了过来；他们还亲身感受到了音乐产业的全球化属性——来自法国的簧片、德国的琴弦、加拿大的木材，都在上海汇聚，共同打造出一件精美的乐器。
“In class, we learn about the industry as a concept,” reflected one Grade 11 student, a violinist. “But here, you can hear it, touch it, and talk to the people who make it happen. It connects all the dots.”
一位11年级的协和古北小提琴学子说道：“在课堂上，我们对音乐行业的理解只是一个抽象概念，但在这里，你能听见它、触摸它，还能和幕后从业者交流。所有碎片化的知识瞬间串联了起来。”
One of the most profound experiences of the day was the opportunity for students to interact directly with master luthiers, brand ambassadors, and virtuoso performers. This was not a passive observation but an active dialogue, a chance to ask the questions that linger in the inquisitive minds of an IB student.
当天最深刻的体验之一，是学子们有机会与制琴大师、品牌代表以及演奏家直接交流。这并非被动的观察，而是一场主动的对话——IB学子们心中萦绕已久的疑问，终于有了提问的契机。
“For a young musician, the instrument can sometimes feel like a separate entity,” shared Mr. Hernan Castro, the IB Music Head of Department at SUIS Gubei, who chaperoned the trip. “To speak with the people who build, maintain, and master these instruments demystifies them. It forges a deeper, more respectful relationship between the player and their tool. These interactions are invaluable; they provide mentorship and insight that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.”
此次带队参观的协和古北IB音乐部门主管Hernan Castro先生表示：“对年轻音乐人来说，乐器有时更像一个‘独立存在’的物件。与乐器的制造者、维护者和演奏大师交流，能揭开乐器的‘神秘面纱’，让学子与自己的‘演奏伙伴’建立更深层次、更具敬畏心的联结。这些互动价值连城，它们所带来的指导与洞见，是课堂永远无法复刻的。”
The SUIS Gubei music program is well-equipped with quality instruments, but Music China offered a glimpse into a world of unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation. The expo floor became a hands-on sonic playground where students were encouraged to try, test, and explore.
协和古北的音乐课程配备了优质乐器，但2025中国（上海）国际乐器展，为学子们打开了一扇通往极致工艺与创新技术的大门。展会现场化作了一个“可触摸的声音乐园”，学子们可以尽情试奏、测试各类乐器，探索音乐的更多可能。
Our guitarists had the rare chance to compare the warm, resonant tones of a 50,000 RMB handcrafted classical guitar with the bright, crisp sound of a state-of-the-art electric model. Our pianists had the opportunity to play in the same concert pianos that their idols have played before. Our percussionists explored a world beyond the standard school drum kit, experimenting with exotic cajóns, intricate tabla sets, and sophisticated electronic drum pads that responded to their every touch with lightning-fast precision.
吉他学子们获得了难得的机会：将价值5万元的手工古典吉他所发出的温暖共鸣音色，与最先进的电吉他明亮清脆的音质进行对比；钢琴学子们得以弹奏那些曾被自己偶像弹奏过的演奏级钢琴；打击乐学子们则跳出学校标准鼓组的局限，尝试演奏充满异域风情的卡洪鼓、结构精巧的塔布拉鼓，以及反应极速精准的高端电子鼓垫——每一次触碰，都能即时得到细腻反馈。
The joy on their faces was palpable as they tried every instrument and connected with the industry experts, reinforcing the IB learner profile attribute of being risk-takers and inquirers.
当学子们尝试各类乐器、与行业专家交流时，脸上洋溢的喜悦肉眼可见。这一过程，也印证了IB学习者培养目标中“勇于尝试”与“积极探究”的核心素养。
“This was about developing their musical ear in the most direct way possible,” commented Ms. Susan Qin, a music teacher at SUIS Gubei. “By playing a high-end model violin or a Steingraeber concert grand, they are internalizing a benchmark of sound quality. They are learning what excellence truly feels and sounds like, which will inform their own practice and artistic standards for years to come.”
协和古北音乐老师Susan Qin表示：“我们希望通过最直接的方式，培养学子们的‘音乐耳’，无论是弹奏高端小提琴，还是Steingraeber演奏级三角钢琴，他们都在潜移默化中建立起音质的‘标杆’。他们会亲身体会‘卓越’究竟是什么触感、什么声音——这份认知，将在未来多年里影响他们的练习方式与艺术追求。”
The IB Diploma Programme prepares students not just for university, but for life. The Music China expo provided a crucial lesson in the “business of melody,” showing students the vast network of careers that support the art form they love. This aligns perfectly with the IB’s mission to develop caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect—in this case, understanding the global community of music.
IB文凭项目不仅为学生的大学之路做准备，更为他们的人生奠定基础。2025中国（上海）国际乐器展为学子们上了关键一课——关于 “旋律背后的产业”，让他们看到支撑自己所热爱艺术形式的庞大职业网络。这与IB的教育使命高度契合：培养有爱心的年轻人，通过跨文化理解与尊重，助力构建更美好、更和平的世界。在此次活动中，这份“理解”便体现为对全球音乐社群的认知。
They saw marketing professionals at work, demonstrating how new products are launched. They observed the logistics of global distribution and retail. They engaged with audio engineers at cutting-edge recording technology booths, learning about the science of capturing sound. For students considering a future in arts management, music production, music therapy, or instrument manufacturing, this was a career fair of epic proportions.
协和古北的学子们看到了市场营销专家如何工作，了解新产品如何推向市场；他们观察了全球分销与零售的物流链路；他们在尖端录音技术展台与音频工程师交流，学习声音录制背后的科学原理。对于那些考虑未来从事艺术管理、音乐制作、音乐治疗或乐器制造的学生而言，这场展会堪称一场“史诗级”的职业博览会。
The trip to Music China 2025 was a powerful affirmation of SUIS Gubei’s commitment to experiential learning. It provided a critical bridge between the theoretical framework of the IB curriculum and the dynamic, real-world application of their skills and passions. The students returned to campus not just as more knowledgeable musicians, but as more connected, inspired, and well-rounded individuals.
此次2025中国（上海）国际乐器展之行，充分彰显了协和古北对“体验式学习”的坚持。它搭建起一座关键桥梁，连接起IB课程的理论框架，与学子们技能、热情在现实世界中的动态应用。重回校园时，学子们不仅成为了更懂音乐的学习者，更成长为更具联结力、更富灵感、更全面发展的个体。
This experience has undoubtedly planted seeds of curiosity and ambition that will continue to grow, reinforcing their journey as true lifelong learners and shaping them into the creative and critical thinkers the world needs.
这段经历无疑播下了好奇与志向的种子，这些种子将持续生长，为他们“终身学习者”的旅程注入力量，助力他们成长为世界所需的、兼具创造力与批判性思维的人才。
The echo of the expo will resonate far beyond a single day; it will be heard in their future practice sessions, their upcoming compositions, their university applications, and ultimately, in their lifelong journey with music.
展会的“回响”将远不止于这一天：它会融入到协和古北音乐学子们未来的练习时光、即将创作的乐曲、大学申请的材料中，最终伴随他们一生的音乐旅程。
written by
Hernan Castro, IB Music Head of Department