Rubi started with Music Will back in 2014 at Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA. The program has been apart of most of her life, so she often reflects on her modern band teacher, Mr. Vergara. She shares, “he was the one who raised me in a way, I grew up with him.” After receiving her acceptance letter to the Thorton School of Music at USC, she even sent him a thank you because he helped inspire her to continue her musical studies. This was Rubi’s “I made it moment” as he Thorton School of Music is the third best music school in the country.

Rubi reconnected with Music Will recently at the 2023 Benefit where she sang lead vocals alongside Grammy nominated singer and songwriter, Allison Russell. Rubi opens herself up to all the opportunities that come her way and finds pride in performing in different places with different people, whether well-known or not.

2023 Music Will Benefit Concert in Los Angeles, CA (Jeff Lewis)

If she were to give music students a words of wisdom she shares, “no matter how old you are, there will always be people trying to bring you down but at the end of the day you have to get back up.” She enjoys giving back to her community and wants to be able to give younger students the opportunities that she received from Mr. Vergara.

Help students like Rubi thrive by supporting Music Will’s efforts to bring music education to all. Learn more about our work and support here.

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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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To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we’re featuring Native and Indigenous artists that are currently shaping today’s music. Here are five artists we think you should know.

Stella Standingbear

Stella Standingbear stands out as a breakout star with her rise to fame over the last 12 months after the release of her debut single, Home Runs. While her sound is uniquely her own blend of melodic alt-rap, it is both uplifting and empowering. When asked about what the song means to her, she says, “it means to keep striving, keep swinging, keep going no matter what anybody says, to achieve your dreams and no dream is too big to achieve.”

Learn more about Stella Standingbear’s music on her website, follow her on Instagram, or check out her music on Youtube

Jayli Wolf

Jayli Wolf’s haunting song Child of the Government is making waves as it tells the very personal story of her father being “scooped” away from his First Nations birth mother and adopted out by the Canadian government to a white family to raise him. Jayli, who is a member of the Soto First Nations Community in Canada,  uses her powerful melodic sounds to bring awareness to this very current Indigenous issue. Jayli shares, “I’ve always used music to express what I was feeling or things that I was going through, and it always helped me to understand myself better.” 

Find out more about Jayli Wolf on her website, Instagram, and listen to her music on Youtube.

Nataanii Means

Nataanii Means is a singer and songwriter from Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe, up in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He has been recording music for more than ten years and has released three albums across all major platforms. 

For Nataanii, music is an important way he tells the stories of his life. He says, “You know, growing up on the reservation, we all have stories, you know, and we’re kind of like, hidden from the rest of America.” Heavily influenced by his culture’s innate connection with music and his own experiences growing up on the Navajo Nation reservation in South Dakota, Nataanii believes that hip hop is just another way of digging deeper into knowing ourselves as we live in this 21st century world. 

                                                                 Follow Nataanii Means on Instagram and listen to his music on Youtube and Spotify.

Mato Wayuhi

Also hailing from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Oglala Lakota artist Mato Wauhi is best known as the composer for the hit FX show Reservation Dogs. He has also composed music for the film War Pony that debuted at the Cannes film festival in 2022 and is currently working on the score for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ series Echo. In addition to his work in television, he has also put out three albums to date, with a fourth coming in 2024. Mato’s known for his thought-provoking lyrics and catchy raps.

Learn more about Mato Wayuhi on his website and listen to his music on Youtube

Hayley Wallis

The rich voice of singer-songwriter Hayley Wallis, who hails from the Kitasoo/Xais’xais Nation in British Columbia, is not to be missed. Her debut single Coffee Cup is a vulnerable, soulful song that anyone who has ever faced mental health challenges can relate to. Hayley says, “I allowed myself to fall into a very vulnerable place with this song. I wrote it while struggling with my own mental health during these trying times, because I truly believe that music is therapy. I find it important to be honest with my songwriting so that it may resonate and hopefully help others on their life’s journey.”

Learn more about Hayley Wallis on her website and listen to her music on Youtube. 

Ready to discover more Native and Indigenous artists? We put together this Spotify Playlist and Song Pack, which has been distributed to thousands of music teachers in our network. 

Including the study of diverse music in music education is not only important for developing cultural understanding, but also for representation — helping all students to feel seen and valued. Educators across the country are working to bring culturally responsive music education into classrooms but this is no small task, and we need your support to make this vision a reality. 

Your contributions help us to continue our community listening and planning efforts to better understand the needs of schools that serve Native youth. Starting in Oklahoma, the state with the largest Native American populations yet the lowest funding towards Native American education curricula (NCAI 2019), this is just the beginning of a year-round, nationwide initiative. 

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After moving to the US and struggling with English as a small child, Nancy connected deeply with her teacher Mr. David Wish through his ability to speak to her in Spanish as she was learning English. This connection meant the world to both Nancy and her family as they navigated life in a new country. 

When Nancy was in elementary school, Mr. Wish brought music into the classroom through his after school guitar program, which would later become the Modern Band curriculum we know today. Nancy has fond memories of learning guitar, playing concerts for her family in the living room, and the strong lasting friendships music created between her classmates which have lasted to today, over 20 years later.

One of Nancy’s favorite memories of her time in Mr. Wish’s after school music program was when the Carlos Santana Foundation gifted each of the students their own electric guitar and amp. She still has the electric blue guitar today and loves to take it out to relive the memories of her excitement to receive it. 

The Carlos Santana Foundation gifts each of the students their own electric guitar and amp.

Years later, Nancy reconnected with her old music teacher when she stumbled upon an article in Time Magazine covering Mr. Wish’s music non-profit, Music Will. She was also able to join the program’s 20th anniversary celebration in New York in 2022, of which she says, “I could just see how happy the kids were and they’re getting to express themselves with all the music. And so that impact I got to see it firsthand 20 years later and it was just very motivating.”

Nancy and Dave at the 20th Anniversary Re-Brand Benefit

While Nancy did not continue her music studies beyond Mr. Wish’s program in elementary school, she credits music as the spark for her life-long love of music. Whether it is listening to music on the radio or attending live concerts now as an adult, she says music shows her “others feel the same way I do emotionally” and has helped get her through challenging times in her life in both high school and college.

Help students like Nancy thrive by supporting Music Will’s efforts to bring music education to all. Learn more about our work and support here.

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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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After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a BS in Music Business, she’s made a successful music career for herself as a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer in Nashville, TN. Some highlights for her have included working with artists and producers like Mike Will Made It, Keith Urban, and Offset, as well as brands including Red Bull and HP.

Kelley credits her success to her experience in the Music Will Modern Brand program, which she participated in starting in second grade and continued on through elementary school. Under the guidance of her teacher, Mark Hale, she was able to discover her passion for music starting at an early age.

Mr. Hale gave Kelley the opportunity to truly explore music by engaging in songs she loved. She fondly remembers coming into class after trying to learn the Ozzy Osbourne song Crazy Train on her own and performing it in class. Mr. Hale took her personal interest and turned it into an educational lesson for the entire class, helping all of the students engage in relevant music that they loved. 

Not only did she love exploring different styles of music through her guitar classes, Kelley has fond memories of the remarkable performance opportunities that she was able to participate in during her time in the Music Will Modern Band program. Her class was invited to perform on stages like B.B. King’s Monthly and the Ryman— giving Kelley her first taste of what it truly feels like to be a professional musician.

Kelley is a shining example of the importance of music education starting in elementary school where she found a passion for music that has lasted her into her adult years. She encourages all students, “Continue to have that interest in learning music. Never lose that passion and that drive and the motivation that you had in the classrooms!”

Help students like Kelley thrive by supporting Music Will’s efforts to bring music education to all. Learn more about our work and support here.

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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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These extraordinary people harness their time, energy, passion, and resources to shape the future of our children through their invaluable contributions. 

David Smith of Graystone Builders, Inc. of New Hampshire is one of these individuals, and the impact of dedicated donors like him is beyond measure. They help establish music programs, donate instruments, and fund scholarships. They create positive change in their communities and cultivate a generation of well-rounded individuals who can pursue their dreams. These visionary philanthropists give generously not only in terms of financial support but also through their steadfast commitment to sharing their passion and expertise.

The importance of music education is not lost on Smith because music has played such an instrumental role throughout his life. “Music is my life,” he explains. “I would not be able to function without music.” Driven by a desire to preserve the essence of the beloved music icons he grew up listening to, the donor recognized the importance of cultivating young talent who could carry the torch and keep the Blues alive through future generations.

Smith’s work in New Hampshire with Carlos Santana’s Milagro Foundation and Music Will first began in 2017 at a Santana concert in St. Louis of which the proceeds from benefitted kids. After some research, he became a supporter of the Milagro Foundation and later launched the “New Hampshire Rocks!” program with his company, Milagro Foundation, Music Will, and the New Hampshire Department of Education to bring music education to 13 New Hampshire schools in 2020 – impacting nearly 6,000 kids.

Today, the program continues to expand students’ educational opportunities by allowing them to create, perform and connect through music by providing Music Will’s modern band curriculum and training to teachers. Many of these teachers also receive instruments for their classrooms. “New Hampshire Rocks!” has expanded from 13 to 32 schools in the state and counting, with 41 registered Music Will teachers receiving the training and resources to provide culturally responsive music education to thousands of New Hampshire students.

But it wasn’t easy, and Smith met many challenges along the way to make this possible for his community. It took a substantial amount of time and energy to forge the connections needed to get the program off the ground with the Department of Education and state legislature. But in the end, his hard work paid off. “The success was that the first round of funding benefitted 1,000 children, and the second round 10,000 children,” reflects Smith. “The New Hampshire Legislature now contributes on an ongoing basis and ‘New Hampshire Rocks!’ is embedded in the state’s curriculum.”

“Watching the growth of music education in my home state over the past several years has been exciting!” continues Smith. Teachers, students and families have come together around music, and “New Hampshire Rocks!” has provided kids with the opportunity to experience Music Will’s modern band program which they never would have been exposed to otherwise. “It allows kids to experience rock music they can relate to, and it has opened up a whole new world of music for kids,” Smith concludes. 

The impact of David Smith’s efforts is immeasurable, and our work wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and passion of such donors. “David’s ongoing contributions have created opportunities for aspiring musicians to discover their own unique voices, empowering them to express themselves and unlock their full potential,” affirms Music Will Interim CEO, Janice Polizzotto. “We are so grateful for his commitment which has had an enduring impact on our mission and the lives of children we serve in New Hampshire.” 

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