About the Authors

Music has always been a big part of my life. I, Anndel Lee Jollie, first touched the keys of a piano when I was young, not knowing then how much music would eventually become part of who I am. What started simply as an interest grew through the years into something I wanted to pursue, study, teach, and share with others.

I spent much of my formative years at Sabah Adventist Secondary School, where I was given many opportunities to be involved in music. It was there that I began to understand that music was more than just playing an instrument. It became a way for me to serve, connect with people, and express things that sometimes could not be put into words.

That journey eventually brought me to the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP), where I pursued my Bachelor of Music in Music Education, majoring in Piano with Voice as my minor. My years at AUP opened a much bigger world of music to me. Aside from performing, I became more interested in arranging, composition, orchestration, conducting, and teaching. I had opportunities to work as a pianist and accompanist, write music, work with other musicians, and learn from people who greatly influenced the musician I am today.

After graduating, another chapter began when I moved to Bangkok, Thailand, and started teaching Music at Ekamai International School. Today, much of my work involves teaching young musicians through keyboard, band, and instrumental music. Teaching has changed the way I look at music. It is one thing to learn something yourself, but it is another experience entirely to watch a student slowly understand it, develop confidence, and eventually make music on their own.

I grew up in Malaysia in a home where music was never far away. One of my earliest and greatest musical influences was my mother, Kathleen Nelver K. Sikul, whose encouragement and guidance played an important part in the musician I would eventually become. The piano gradually became more than an instrument to me—it became a place where I could learn, challenge myself, and express who I was becoming.

My years at Sekolah Menengah Advent Goshen gave me many opportunities to develop that interest. As I became more involved in music, I also became more serious about improving. What began as part of my childhood eventually became something I wanted to pursue professionally.

That decision brought me to Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, where I pursued a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance, majoring in classical piano. University introduced me to a different side of being a musician: long hours of practice, challenging repertoire, performances to prepare for, and the discipline needed to continue even when progress felt slow.

During this time, I had the privilege of studying under lecturers and mentors including Dr. Chai Tse Wei and Prof. Madya Dr. Chong Yew Yoong. Their guidance helped me grow as a pianist and gave me a deeper understanding of music beyond performance.

As the years went by, I discovered another part of music that I came to love just as much—teaching. I became interested in how students learn and how a teacher can help someone develop not only musical skills, but also confidence and a genuine appreciation for music. This eventually led me to pursue a Master's in Music Education at UiTM, which I completed in 2025.

Alongside my studies, I continued teaching at Irama Darling, where working directly with students gave me experiences that could never be learned from textbooks alone. Each student was different, and teaching them continually reminded me that being an educator also means being willing to learn, adjust, listen, and grow.