We’re excited to introduce you to 2024 New York State Teacher of the Year, Music Will educator Zachary Arnez. He has been teaching Kindergarten through 6th grade music at Flower City School 54 in the Lyell-Otis neighborhood of Rochester, New York for the past 12 years. 

Zachary says he always dreamed of becoming a teacher, influenced primarily by his mom’s career in education when he was a child. He also felt at home in his high school’s music department, which made music and teaching a natural pairing. He says, “I dreamt that one day, my classroom would be that same place for students; somewhere that students felt safe and were able to do something that they just loved doing.”

Alison Schmitt, Zachary’s mentor, had encouraged him to attend the Modern Band program, but he dragged his feet because he didn’t have any experience with the instruments the program covers. When he realized that the discomfort he was feeling was the same thing his students go through every day as they learn music, he finally made the decision to get a bit uncomfortable himself and enrolled in 2021.

One of his favorite memories was with his first Modern Band group when he was teaching five boys that were struggling with different aspects of being in school. Through music, they were able to encourage each other to succeed, overcome their nerves, and then ROCK their end of the year concert! Zachary says, “I saw them taking their band selfie after the show and they were just so happy! It might be a core memory for each of us!”

As many teachers can attest, when Zachary first became a teacher he felt uncomfortable and out-of-place at times. But now, when asked about becoming the 2024 New York State Teacher of the Year, he says, “This award is proof of my growth personally and as a teacher.”

For his students, which come from an area with high crime and poverty rates, there are many days where content must come secondary due to meeting his students’ basic needs like food or clothing — and sometimes even more importantly, meeting their need for an empathetic ear. He makes sure his students know he cares about them, which means the world to every one of his students, clearly illustrating his positive impact and why he’s beyond worthy of becoming Teacher of the Year!

Outside of teaching music, Zachary is a two-time Team Trivia Champion, plays bassoon in the Genesse Valley Wind Ensemble, and he enjoys spending time each day practicing Spanish and French. He also oversees host families and exchange students through a local study abroad program.

You can follow Zachary on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Help support teachers like Zachary make a difference in their students’ lives by donating here. If you are a teacher and would like to learn more about our Modern Band approach and professional development opportunities, check out our Educators Page and get in touch!

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Mia says, “I always knew I was a music teacher in my heart,” even when their parents urged them to pursue ‘something practical’ as a college major. But they couldn’t shake that feeling that there was no other career path that felt quite as right as music. Now years later, Mia has provided music education to more than 3,000 students across the span of their career.

Having heard about Music Will from other colleagues in the field, it wasn’t until Mia was working on their Master’s degree at Teachers College when Music Will visited and Mia became “eager to engage in music-making that allowed for engagement, relevance, and ROCKING OUT.” Since then Mia has been bringing the healing power of music to underserved communities by pioneering music programs at schools in the Bronx.

Music Will student

Some of Mia’s favorite moments as a teacher are when a student begins to identify as a “guitarist” or “pianist”, even after only a week. It brings Mia so much joy to see an identity shift into the creative, music-making world after such a short period of time.

While Mia is certainly an accomplished educator and musician, they see that as secondary to being a human and mentor to their students. When Mia’s students face challenging situations, it is not uncommon to forego the planned music curriculum to participate in productive conversations that help the students better understand each other and the world around them. Mia’s students have overcome abuse, mental illness, foster care, housing insecurities and so much more through leaning on their music and the relationships they have built with their peers. 

Music Will student

Mia has been a guest writer for publications such as the LGBTQ+ musicology website, has written chapters for a number of published books, and has been invited to speak to organizations such as KONY and Pride and Less Prejudice about topics including, “Queer Teachers in the Choral Classroom”. They are also a guest lecturer at NYU in their graduate studies programs. Outside of music, Mia is an avid athlete who works out almost every day and has even been a yoga instructor and played post-collegiate lacrosse after playing Division 2 in college.

Mia Ibrahim (they/them), a music teacher at Health Opportunities High School.

You can follow Mia on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or check out their website. Help support teachers like Mia to make a difference in their students’ lives by donating here. If you are a teacher and would like to learn more about our Modern Band approach and professional development opportunities, check out our Educators Page and get in touch!

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Music truly runs in Beth’s family. She first heard about Music Will’s program in 2010 from her husband, who is also a music educator. At the very first Modern Band Summit, she discovered the Modern Band program and hasn’t looked back since. She has even presented at 9 Modern Band Summits herself. Beth says of the program, “Modern Band gives a musical home to kids that like music but traditional band isn’t for them.” 

For Beth’s students, music runs deeper than mere interest — it’s in their blood. While many of our Modern Band teachers focus on pop, rock, or jazz to help their kids connect to music, Beth’s students had something different in mind. When they requested to learn Mariachi, she was at first dubious. Afterall, she wasn’t Mexican and didn’t have a personal connection to the music herself. But when one of her students made the poignant statement that she also wasn’t Italian, but taught them Vivaldi, she was convinced.

Beth started a Mariachi Band program at the middle school level that allows her students to not only develop a  love of music, but also to connect with their family heritage. The Mariachi program shows her students that the music that defines their culture has value enough to be taught in school, which has had a powerful impact.

One of Beth’s favorite memories is when a group of her Mariachi students learned a Mexican pop song and performed it at the All City Concert. Beth aims “to teach students how to take ownership of their musicianship so that they can be independent music makers outside of the school setting.” Her students beamed with pride as they took the skills they learned from her class and performed music they learned on their own to a large audience.

Modern Band Students

Outside of teaching music, Beth enjoys reading, making art, playing guitar, watching baseball, and spending time with her husband. She loves 90’s music and folk rock of the 60’s and 70’s. 

Beth Poquette Drews

You can follow Beth on Facebook. Help support teachers like Beth make a difference in their students’ lives by donating here. If you are a teacher and would like to learn more about our Modern Band approach and professional development opportunities, check out our Educators Page and get in touch! 

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Stefanie Sagaro, Music Will Teacher at the Academy of International Education Charter (AIE) School in Miami.

Before discovering Music Will, Stefanie already had a thriving music program she had built at the Academy of International Education Charter (AIE) School in Miami and was happy with the direction of her teaching. However, her friend and fellow music educator, Vivian Gonzalez, suggested that she attend Music Will’s Modern Band workshop. She went into the professional development training with little to no expectations but left inspired. It ended up aligning perfectly with the Orff Schulwerk training she was actively implementing but with the added benefit of providing her students more ownership through a repertoire that they could choose and instantly connect with. 

Today, her program has a huge emphasis on composing original music, which she believes is important for any musician to practice. During the first half of each school year, she allows her students to do a lot of arranging of existing pieces and they use what they learn from that to write their own music during the second half of the year. One of her most proud moments is seeing how her students contribute to the world of music through the stories they tell. 

“I have a student who has found a huge part of her identity through music. She has made social connections and has grown to believe in herself tremendously. After a recent performance, we were speaking in private and she said, ‘I did it! And if I can do that then I know I can do anything. Nothing is too hard for me.’”

Stefanie believes that teaching is one of the most honorable and noble professions one can have. She thanks her friend, Kristy Pagan, a music educator and Curriculum Support Specialist who helped her and countless other teachers realize their goals and potential. 

“I get to teach and work with the most important members of our society: children. To top that off, I get to teach music of all things. Music represents what makes us human. It speaks to who we are culturally and generationally. I am so lucky to be a part of the music education community.” 

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When I first heard about it from Jim, it didn’t sound like that big a deal. My son, 15, came home from school, one day in February, and said something about the high school music teacher asking him to sing at an upcoming concert. Oh? Nice! Eventually, though, the details become clearer, and they were shocking.

First of all, Jim wouldn’t be singing in some choir, but alone as a frontman leading a young rock ’n’ roll band made up of four other students he only knew in passing. And far from some little cute performing-children event, this was going to be the blockbuster all-star charity concert put on at Carnegie Hall each year by Michael Dorf of the City Winery Club to raise money for music education programs and opportunities for underserved youth.

Jim’s band was going to be the only kid band on the bill that would also feature Jim’s lifelong favorites Graham Nash and Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon, plus 1970s Wings guitarist/1964-1966 “Go Now” Moody Blues frontman Denny Laine, as well as Lyle Lovett, Glen Hansard of The Frames, Christopher Cross, Heart’s Nancy Wilson, Bruce Hornsby, Natalie Merchant (who didn’t show up but was replaced by the Patti
Smith!), ageless 1960s R&B legend Bettye LaVette, and many more!

“You must be joking,” I said, sitting on the couch feeling puzzled, even though it’s not the sort of gag Jim pulls. It just didn’t seem possible! And here was the kicker. They all were going to be performing the music of Paul McCartney, and Jim was going to be singing 1970 Let It Be #1, “Get Back!” I’ve raised Jim and his sister on The Beatles since they were old enough to coo and point. None of this made any sense to me. I joined The Beatles fan club in 1968 at age six when I already owned and had devoured all their albums to that point.

“OK, Jim, spill it,” I demanded. “How did this all come about exactly?” I mean, I’d seen his report card; he’s not even taking a formal music class this year. It turns out, it’s typical Jim. On his free periods, Jim just heads like a homing pigeon to the school’s music room. There’s a piano, you see—and if you know my boy, you know it’s been the same since he first learned how to play in preschool. Apparently, he’s been slinking in there on an almost daily basis. So that one day in February, Josh Paris, [the music teacher] asked if Jim might join this school band he had been mentoring for the upcoming appearance. One of the organizations benefiting from Dorf’s event is a nonprofit called Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), that “encourages and enables children to play popular music, by providing free music instruction and instruments to public school districts across the country, from kindergarten through high school.” Any high school teacher who atypically doesn’t neglect guitar/bass/drums-type rock has my respect.

Music Will wanted to field one teen band for the concert as a shining example of what they’re trying to accomplish. Mr. Paris already had the musicians in place, and good ones at that as I would soon discover; both guitarists, Johnny in 10th Grade, and Cassius in 11th, are surprisingly accomplished lead players, as is the 11th Grade bassist Nina (so much so that she too was given a solo to play), and a solid drummer in 10th grade, Leo. But what Mr. Paris lacked was that sink-or-swim role, a vocalist. (Few of us love an otherwise great band with a lousy front person.) Well, how ’bout that little mop-topped smiley blonde kid who keeps coming in and singing up a storm at the ivories, just ’cause he likes to? It just so happens he already knows “Get Back” and pretty much every Beatles song by heart, anyway. Problem solved.

Once we understood what was happening, our family unsurprisingly got pretty excited. Carnegie Hall was going to be 2800 people, and both nights were already sold out. Gulp! And yet somehow I just knew Jim would have no problem. It’s just who he is. I have watched Jim play piano and sing Beatles songs at micro-public events his whole life, almost all of them McCartney tunes. So what a strange stroke of luck he got picked to sing a McCartney song under such grand circumstances. He loves playing music for people—just not that many before, lol! 

The show began, and various performers took the stage, backed by a seasoned house band. Typical Jim hadn’t mentioned that Jordan was going to sit in with them during their song. (Jim is playing with Steve Jordan, now, too? Will the surprises never end?) Well! Pete Townshend was right: The kids are alright! As a final little frill, as the kids stepped out the backstage exit onto 56th Street, headed for the subway and back to normal lives, they were recognized by people out on the sidewalk who kept telling them how inspiring their performance had been and asking for autographs. Priceless.

Well, good on you Jim, living the dream, a rock star for two nights—then back to soccer practice and math quizzes the next day. Here’s to the next generation. As parents, by all means, expose them to great stuff, have some instruments around the house, and they’ll take it from there. It was two nights I know he will never forget, no matter what else he does in his life; for that matter, neither will I. And every time I think of it I’ll just smile ear to ear. “Wasn’t that something?

Read the whole story about Jim’s experience performing in The Music of Paul McCartney benefit at Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2023. Written by Jack Rabid, Jim’s father, which originally appeared in issue 92 of Big Takeover Magazine, June 2023, reprinted with permission.

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“I’ve seen music totally change students,” Jennifer Theilacker, music teacher at KIPP Infinity Middle School, explains from her classroom in Harlem. Covered in motivational posters and filled with instruments ranging from trumpets to guitars and keyboards, her classroom is one that is thoughtfully designed to embrace and inspire all students – something that is obviously reflected in Ms. Theilacker’s style of teaching.

Ms. Theilacker with Mr. Skip Reddig, her middle and high school band director

Ms. Theilacker has been teaching music for 22 years, and it was initially her middle and high school band director, Mr. Skip Reddig, who inspired her to pursue a career in music. In her senior year of high school, she decided to audition for a school in music education, it was Mr. Reddig who believed in her and helped her get the private lessons and resources she needed to succeed. “I see in them what he must have seen in me,” reflects Ms. Theilacker about looking at her students and encouraging them when she knows they are better than they realize. It’s a beautiful cycle to witness and honor: the enduring influence of a past music teacher continuing to impact a new generation of students through his protégé whom he helped achieve her dream of becoming a music teacher herself.

It’s evident that Ms. Theilacker loves her students as if they were her own children, and she admittedly could talk about them all day. The relationship she has with them transcends the classroom, forming a bond that endures as these kids grow into young adults. Many students continue to come to her classroom to volunteer into their young adult years. “Having these kids still in my life has motivated me many times not to give up because what I do is important and transformative,” explains Ms. Theilacker. Parents of her students agree, with one mother even calling her “the angel of music” for how deeply she touched the life of her son, Francisco. “You embody what every teacher should aspire to be: generous, patient, and able to see in your students what is hidden for the rest of us,” Francisco’s mother writes in a Facebook post. “You are always in our prayers.”

Ms. Theilacker and her student, Francisco

Ms. Theilacker first heard about the Music Will organization in an email she had received around 10-11 years ago – and in true New Yorker fashion, she was skeptical. It seemed too good to be true. You only had to know two chords (which she learned the night before), and then you would receive a class set of guitars and curriculum. “I thought it was spam or something,” she laughs. She even told her friends where she was going prior to attending the Modern Band 101 workshop just in case she went missing. A decade later, she is grateful she took that leap of faith because her students were noticeably energized after she implemented the program in her classroom. “They were excited about music class, and so was I!”

Her work in education has not gone unnoticed in New York with the Brooklyn Nets awarding her with the 2015 All-Star Educator Grant. More recently, Ms. Theilacker’s passion for teaching was celebrated when she was presented with the Minority Band Directors National Association Meritorious Achievement Award recognizing outstanding contributions and service to local, regional, and national music communities in 2022. Her dedication spills over into her personal time which she devotes to providing private lessons, associate conducting for an adult community band, teaching at the Harlem School of the Arts, previously teaching for Lincoln Center’s middle school jazz band program, and starting a Saturday Music Academy for KIPP NYC – leaving almost no free time to herself. On the rare occasion that Ms. Theilacker does have a moment to herself, she listens to a wide range of music including hip-hop, the 90s, old-school Motown, classical, Diddy (and not because she taught at Sean Combs’s school!), Jazz at Lincoln Center, and considers herself a big fan of Wynton Marsalis.

You’ll be able to catch her in the upcoming 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade as she was selected to perform in the Band Directors Marching Band by the

Saluting America’s Band Directors! To learn more about Ms. Theilacker and her experience meeting Sean Combs while teaching at his school, The Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter School, watch the video below. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Music Will believes that the hard work, compassion and dedication of their teachers should not go unnoticed and these boxes are just a small token of our gratitude for all that our teachers do to give their students the transformative power of music education. Music Will frequently visits K-12 music classrooms across the country to get the chance to see what our teachers and students are working on, and every music class is uniquely different. We look forward to seeing how each classroom decorates with their new Music Will posters and chord charts! 

Sweetwater is the largest online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the United States. Additionally, they serve as Music Will’s exclusive music instrument distributor and have been a major corporate donor since 2016. This past year, The Hot Topic Foundation, whose goal is to increase access to mental health and music education, helped launch 200 free music programs in over 500 schools to serve 100,000+ new students. The Hot Topic Foundation is one of Music Will’s largest corporate donors since 2006. 

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we thank our teachers for keeping music education alive and for creating supportive environments for students to thrive in. Take a look at these photos to catch a glimpse of our unique band of teachers or check them out on our Facebook and Instagram!

If you are a teacher who would like to learn more about our workshops or become a Music Will educator, check out our professional development course calendar or join our Modern Band Summit taking place this summer July 12-14.

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Meet our dynamic and passionate music teacher, Lauren Schwartz, who shares her love of music with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco.

Lauren’s journey to becoming a music teacher is what she describes as “accidental.” Prior to teaching, she was a music therapist who developed a music therapy practice at the same school she now teaches at. When the school’s music teacher left unexpectedly, Lauren was offered the job, even though she had never taken a music education class before. Her intuition told her to take a chance, and she dove into learning all she could about music education.

As a music teacher, Lauren delved into the Modern Band curriculum, taking the existing program at the school to new heights. She introduced her students to various instruments and even taught herself guitar and bass. In her classroom, Lauren delights in those magical moments when her students “get it” and become so engrossed in the music that they forget they’re in school.

One thing that makes Lauren stand out is her background in music therapy. She emphasizes that music is about self-expression, not perfection, and encourages her students to try new things. Lauren sees her students as whole individuals, helping them find their passions and supporting them as they pursue them. She has connected with many exceptional educators through the Music Will community – namely, Scott Burstein whom she credits with pushing her to new limits she didn’t think was possible as an educator – and with their guidance, she has helped her students achieve things she never thought possible.

Lauren is driven by her belief that music has the power to save lives. She finds inspiration in every music teacher she’s ever had, from elementary to high school, who nurtured her love of music in creative ways. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with loved ones, playing pickleball, working out at Orange Theory, and being in nature.

We are fortunate to have dedicated teachers like Lauren who change the lives of their students. Thank you for all that you do, Lauren!

You can follow Lauren on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. If you are a teacher and would like to learn more about our Modern Band workshops, check out our professional development calendar.

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Meet our teacher, Nicole Guimaraes, of Mount Daniel Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia. She teaches music to kids in kindergarten through second grade.

Ms. Guimaraes always had a passion for teaching and has been at it now for over eight years!

But in 2017, she found herself struggling with her middle school general music class when she heard about a free professional development course. Thinking that it might provide the key to reaching her students, she jumped at the opportunity and drove over an hour to her first Modern Band 101 workshop hosted by Music Will. Ms. Guimaraes immediately started applying the hip-hop resources and other tools she had learned in her classroom, and it resulted in an instant connection with the students. She knew she had found the right path for herself and her students.

That very same year, her students started writing their own songs and submitted their work to the Music Will Songwriting Contest. Three of Ms. Guimaraes’ students ended up winning the contest!

“I will never forget telling those three girls that they won,” she says. “They all started crying, they were so happy. It was such a special moment.”

Ms. Guimaraes finds that one of the most amazing things about teaching music is that it allows students who may not shine academically in other classes to stand out. At her students’ last concert, there were some student soloists who performed, and their teachers were blown away by them because they had not been expecting to see those specific students in front of the ensemble. “We even made our guidance counselor cry (happy tears, of course)!” she recalls.

Ms. Guimaraes’ unique approach to teaching involves creating most of her own lessons. She also doesn’t give her young kids “bad grades” because she believes it creates a negative association with music – which is not her goal.

“I truly believe that if my kids leave second grade loving music, I have done my job. They can learn the technical skills later,” Ms. Guimaraes explains. 

Her impact on her students becomes abundantly clear when she realizes that she can’t think of a single kid in her school who doesn’t enjoy attending music class. “To me, that is everything.”

You can follow what her students are up to in the classroom on Twitter, @mrs_guimaraes. If you would like to learn more about our Modern Band workshops, check out our professional development calendar.

Thank you for all that you do to change the lives of your students, Ms. Guimaraes! We are so grateful to have such dedicated teachers like you in our community.

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“My student was not engaged in music class… at all. He told me he hated music and never came close to even picking up an instrument. After years of attempts, I had accepted the fact that I tried everything I could. “I’ll never forget the first day we played the instruments that Music Will had donated. This was the first time my classroom was equipped with ukuleles and I could already imagine this student smashing the new instrument on the floor, rock star style. Instead, there he was–ukulele in hand and strumming along to ‘Put The Lime In The Coconut.’ On his way out, he said something to me that changed my outlook on every kid just like him. “He said, ‘I’ve always wanted to play guitar and this is close enough. Are we playing again tomorrow?’ I was gobsmacked — he felt compelled to make music after seeing a familiar instrument. Every day following that class, we had hands-on instruments including ukuleles, guitars, basses, keyboards, and drums. His demeanor and his energy changed. “He entered music class enthusiastically, volunteered to perform, and put himself out there in front of his peers. The behavioral issues were gone and he was collaborating with his peers; fellow teachers agreed that this was carrying over into his other classes. His attendance improved. His academics improved. His attitude about school improved. “Succeeding with the ukulele allowed him to show up more fully as a student, musician, and classmate. This experience has proven to me that music is transformational.”

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