Real First Day of Work

It took a couple weeks longer than we had anticipated, but I'm finally starting my first official week teaching/conducting with the Austin Soundwaves.

A little about the program:

Austin Soundwaves is an El Sistema-inspired music program through the existing national El Sistema USA organization. It's funded through the Austin-based Hispanic Alliance for the Arts and takes place at East Austin College Prep.

The program provides quality music education to an eager community that may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in the arts. Students begin in the 4th grade and, for the first time, go through the 9th grade, studying winds, strings, brass, percussion, and piano. This is the first year we're offering music theory and we're hoping to expand to an AP Music Theory prep course. When Austin Soundwaves finally expands (as planned) to K-12, additional courses (such as a full-fledged AP Theory Course, composition, and the like) will be added, which will make Austin Soundwaves the largest El Sistema program in the United States.

Wish me luck!