Alex Mwesa

About Me

My name is Alex Mwesa, and I’m an experienced international music educator, instrumental tutor, and ensemble director. For more than twenty years I’ve taught music across Zambia, Botswana, and now Portugal, working with students from early childhood through secondary school. I specialise in piano and guitar instruction, and I bring a warm, patient, and structured teaching style that helps every learner progress with confidence.

My background includes formal training in musicology and composition, advanced studies in music education, and practical experience across a wide range of school systems including IB (PYP/MYP), Cambridge, and national curricula. I’ve directed choirs, orchestras, marimba and steel-pan ensembles, and guided students to outstanding results in ABRSM-style theory and performance.

I believe strongly in student-centred learning, meeting each student where they are, nurturing their creativity, and building solid technical foundations. Whether a student’s goal is to learn their first chords, prepare for exams, or simply enjoy making music, I aim to make every lesson enjoyable, motivating, and musically enriching.

Now based in Madeira, Portugal, I continue to share my passion for music with local and international learners of all ages.

Alex Mwesa is an accomplished international music educator with over 20 years of teaching experience across Zambia, Botswana, and Portugal. He has taught music from early childhood to secondary levels, working within IB (PYP & MYP), Cambridge, and national curricula. His expertise spans classroom music, piano and guitar instruction, ensemble directing, and curriculum development.

He has held significant roles including Head of Arts, department coordinator, and ensemble director (choir, orchestra, marimba, steel pan, rock band), consistently strengthening programme quality and student participation. Alex has successfully integrated culturally responsive pedagogy, digital music technology, and inquiry-based learning into his teaching practice.

He is also an experienced curriculum writer, having developed comprehensive music theory programmes, interdisciplinary units, and large-scale school productions. His work has contributed to improved learning outcomes, successful accreditation processes, and vibrant performing arts cultures in the schools he has served.

Alex is currently teaching at ISS Madeira, continuing to expand his instrumental programmes and developing community-focused music initiatives.

Alex Mwesa holds advanced qualifications in music and education, including a Master’s degree in Music (2024) with research focused on African xylophone traditions, and a BA Honours in Postgraduate Music Studies from North-West University. He also earned a Bachelor of Musicology from the University of South Africa, specialising in composition, and a Teaching Diploma from Evelyn Hone College.

He is currently preparing for PhD studies in Music/Ethnomusicology, building on his research into indigenous Zambian musical traditions. His academic background combines strong theoretical grounding, practical musicianship, and modern pedagogical training, supporting his work across IB, Cambridge, and international school systems.