Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio
F E A T U R E
Interview with Sydney Perez
F E A T U R E
Interview with Sydney Perez
When did you first realize you loved music?
When I was five years old, I watched the Barbie Fairytopia Magic of the Rainbow movie, which contained a mascot character singing the Queen of the Night’s Aria, "Der hölle Rache" from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. I was fascinated by the vocalist's incredible agility, and I couldn't resist the urge to sing along. Since then, I felt like I couldn't stop singing. I was supported by my lovely community at home in San Antonio, TX, and given the opportunity to put on many public performances in elementary and middle school. Since it began, my love for music has burned on!
What made you decide to become a teacher?
My high school calculus teacher, Walter Meyer, and my high school choir director, Colin Varville, were the ones who inspired me to become a teacher. In a school that didn't devote enough funds to either their music or college-level math courses, they showed me what it meant to put your heart and soul into educating the next generation. Watching them constantly push themselves, and push their students, to be the best that we could be, instilled in me the work ethic and desire to do the same for others.
How are you building a successful career as a musician?
I almost chose a different career path, such as physics or computer science, for the sake of "stability". However, I knew that I could take on the challenge of finding the balance between music, the field I loved most, and supporting myself financially. I attended the University of Texas at Austin to study Choral Music Education. There, I picked up several new instruments, earned my K-12 teacher certification, and I never looked back! Now, my skills as a vocalist (my primary instrument) are strong enough to earn me professional performance opportunities, and my classroom experience helps me do the job I love most: teaching! It's the perfect balance!
What instruments can you play, and which is your favorite?
I can sing, and I play the piano, guitar, ukulele, trumpet, and euphonium (I still consider myself a beginner at those last two 😅). My favorite to perform on is definitely my own voice- the greatest joy of my life comes from using my voice to sing music that uplifts my audience. It's also the best teaching tool- helping my piano, ukulele, and guitar students develop a well-rounded aural understanding of music.
What is your goal for your students?
No matter how their musical training manifests for my students in their lifetimes- be it a career, a hobby, or simply an appreciation- I want to make sure that my students find joy in music. My passion for teaching and performance has literally saved my life, as music is one of the most powerful forces of human emotion and communication. My students and I will work to be the best musicians we can be, and my goal is to leave each of them with a joy that carries them
through a musical lifetime.
Learn more about our Music teacher Sydney Perez in her Teacher Page.
When I was five years old, I watched the Barbie Fairytopia Magic of the Rainbow movie, which contained a mascot character singing the Queen of the Night’s Aria, "Der hölle Rache" from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. I was fascinated by the vocalist's incredible agility, and I couldn't resist the urge to sing along. Since then, I felt like I couldn't stop singing. I was supported by my lovely community at home in San Antonio, TX, and given the opportunity to put on many public performances in elementary and middle school. Since it began, my love for music has burned on!
What made you decide to become a teacher?
My high school calculus teacher, Walter Meyer, and my high school choir director, Colin Varville, were the ones who inspired me to become a teacher. In a school that didn't devote enough funds to either their music or college-level math courses, they showed me what it meant to put your heart and soul into educating the next generation. Watching them constantly push themselves, and push their students, to be the best that we could be, instilled in me the work ethic and desire to do the same for others.
How are you building a successful career as a musician?
I almost chose a different career path, such as physics or computer science, for the sake of "stability". However, I knew that I could take on the challenge of finding the balance between music, the field I loved most, and supporting myself financially. I attended the University of Texas at Austin to study Choral Music Education. There, I picked up several new instruments, earned my K-12 teacher certification, and I never looked back! Now, my skills as a vocalist (my primary instrument) are strong enough to earn me professional performance opportunities, and my classroom experience helps me do the job I love most: teaching! It's the perfect balance!
What instruments can you play, and which is your favorite?
I can sing, and I play the piano, guitar, ukulele, trumpet, and euphonium (I still consider myself a beginner at those last two 😅). My favorite to perform on is definitely my own voice- the greatest joy of my life comes from using my voice to sing music that uplifts my audience. It's also the best teaching tool- helping my piano, ukulele, and guitar students develop a well-rounded aural understanding of music.
What is your goal for your students?
No matter how their musical training manifests for my students in their lifetimes- be it a career, a hobby, or simply an appreciation- I want to make sure that my students find joy in music. My passion for teaching and performance has literally saved my life, as music is one of the most powerful forces of human emotion and communication. My students and I will work to be the best musicians we can be, and my goal is to leave each of them with a joy that carries them
through a musical lifetime.
Learn more about our Music teacher Sydney Perez in her Teacher Page.
