“Music is, to me, a way to express my passion for life and to share and connect with those who I am performing with or for. In teaching, I strive to pass this on to my students; to have an outlet for their thoughts and feelings and to learn how to work creatively and mindfully. Many teachers will say that music lessons make you smarter. I believe that music lessons enrich your ability to coordinate, think outside the box, and navigate different learning pathways; thus, creating new neurons in the brain and giving you a greater capacity for learning.”