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Mr. Pagett, band teacher and teacher coordinator for Tri M, conducting during a concert. Photo provided by grade 11 student Jasmine, the vice president of Tri-M.
By: Laura H.
In a world where academic excellence is often recognized with honors societies for subjects like science, math, and language, music students have often felt the absence of a formal organization that celebrates their passion and achievements. According to Mr. Pagett, Modern Music Masters (Tri-M), a music honors society, a newly established program at AISG designed to recognize students for their musical talents, as well as foster their leadership and collaboration skills.
Jasmine says that Tri-M was founded with the purpose of recognizing students who are both talented and passionate in music, as well as to improve the quality of the music classes in AISG. She believes that the introduction of a music honors society means “the start of the music legacy at AISG.”
Not only that, but grade 11 student Owen, the secretary for Tri-M describes this society as an organization that connects musicians and offers them opportunities to perform, collaborate, and grow with fellow musicians.
When asked “What does this organization mean to you?”, grade 11 student Chloe, the treasurer for Tri-M, says that it represents a community where musicians like herself can inspire one another, converse about music, and most importantly, contribute to the community through music.
Grade 10 student Audrey, a member of Tri-M, says, “I am super grateful to be a part of this organization because everyone in Tri-M is very passionate about what they do, it means a lot and it’s great that we have this opportunity to do what we love.” To these students, Tri-M is a place where they and other students passionate about music can connect with one another.
Music, for many people, means more than just a means of entertainment—it’s a source of healing, identity, and so much more. As Mr. Pagett says, “Music was there for me when I felt like I had nobody else. It’s also something I can share with my friends. We may not all play instruments or sing, but we all have our favorite tunes or genres. It’s pretty amazing because no matter where you come from, music is like a common language that brings us all together. Many have said that music is what makes us human, and it’s something I have found to be true.”
Since Tri-M is a music honors society, there is a strict induction process. According to Mr. Pagett, “To join Tri-M, you need to have taken a music class for at least one semester (like Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, or Guitar class), and have a GPA of 5 out of 7 according to the IB scale. We also want to know about your musical skills, your leadership abilities, and the community service you’ve done. Tri-M members need to maintain good grades and stay active in their music class too along with regularly attending meetings.” Thus, Tri-M consists of a select group of students with skills not only in music, but also in leadership, collaboration, and time management.
As for the plans for the upcoming school year, leaders of Tri-M are encouraging members to perform at their busking (the activity of playing music in the street or in another public place for voluntary donations) event, where they play music at a senior home. Which helps raise money to support some of the clubs from our Global Citizenship Education program (community service). “We have already planned our fund (raising) event at FFD (a PTA fundraising event), and we are currently negotiating a date to visit the elder (home) in Nansha,” says Jasmine.
As Tri-M continues to grow, there is hope that it will inspire more students to pursue their musical passions and share them with their peers. With its combination of musical excellence, leadership, and community involvement, the Tri-M Music Honor Society is poised to make a lasting impact on the AISG community.
(For students who are looking to join, please contact ppagett@aisgz.org)
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