Teaching Philosophy
The meaning of philanthropy has been present in my life since 2001, when I started my musical journey in my hometown, Itu, São Paulo, Brazil. Inspired by the music teachers and members of the community bands I participated in, I wanted to donate my time and knowledge to teach others. Early on, I understood that sharing was necessary to create change. I started teaching as a volunteer at my old middle school during my senior year in high school with a great friend. I fell in love immediately. A few years later, during my sophomore year in college, at The State University of Campinas, I was given the opportunity to teach at Projeto Guri, Brazil's most significant music nonprofit program. I taught low-brass private and group lessons to economically disadvantaged middle and high school students.
A few months later, I received an opportunity to teach at ASSATEMEC (2008-2010), a nonprofit music program in my hometown, Itu. I recruited and created a sustainable music curriculum for almost 20 brass students, and organized brass choir performances and masterclasses. I’m happy to say that 100% of my students became professional or semi-professional musicians getting full scholarships to colleges, winning auditions to youth orchestras, and earning military jobs in the Brazilian national band.
During my last semester in college, I accepted a full-time position as band director at Anglo Itu School, teaching marching and concert band to 100 elementary, middle, and high school students. My biggest accomplishment was to assist in fundraising and networking for a new $100,000 music facility creating a space for music classes and rehearsals. In addition, I included 10 music performances in the annual school calendar, assisting in maintaining a sustainable music program.
From left to right, (back) Fernando, Gabriel, Dr. Felipe Brito, and Ana Cristina; (front) Fernando and Guilherme. ASSATEMEC, Brazil 2008
From left to right, (back) Leonardo, Matheus, Fred, Dr. Felipe Brito, Guilherme, Felipe Dobner, Bruno Dobner; (front) Guilherme, Pedro Nogueira, Gabriel, Ana Cristina, Pedro Henrique. Banda Anglo Itu at SESC Campinas, Brazil 2012
VISIT Dr. Felipe Brito’s old blog when he taught music in Brazil at Banda Anglo Itu (2010-2012)
My aspiration to improve child development through music education led me to work as a band director in two nonprofit music organizations in Cleveland, Ohio; Open Tone Music (2016-2018) and the music summer camp Amistad Caribbean Arts Camp (2018-present). Both programs teach middle and high school students about African Diaspora music and culture. Students learned not only about Afro-Caribbean, Latin American, and North American culture but also understood related concepts such as colonialism, migration, diaspora, and cultural exchange. I recruited and taught over 200 middle and high school students in English and Spanish at 15 Cleveland public school locations, organized masterclasses with more than 20 nationally and internationally recognized musicians, and planned over 50 musical performances and fundraising events. As an arts administrator, I helped to raise more than $200,000 through grants, sponsorships, foundations, and individual donations to help grown these organizations.
I continued to work for the community when I moved to Austin, teaching in over 10 public schools in English and Spanish with the music nonprofit Austin Soundwaves (2019-2021). I am thrilled I helped over 50 students to continue learning music virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Austin I worked as a Band Director at IDEA Montopolis College Prep (2021-2023), where I recruited and taught over 300 middle and high school students. My mission at this organization was to bring equity through music education, providing the best opportunities to low-income students. I created partnerships with 6 nonprofit organizations providing free private and group lessons and participated in All-Region, Solo, and Ensemble competitions. I also hosted masterclasses with musicians from the major orchestras in Texas. I performed a diverse repertory showcasing the African Diaspora and Native American music, such as mariachi, norteño, bossa nova, jazz, brass band, and soul music, in addition to the classical music repertoire. At Temple College and Texas A&M Central Texas, I brought the same mindset to my college students. I taught a rich music curriculum, including technical studies, technical etudes, melodic etudes, solo repertoire, orchestral excerpts, jazz improvisation, commercial music, and Latin American music genres on trombone.
Today, I work as the Assistant Professor of Trombone and Director of Jazz Studies at Southeast Missouri State University.
Teaching a private lesson at FDR Elementary School with Open Tone Music, Cleveland 2018
IDEA Montopolis College Prep High School Band performing at The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, 2021
2022 Amistad Caribbean Arts Camp - students and faculty at our final concert at Julia de Burgos