Monsieur Autio is a teacher in Richmond, BC, Canada whose current assignment is intermediate French Immersion. Monsieur Autio is a francophile and musician who is a product of the French Immersion program. This led him to attend the University of Ottawa where he was able to study music in French! Following his undergraduate he attended the University of Victoria where he continued his studies of the euphonium under the mentorship of Eugene Dowling and music education with particular specialization in instrumental band and Kodály-inspired choral music education.
His early career began in Campbell River, BC where he was mentored by Darlene Ngo during which time his involvement with the Kodály Society of British Columbia (KSBC) and the Kodály Society of Canada (KSC) began. Upon moving to Vancouver, he has worked in elementary schools as a music specialist, Kindergarten teacher, and French Immersion teacher in addition to directing children’s choirs in the region. His focus shifted during the pandemic towards taking on the role of mentor to student teachers for French Immersion and fitness.
Monsieur Autio’s practice is a blend of his expertise incorporating Kodály-inspired sequential ideas and singing into the French Immersion experience and inquiry-based teaching. What speaks to Monsieur Autio the most of Kodály-inspired education is the intentionality it calls the teacher to have. Music is a powerful human phenomenon; the power of music lays in community that it promotes – the ensemble amplifies our individual voices and requires each member to listen and work towards something greater than themself. The same can be said for all of education, we must learn to be independent citizens who help one another and uplift each other’s voice.
Monsieur Autio’s approach is equally highly influenced by his partner, Mr. Tong, who helped him realize how the BC Curriculum is structured by learning processes. He enjoys exploring big ideas with his students via themes derived by the First People’s Principles of Learning, guiding them towards becoming independent learners through the different processes of inquiry. He is proud to have witnessed students achieve lofty goals such as advocating and having the installation of a rainbow crosswalk at Homma Elementary, hosting a Charity Fair, and performing regularly for the school community at assemblies and performance as well as a special Café evening for our class’ family community. Over all of that, he is most proud of witnessing students’ grow their individual voices not only when singing but in their writing and reflective capacities.
Monsieur Autio 