Garv Grover · Lead Educator of Music & Music Technology · Composer

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Orchestrating musical culture across premiere international schools and world-class institutions.

Garv Grover is qualified in Music and Music Technology, an internationally recognised music educator whose practice bridges rigorous pedagogy with artistic excellence. Across a decade of inspiring young minds to working with premier international schools, he has consistently developed and nurtured a school wide culture of music that blends academic excellence with impactful musicianship and showmanship among pupils.

"Music must transcend the classroom walls; it must be lived as the cultural ethos of a school, composing a shared identity and sustaining an atmosphere where creativity, in constant metamorphosis, breathes and evolves."

From Early Years foundations to A-Level specifications, Garv architects schemes of work that progress students from play-based musicianship through notation literacy into independent composition and professional-grade production. His students have gained offers from leading UK universities, including the University of West London.

10+Years Teaching

5×Dubai Opera

CarnegieHall Invitee

LET US TALK

Schedule a Conversation

Welcoming inspiring leaders for a cerebral conversation, an introductory chat or discovery meeting to discuss curriculum leadership, music department strategy, or consultancy for your institution.

Book 30-min Meeting Email Directly

garvgroverofficial@gmail.com

+971 56 150 6296

DOMAIN OF EXPERTISE

A jack of all and a master at some, oftentimes better than a master of one.

♪

Music Technology

DAW-led production, recording, mixing, mastering.

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IB Framework

MYP and DP Music delivery, assessment and reporting.

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British Curriculum

National Curriculum from EYFS to Key Stage 3.

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A-Level Examinations

Edexcel A-Level Music and Music Technology specification.

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NCFE Examinations

Level 2 Music Technology certification delivery.

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Pastoral Leadership

Form tutoring and student welfare responsibilities.

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Events Organisation

Concerts, recitals, productions and showcases.

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Board Compliance

Education board standards and regulatory frameworks.

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Governance Policy

Safeguarding and departmental policy authorship.

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Departmental Planning

Strategic development planning and annual targets.

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Budgeting

Resource allocation and capital expenditure forecasting.

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Fundraising & Revenue

Departmental fundraising and revenue mapping.

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Curriculum Architect

Scheme of work design and Bloom's progression mapping.

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Vocal & Choral Direction

Solo tuition, ensemble leadership, choir conducting.

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Composition & Arranging

Film scoring, original composition, ensemble arrangement.

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A/V Content Production

Video editing, visual content creation, documentation.

MEET THE TEACHER

A lifelong learner, committed to craft and curiosity.

Garv Grover brings a rare combination of artistic credibility and institutional discipline to every classroom he leads. His journey spans classical training, contemporary production, postgraduate business study and, most recently, the formal study of law. This breadth informs a pedagogy that honours both the artistry and the architecture of music education.

Many former mentees now study at leading music conservatoires and universities around the world.

Invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, New York, and five times at the prestigious Dubai Opera.

Directed creative content for the United Nations Climate Change and United Nations Iraq initiatives.

A lifelong learner currently reading Law alongside music leadership practice.

TeachingLearningPerformingCreatingLitigating

EXHIBITION OF ARTISTIC SHOWMANSHIP

Performances at the Dubai Opera.

DUBAI OPERA · 13 DECEMBER 2023

Sacred Majesty in Sound: The Timeless Sublimity of Handel's Messiah

A monumental cornerstone of Western sacred music, Messiah unfolded with resplendent choral and orchestral force. From the hushed reverence of prophecy to the exultant triumph of the "Hallelujah" chorus, the performance channelled both spiritual gravitas and musical brilliance. Rendered by the Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra and Dubai Festival Chorus, the work stood as an enduring testament to the transcendent power of composition where faith, form, and human expression converged in sublime harmony.

DUBAI OPERA · 9 AND 10 MAY 2024

The Eternal Soundscape of Morricone: A Legacy Conducted, A Genius Revered

A profound homage, performed across two shows at the Dubai Opera, to one of the most influential composers in cinematic history. This concert transcended performance to become an act of cultural remembrance. Under the baton of Andrea Morricone, the maestro's legacy was rekindled through sweeping orchestrations that defined generations of storytelling. Each note resonated with cinematic memory, evoking landscapes of emotion, tension, and transcendence. It was not merely a concert, but a continuation of Morricone's immortal dialogue with the world.

Pirates of the Caribbean Live to Film at Dubai Opera

DUBAI OPERA · 12 MAY 2024

Cinematic Spectacle Reimagined: A Symphonic Odyssey of Pirates and Legend

An immersive convergence of cinema and symphonic grandeur, this live-to-film experience transformed Pirates of the Caribbean into a visceral orchestral voyage. As the full score surged through a live ensemble in perfect synchrony with the screen, audiences were drawn into a heightened sensory narrative where swashbuckling adventure met the precision and power of live musical storytelling. It stood as a masterclass in contemporary film scoring, brought vividly to life.

CREDENTIALS & ACADEMIC FORMATION

A lifetime of curiosity and more than a decade of scholarship in music, pedagogy, educational leadership, business and law.

Bachelor of Performing Arts

Major in Music Technology

4 year full-time course

Master of Performing Arts

Music

2 year full-time course

Bachelor of Education

Music and English Pedagogy

2 year full-time course

Corporate Post Graduate Diploma

International Business

2 year course

NPQLT

National Professional Qualification in Leading Teaching

1 year qualification · Department for Education, UK

IBDP Cat 2 · Music

International Baccalaureate Organisation

Berklee College of Music

Specialised in Music Education, Music Production, Music Business and Copyright Law

Yale University

Classical Music specialisation

RSL Awards, London

Grade 8 Vocals (Distinction), Grade 8 Music Technology, Grade 4 Guitar

Law Student

Studying Law for the enduring Pursuit of Juridical Thought and Justice.

All India Rank #1

Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute entrance (PG Diploma in Film Sound & Music Composition)

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Distinguished Qualifications and CPD: The Dialectic of Learning to Lead and Leading to Teach.

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION, UK

The Apex of Pedagogical Leadership: Mastery in Leading Teaching

A flagship qualification in educational leadership, NPQLT represents the synthesis of theory, research, and practice at the highest level. It refined expertise in instructional leadership, curriculum coherence, and teacher development, positioning leadership not as authority, but as the disciplined craft of elevating teaching and learning across an institution.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Global Pedagogy in Practice: Advancing Mastery in IB Music Education

An intensive engagement with the philosophical and practical frameworks of the IB Diploma Programme, this workshop deepened expertise in inquiry-driven, concept-based music education. It expanded the capacity to deliver globally benchmarked learning experiences where creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness converge within a rigorous academic structure.

THE NATIONAL COLLEGE · CPD CERTIFIED

Directing Excellence: Strategic Leadership in the Performing Arts

An advanced engagement with subject leadership that interrogated the intersection of curriculum design, performance pedagogy, and institutional vision. This certification strengthened the capacity to lead performing arts with both artistic integrity and strategic clarity, shaping departments that are not only creatively vibrant but pedagogically rigorous.

THE NATIONAL COLLEGE · CPD CERTIFIED

Intelligence Reimagined: Navigating the Pedagogical Frontier of AI

A forward-looking exploration into the role of artificial intelligence in education, this certification examined how emerging technologies can augment teaching, personalise learning, and redefine assessment. It positioned pedagogy within a rapidly evolving digital paradigm where innovation is not optional, but essential.

THE NATIONAL COLLEGE · CPD CERTIFIED

Leadership in Motion: Driving Institutional Excellence Through Practice

Focused on the mechanics of impactful middle leadership, this programme cultivated the ability to translate vision into measurable school improvement. It reinforced the role of the educator as both practitioner and change-maker, aligning team development, data-informed strategy, and sustained academic progress.

THE NATIONAL COLLEGE · CPD CERTIFIED

Ethics in Action: Safeguarding as the Foundation of Educational Trust

An essential reaffirmation of the educator's duty of care, this certification reinforced safeguarding as a non-negotiable pillar of professional practice. It underscored vigilance, responsibility, and ethical clarity, ensuring that student wellbeing remains central to all pedagogical and institutional decisions.

ORIGINAL MUSIC & ARTISTRY

When creative pedagogy and artistic mentorship also becomes Praxis.

Stream on Spotify

Stream on Apple Music

Over time, this song grew into something much deeper: a reflection on love, longing, and letting go. What started as a heartfelt whisper to one person is now a song I offer to the world. I hope it finds you when you need it most.

Anhad is a celestial ode to self-love inspiring you to find abundance and love within before expressing love to another. Through soulful verses, it speaks of flying free, embracing one's own dreams, and becoming limitless in love by first being complete in solitude. It's for the seeker, the one ready to rise and love from abundance, not lack thereof. "Tera aasra mein, tera ghar mein, yeh izhaar mera munasaib hai? Kya chahta batade hoon Anhad mein".

An ode to unconditional love, its loss and a hope for its reincarnation. This is not just a song, it's the circle of life.

Music Videos

Tere Hone Se — Official Music Video

Anhad — Lyrical Video

Drowning Deep

Unreleased Demos & Upcoming Music

Rahi — EP

English Cover Songs

Hindi Cover Songs

HOW I INSPIRE CREATIVITY

The Art of Becoming

A philosophy of creative practice I share with every student I teach. Why making good art matters more than ever.

Sir Ian McKellen reads Kurt Vonnegut's letter to a high school: the enduring case for practising art in order to make your soul grow.

01

When did you last create something?

Not for a grade, not for money, not for followers. Just because it brought you joy. Every artist's story begins not with talent or training, but with resistance.

02

Art is not a luxury. It is oxygen.

Medicine, law and engineering sustain life. Poetry, beauty, romance and love are what we stay alive for. Art is how we metabolise life.

03

This is how civilizations heal.

Toni Morrison reminded us that in times of crisis, artists go to work. Art is how we resist oppression, process trauma and reimagine the future.

04

Steal like an artist.

Austin Kleon invites us to surround ourselves with the artists we love, study their work and remix it through our own lens.

05

Show your work.

Progress over perfection. Let your art be a conversation, not a monologue. Every sketch and demo is a breadcrumb in the story of your becoming.

06

Keep going.

Forget the noun. Do the verb. The goal is not to be famous or flawless. It is to be consistent.

07

The road to mastery.

Robert Greene: find your Life's Task, become an apprentice, practise deliberately. Mastery is method, patience and obsession.

08

Defeat resistance.

Steven Pressfield: "Resistance will always be there. But it doesn't get a vote." A professional shows up anyway.

09

The hidden power of a gift.

Seth Godin: "A true gift creates an imbalance. That imbalance creates motion." Give your art to the world as a gift.

10

Find your why.

Simon Sinek: "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." Let purpose shape your ethos.

11

Be a global citizen.

Collaborate across cultures. Share ideas, not ego. Build bridges, not pedestals. Creativity knows no borders.

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So go make something.

And give it away. Creating art is not only about beauty. It is about bravery. The world needs more brave people who create anyway.

BRITISH CURRICULUM SCHEMES OF WORK

How I architect whole-school music programmes.

A coherent pathway from play-based musicianship through notation literacy into composition and production independence. UAE context integrated throughout. Bloom's progression mapped to every unit. Every term culminates in an authentic musical outcome.

01

Play-based musicianship

→

02

Notation literacy

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03

Composition

→

04

Production independence

EYFS

Ages 4 to 5 · Foundations of Musicianship

Term 1 · Me, My Voice & My World

Singing nursery rhymes and action songs, finding and keeping a steady pulse, loud and quiet contrasts, body percussion, turn-taking and listening.

Term 2 · Nature & Growing Sounds

Vocal sound effects, instrument choices for characters, rhythm patterns, sequencing sounds, musical storytelling.

UAE Context

Emirati percussion through Ayala rhythm patterns, National Day songs, Arabic children's songs, desert and wildlife soundscapes.

KS1

Years 1 and 2 · Pulse, Pattern and Voice

Year 1

Pulse, rhythm and the singing voice. Call and response chants. Soundscapes and group composition. UAE drumming and Arabic folk repertoire.

Year 2

Rhythm Lab with pulse, pattern and groove. Reading ta, ti-ti and rest notation. Layered ostinato and ensemble coordination. Graphic scores for composition planning.

KS2

Years 3 to 6 · The Architecture of Music

Years 3 and 4

Rhythm architecture and internalised pulse. Staff notation with crotchets, quavers and rests. Syncopation, ostinato and texture. Introduction to film music and scene scoring.

Years 5 and 6

Polyrhythms and groove design with compound and simple metre. Leitmotif writing, orchestration, and film, game and media scoring. Conducting, cueing and arranging leadership.

KS3

Years 7 to 9 · Precision, Performance and Production

Year 7

Rhythm, groove and ensemble precision with staff notation including semiquavers. Film and media music with leitmotif creation and scoring to visuals.

Years 8 and 9

Advanced rhythm with polyrhythm (3:2, 4:3) and complex syncopation. Thematic development, orchestration, critical listening and independent ensemble roles.

KS4 · KS5

GCSE Music · NCFE Level 2 Music Technology · A-Level Music · A-Level Music Technology

GCSE Music

Performance foundations and ensemble fluency. Western classical tradition, set works, composition portfolios and listening exam mastery.

NCFE Level 2 Music Technology

DAW setup and signal flow, multi-track recording, creative genre production, mixing and mastering. Exemplary results delivered with Wave 2 SEND learners.

A-Level Music (Edexcel 9MU0)

Recital craft, vocal music analysis, brief and commission composition, fusions, exam mastery and portfolio submission.

A-Level Music Technology (Edexcel)

Studio fundamentals, editing and mixing lab, live-brief recording, producing and analysing under timed exam conditions.

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

How an outstanding music lesson looks.

A walkthrough of the pedagogical architecture that shapes every lesson, from the moment students enter the room to the moment they perform.

01

Entry Routine & Essential Agreements

Silent, purposeful settling into the music classroom. Hands raised to speak. Respectful, careful handling of instruments. Consideration for every learner in the room. Relishing every aspect of music-making.

02

Retrieval Practice & Prior Knowledge Check

Lessons open with an entry task targeting prior-learning retrieval. Low-stakes and high-challenge, this revisits treble clef, bass clef and grand staff concepts before new learning is introduced, ensuring durable long-term memory formation.

03

Learning Objectives & Student Voice

We are understanding, applying, performing and creating pitch notation across treble clef, bass clef and grand staff using the keyboard. Students reword the objective in their own voice, taking ownership of the learning journey.

04

Metacognition in Practice

Students are explicitly taught to think about their thinking. Through planning, monitoring and evaluating their own musical decisions, they develop the self-regulation skills that allow them to reach the highest level of learning in every lesson and transfer that agency into independent practice.

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING · LOW-STAKES COMPETITIVE QUIZZING

Kahoot reflection as retrieval reinforcement.

Every lesson closes with a five-minute Kahoot retrieval quiz. The competitive format makes retrieval joyful and memorable, reinforcing long-term memory without creating anxiety. The lesson culminates in keyboard repertoire: Select, Practise, Perform.

ADAPTIVE TEACHING

Bloom's Taxonomy in a music lesson.

Every lesson scales learners from foundational recall into independent creative mastery. The staircase below shows how each lesson level progresses students through the full cognitive spectrum.

1

Remember

Recognise notes on the treble and bass clef using mnemonics.

2

Understand

Explain pitch, duration and the grand staff relationship.

3

Apply

Perform a notated passage on the keyboard with both hands.

4

Analyse

Compare melodic contour and harmonic function within a piece.

5

Evaluate

Critique peer performances with constructive feedback.

6

Create

Compose an original melody using the grand staff.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

The Circle of Three Rs.

A visual framework I follow for excellent behaviour management in every classroom I lead.

3Rs

Routine

Relationship

Reward

Routine

Establishing clear essential agreements and consistent habits. Greeting students personally as they arrive and checking in with each of them as they leave. Predictable structure is the foundation of safety and learning.

Relationship

Building positive rapport with every student. Ensuring a psychologically safe space for creative expression. Modelling and celebrating achievements as well as exemplary behaviour, so that excellence becomes the classroom culture.

Reward

Acknowledging, celebrating and recognising active engagement, initiative, learner agency, collaboration and both relative and adaptive success. Reward is not transactional. It is the public affirmation of growth.

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

A decade-long voyage that some call experience.

Sep 2024 · Present

Music Lead Educator

The Arbor School, Dubai

BSO Outstanding. Delivering outstanding A-Level Music Technology results. Architecting schemes of work KS3 through A-Level. Coordinating productions, ECA musicals and rock band. Exemplary NCFE L2 outcomes including Wave 2 SEND learners.

Sep · Dec 2023

Music Teacher (Head of Music & PA Cover)

Dwight School Dubai

IB Framework. Enhanced Music Scope and Sequence. Organised outstanding school concerts and talent recital events. Part of Master's degree work experience.

Aug 2022 · 2023

Music & PA Teacher, MUN Director

Collegiate International School, Dubai

Innoventures Education Group. Developed Music Scope per New York curriculum standards within IB framework. Founded MUN club.

Mar 2021 · Jul 2022

Music Teacher

BYJU's Future School, WhiteHat Jr

Delivered UK curriculum globally. Mentored for Trinity College London examinations.

2015 · 2021

Peripatetic Music Educator

Guitar, Vocals, Music Technology

Mentored learners aged 5 through 19 across the UAE and India for graded examinations and original music production.

STUDENTS & THE ARBOR MUSIC CULTURE

Building a music culture from the ground up.

Garv joined The Arbor School, Dubai in September 2024 as Music Lead Educator at a pivotal moment in the school's journey. Arbor is a young and fast-growing institution whose secondary phase was still finding its shape, with its very first Sixth Form cohort on the path to graduating in 2026. Like many schools navigating the post-pandemic landscape, establishing a sustainable and scalable secondary music department was an exciting challenge and a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from first principles.

Over the past year, the music programme has grown into a thriving whole-school culture of performance, production and artistry, spanning instrumental tuition, applied theory, music technology, ECA rock band, musicals and public recitals.

RECENT PRODUCTIONS & MUSICALS

Direction, music direction and live production.

MUSICAL DIRECTION

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr

A full-scale Secondary production at the Arbor Auditorium, staged in association with Urdang International. Live student performers brought Disney's beloved fairytale to the stage across two sold-out evenings.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Arabian Nights

The inaugural Arbor Secondary production and a landmark moment for the school's performing arts journey. A full cast of Key Stage 3 students performed an original adaptation of the classic tale.

LIVE SHOWCASE

Arbor Performing Arts Showcase

Staged at Festival Plaza Mall, Dubai. A public-facing community event featuring musical performances and artistry from primary and secondary students in collaboration with the venue.

WINTER RECITAL

Winter Recital at the Black Box Studio

An intimate evening of music, poetry and public speaking featuring senior and secondary students, complete with welcome drinks and canapés prepared by Sixth Form Food and Nutrition students.

START A CONVERSATION

Yearning to build something extraordinary?

Whether you are recruiting for a Head of Music, planning curriculum design, or commissioning musical direction for a flagship event, I would be glad to hear from you.

Schedule a Meeting

Prefer to talk directly? Book a confidential slot in my calendar.

30 minutes · Introductory MeetingA first conversation to understand your institution and its ambitions. 45 minutes · Curriculum ConsultationA deep dive into curriculum architecture and departmental strategy.

garvgroverofficial@gmail.com

+971 56 150 6296 · +971 50 486 4505

+91 8059 090 404