1. Larry Bustamante
Philosophy in Music Education
Freedom. That is the idea, the feeling, the understanding I received once I began
playing music. I started when I was in middle school, and it took until I reached the
second half of my high school career that I realized what music gave me. I loved music, I
would always walk around with my headphones in or humming a melody to myself, but I
never thought I could dedicate my entire life to it. It wasn't until I realized the power I
had in playing my instrument, that I fully understand what music truly offered me. That is
what I want to teach students, the realization of their freedom.
I have been around music my entire life, from Peruvian folk music at home, to
salsa and other dance music at family parties, and hip-hop and rock coming from radio or
my older cousins. I knew I loved music but I never thought I could translate my love of
music into instruments, I mean really, who plays bass clarinet in a hip-hop group? But, I
got older and started to understand music at a higher, deeper level. That is when I got into
jazz, and my entire life changed. I saw all the music that I loved so much: hip-hop, salsa,
folk music, rock, all these things in jazz. I felt the energy, I was hooked. I was listening to
it non-stop until finally my band teacher switched me to baritone sax. Then it all fell into
place. I never looked back.
When I finally took music seriously, I learned so many life lessons that I felt
helped me so much in life. Discipline, facing my fears, encouragement, taking criticism,
confidence. All these ideas I believe did not just come from my music teacher, they were
lessons I learned on my own. I firmly believe that self-teaching is the greatest form of
education. Only you know how best to learn something because you know your strengths
and weaknesses better then anyone else. But, it takes a great teacher to guide you in self-
teaching to truly benefit from it. I had that, in high school and in middle school, and I am
forever grateful for my teachers. I want to give my students the confidence they need to
pursue anything in life, regardless if it's music or not. Self-teaching can be applied to
anything, and I want to make sure that my students will be always be ready for anything
that their life may bring.
Ultimately, I also want my students to realize that music is everywhere, and that
everyone, regardless of where they are from or what they do, is a musician. I do not
believe in the hierarchy of the status of a musician, in terms that only a select few can be
a musician. I believe that only a select few can be a musician as a full-time career, but
after that, everyone is a musician in my eyes. Music brings joy to anyone, regardless if
they are listening or creating it, and it should be shared with everyone. This is why I want
to have as many performances as possible for the students, have them bring the joy of
music to as many people as possible. I want to bring the performances past just the school
auditorium, I want to bring performances to places that some may see as obscure, but it
allows for the music the students create to connect with the community. Arturo O'Farrill,
two-time Latin Grammy award winning artist, and former professor of mine once
explained to me one of the greatest projects I ever heard. He did a project where he
brought a small ensemble to very obscure places, like a boxing ring or fish market, in the
Bronx and played music that was inspired by the people from the Bronx. He explained to
me how much the people appreciated these things, and it made me realize that that, as a

2. music teacher, want to offer the students. This music, the music that they create, needs to
shared with the entire community. Why? Because, they are this community, and we have
a gift we can share, and we should share it with everyone because music gives the people
what they truly want. Freedom.