Encore Academy of the Arts: Deborah Sanchez's Mission to Inspire Young Minds Through the Arts

In this episode of the Red Lips Real Talk podcast, hosts discuss the transformative power of music on children’s lives and introduce their guest, Deborah Sanchez, founder and director of Encore Academy of the Arts in Miami. Deborah shares her story of moving from Cuba to the U.S., where her passion for music was nurtured despite many challenges. She talks about the impact of her early music education and the teachers who supported her, leading to her pursuit of a music career. Deborah highlights the importance of individualized music education and how it helps students of all skill levels, including a child prodigy she currently mentors. She also discusses her academy's growth, community involvement, and charitable efforts. Additionally, the podcast delves into the significance of music in public education and its broader impact on community and individual development. The episode concludes with Deborah emphasizing the importance of support from family and staff, and how Encore Academy continues to evolve and inspire future generations.

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Transcript

You are listening to the Red Lips Real Talk podcast where we talk about life, love, and everything in between. You already know it's time to get real 

music and the arts have been proven to have a powerful impact on our children's lives, nurturing, creativity, self-expression, and emotional growth. Through rhythm, color, movement, and sound, children are able to explore their identities and connect with the world around them in meaningful ways, whether it's learning to play an instrument. 

Dancing or performing on stage the arts. Encourage curiosity, boost confidence, and help develop critical thinking and communication skills. When I was a young girl, I struggled with confidence and self-esteem. My music teacher in high school was Miss Kaza. She was one of the first people to truly believe in me. 

She convinced me to try off for the school choir ultimately. Helping me find my own voice. I joined an acapella group and we traveled for two years performing all over South Florida and we called ourselves the Magicals. I built everlasting memories that I cherish in my heart, even. In those hideous blue dresses that she made us wear, they were very ugly. 

But thanks to music and the art, and of course, Ms. Kaza, who I hold dearly in my heart, I know that was the catalyst to helping me start believing in myself. On today's episode on Red Lips Real Talk, we are excited to introduce you to a wonderful, dynamic, beautiful Latina woman serving our South Florida community with our children. 

She's the founder and director of Encore Academy of the Arts in Miami. They are currently celebrating their 15 year anniversary. She graduated Cum LA from FIU and a double major in piano performance and music education, receiving awards for outstanding academic achievements in music. She completed her master's degree in piano performance, also at FIU, and she received a full scholarship. 

So let's give a warm red lips. Welcome to the beautiful de Sanchez. Thank you. Thank you. I got emotional with that intro because you speak exactly, uh, from your heart, from an experience that really is my hope. It's really that music makes a difference. Oh, you're tearing up. Can we? Yeah, no, I did. I did. I know. 

I was like, I can, I cannot crying already, but Yeah. Yeah, it was, yeah. So before we begin our show, I'm gonna just. I'm gonna be a girl right now. Like your hair girl. Yes. Cute. Your hair, like, thank you. Oh my God, my god. Those are my natural grays. Wow. I have grays since I was 15 and I knew I was not gonna keep up with going to, to the hair salon every three weeks because my, my hair does grow. 

Mm-hmm. Very fast. So I said, you know what, I'm going to wear them. And I'm not gonna die it and I never dye them. So you must get it beautiful all the time. I do. They stop me and they're Are those natural? Yeah. And I say yes, they are. They are. Well it looks, thank you. It looks great. Thank you. So let's just, um, I wanna scale this back 'cause I want our listeners and also us, right? 

The ladies of Red Lips, we really wanna get to know you. So thank you. All we wanna know is basically tell us a little bit about yourself. About me? Yeah. Well, thank you first of all for having me here today. This is a very special invitation and I'm honored to be here with you all. So I came from Cuba when I was 13 years old. 

I. Came, uh, to the Dominican. I went to the Dominican Republic and then came here. And my parents, none of them are musicians. My dad is an architect. My mom is a chemist. And in my family, really, there was nobody that played music or was a musician. And, uh, when I got here. Um, I got a lot of advice not to continue music. 

Not to do music because music was not the typical career to make big money or, and my parents were very always supportive and they were always insisting on I should do what makes me happy. And they were, if music makes you happy, that's what you wanna do for the rest of your life. We're here to support you. 

And I went to Braddock, uh, that was a school that was close to, to the house of my aunt where I first lived. And it was a public school. I came from a school of about 15 kids in a room to a school of 6,000 people. Wow. So it was pretty different. It was pretty, um, a big change. Mm-hmm. But, uh, I had wonderful teachers from my EO teacher. 

To Ms. Garcia. Ms. Garcia was actually one of the first ones to discover that I played, uh, piano. She was a teacher that they put me on my schedule for, I think it was a psychology class of some kind. And I actually showed up to the class late because I got lost in that humongous place, and I got late to her class and she spoke to me in English. 

I didn't understand anything. I didn't speak. Anything, not even one way. I think I only understood Yes. Thank you. That was it. Um, so she realized that I didn't understand anything and she then translated, she started speaking to me in Spanish and when, long story short, she gave us a project where we had to talk about ourselves. 

And of course I spoke about my piano. Had no piano, nothing to practice on, nothing. It had been. Probably a month since I had arrived and she read the essay, which I obviously wrote in Spanish, and she talked to the principal and said, this girl needs to move from my class. Although I love her, she's a great student, but she needs to go into a piano class 'cause she needs to practice somewhere. 

So she introduced me to the piano teacher there, uh, my AU teacher also, and they all started talking to me about New World School of the Arts. They got me the application to New World School of the Arts, the actual paper one. Back then it was on paper, and then I started practicing in a room that they had where they had a piano after school. 

So I would stay after school and practice there for months and months until my parents bought their first furniture, which was a piano. Oh, from, uh, yeah, back then. From the flyer. Remember the flyer? Yes. Yeah. So they found a piano was, I think $200 or something like that. Yeah. They moved it themselves. They broke a leg, but it still played. 

And that was my piano for years and that's where I prepared for the audition and New World of School of the Arts. Thanks also to, uh, miss Darlene Trujillo, who was my angel back then. She taught me piano for free. She prepared me for the audition and I auditioned in, uh. 10th grade, there was only one opening that year because he had New World back then. 

There was piano program and if one student left, then one student would get in. So I applied and I got the, you know, position and I started there from 11th and 12th grade. So I did my last two high school years. I knew World School of the Arts and it was an unbelievable experience. I loved it. And then from there, as you know, I went to FIU and et cetera, et cetera. 

But the beginning was, yeah, it was a little rough, I wanna say a little rough, but, uh, I was very, um. Blessed to meet great people. Mm-hmm. That really helped me along the way. Who believed in me, who saw that I really had a passion for music. That was really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And really, money was not my thing. 

It was to do what I love. And I think that's what makes the journey so fun. 'cause I really do what I love. Yes. So, and I, I think what everybody should do, it's like they say every day, um, if you do what you love every day you don't, you're not really working. Of course. Yeah. Right. It's true. When I come here, it's like, okay. 

This is my happy place. Right. You know, it's not really, I don't feel it's, it is working, honestly. And the kids really make it even more special. So That's a beautiful story. And, and also your parents, how they were so supportive. Yes. And it's a world that they know nothing about. Nothing. Nothing. They are really my, I wanna say my biggest fans for sure, but they can also be my biggest, um, you know, they will tell me. 

I do something they know it could be better. They're not always saying, oh, this is beautiful, wonderful. No. Whenever I do something that they know I can do better, they're like, they can do better. You do? Yeah. All to this day. Yeah. Latino parents, oh my goodness. My dad, every show, the first person I ask, how do you feel it went, is my dad, and he is very, very. 

You know, loving and you know, he says it with a great attitude and everything, but he will not hide back. Nice. He would always say the truth. Good. It's good. So it's, I appreciate it. I think it's important. And my mom could be a little bit more, obviously moms are different, but my dad for sure will always say how he feels about it from an audience point of view. 

Okay. Which is always different from what we feel up there. Exactly. You know, so. What was it that made you wanna start? Encore. Oh, okay. How did the foundation of Encore begin? Okay, so I always loved teaching since I was a little girl in the conservatory back in Cuba. I liked always to help students if they had to, I don't know, practice a little extra, a little part that they couldn't play. 

I would sit with them, I would practice with them. I always liked that. And, uh, both of my parents are also, although they're, my mom's a chemist, but she was. Teacher at university. My dad also is an architect, but he also was, um, part of, um, a school that he also run. And so I think it's in the blood. I think they do have that capacity to teach and teach well. 

So I always saw it in them and they would always have people over. My mom would always be tutoring people, et cetera. So I always saw that kind of close to me and I love it from a very early age. And I think when high school, it all started, like I, I started writing ideas, things that I wanted to. To do If I ever open, if I ever know, when I open a school, I always knew I was gonna open a school. 

That's the key word right there. Oh, yes. You, you already knew you were gonna do it. Yes. I didn't know how or when. Yeah, but I had my own little book of notes. I'm so glad you said that because honestly, I think that once you say to yourself it's a non-no non-negotiable. To do it, of course. And it was always like that little, I don't know, dream you wanna call it, right? 

And I wrote, I still have that book somewhere with everything, you know, little notes here and there. So when I graduated from high school that I started going to FIU, I already had in my mind this project, like I had it visualized. On paper, and I started teaching from, I was 17 from my house, actually. My very first piano student, I, to this day, I am still in contact with her parents and everything. 

Yes, Leonardo Almeida, I will never forget. Very, uh, talented young boy and I would teach him in my mom's house, my parents' house. And from there, you know, I did many things from calendars to applications to, you know, recitals programs, everything from day one. And I used to do the recitals. The very first one was in my house. 

Actually in my parents' house, in their neighborhood. How many children were there in the respect? Three. Three. Aw, thank you. Three. And me. And then, um, it was very nice. We did it and, and it came out as really, really beautiful. And from there, you know, I continue, I always taught while I was in college, like I. 

I had my private students, I taught at other schools, and I also started teaching from, um, from zero. Like had, they had just opened at the Miami Conservatory of Music, which became my family. You know, the owner, Brigit Kichler to this day were great friends. She's an absolutely incredible woman, and I remember when I went to. 

The, um, when I went to the interview with her, um, they were looking for piano teachers and I said, I love this place. I will work here as if this was my own. But I want you to know that one day, this is my dream, but I will do everything in my capacity to make this place great. Give it all, but when that time comes, I will let you know. 

And I worked there for nine years. Wow. Wow. Nine years. And I brought in people like Darlene Trujillo, the teacher that helped me when I first. Came to, to Miami. She taught there for many years. Her husband, who's a great violinist, also taught there for many, many years. And that became, uh, a beautiful project. 

And I worked there for many, many years until I, you know, was ready to open my own. And I even continued teaching one student that I had that was about to graduate. So I kept going to, to bridge to teach her until, you know, and then a year later is when I. Opened my place. So yeah, to this day, we're great friends. 

It was a wonderful, wonderful place to work at. Wow. That's great. Mm-hmm. Deborah, so how do you approach teaching music to students with different learning styles or skill levels? Great question. Um, I think that every student has a capacity to learn to play an instrument to develop. That skill. And obviously there are kids that are naturally talented. 

They come with something already in their system. Others, not necessarily, but every child is capable of learning and it is a wonderful tool for them, whether they become. Musicians or not, whether they go into the world of music making or not, it is wonderful for their development, for their growth. So what we do is we adapt to the student in the sense that we first find out how they are, what they can do, what they cannot, and then we. 

We focus on their weaknesses and we develop, you know, their strength. We try to bring in their, the best in every child, whether it is through different methods, different books, different music. It's really, it has to be adapted to them. We cannot teach just one way and apply it to all of them because it just simply doesn't work. 

Uh, the kids that come here are not auditioned. To do music, they all come where they are, whether they're from zero, zero or sometimes they come from other teachers or other institutions. It's a very, it's a wide range and it's the same way with the methods that we use. There's not really a specific one that we use for everyone. 

No. We really adapt. And how do you balance like the classical training or contemporary or, you know, popular styles? Like how do you go about that? Yes, it's specific. Uh, uh, voice specifically is probably the hardest because they listen to a lot of radio and pop music. So they come and they are, are maybe, I don't know, eight years old, and they wanna sing the songs that even the words are not appropriate for them or they're not even ready to understand what they're. 

Singing. Listen, we were listening to some songs like, oh my Goodness, yes. It was like, okay, what is this? You know, like, I don't think I get it. So do you, do you remember? I feel a Little Bump coming through. We had no business singing that song. Crazy. It's so for me it is like, and many of these songs, sometimes I don't. 

I don't listen to the radio on a regular basis, so I, I listen to all classical music, which is, you know, many of my students, they're like, you don't know who this is a joke that they, like, you don't know who Taylor Swift is. I'm like, oh, no, no. I do know, but I mean some, some performers, I really don't even know who they are. 

So they, you know, they come with these songs that they wanna do, so we don't want to be like, no, you cannot sing that. We, we kind of say, okay, let's do it in class, you know? But now when it comes to the performance, we try to guide them to more musical theater songs, to more, uh, songs that are appropriate for their age. 

Disney songs or, right. Things that are more for their development for their age. Now in piano it's a little bit different because obviously. The classical music, that's what we teach and we try to encourage that from day one. But if they come, oh, I wanna play this. I don't know, again, from Disney songs. And I always tell, okay, as long as you're ready to play the song, and we can even recognize what the song is because sometimes this, they make it so. 

Easy, like they arrange it or that you don't even know what the song is, you know what I mean? Because it's missing so much that it's not, you know, it's not even sounding the way, the right way. So when you play classical music, you're able to have music that is from day one, appropriate for that age, and it sounds. 

So it's, it's tough because you don't wanna discourage them. You don't want them to feel, oh, this is boring. You know? We wanna choose music that they relate or they like. But this is probably the hardest thing. The hardest thing. So how does your personal musical interest influence your training of students like your favorite music And I'm. 

Completely classical. So classical music for me, it's all beautiful. So I sometimes have to play 20 pieces for them to say, okay, yes, I like that one. Because they don't like any, I'm just like, you really don't like, they're like, no, I'm just so slow. I'm like, oh, okay, okay. Let's find something else. So sometimes I find myself playing 20 pieces in their, so like, Hmm. 

You know? Yeah. So, but I keep, I, I don't give up. It's very hard for me to give up and my students know that. So sometimes they're like, she's not gonna change her mind, so let's choose something or be here for three hours. I love classical music. Yeah. It's, it's, I think it's, they sometimes even realize that there is classical music everywhere and there is, even in their video games, I have this student that one time came and he's like, oh, I love this space de, and then he played it for me and he. 

Ballad by Chopin, and it was in this whole, I'm like, where do you hear this? I'm like, curious. I'm like, oh, you listen to classical music? No, this video game. I'm like, well, no. At least it's a video game. At least I'm happy that, that you use it in that way. So there're there's sometimes surprised to find classical music everywhere. 

So Deborah, I had the privilege of being able to come to one of your Christmas shows that I was invited to by a family member. Mm-hmm. And I, I love seeing the kids perform from, from very little to, you know, they're about to graduate. There was one performance by a young man that, uh, I think, you know, who we're talking about. 

Yes, yes, yes. And I, I was crying. Like I, I had tears and I just felt like, okay, how, let's talk if, if it's okay with you. Yes, of course. Let's talk about that young man and how that's impacted your school and you and what you see in the future, hopefully. Of course. Well, um, so Nico, it's a very special boy. He came to me about two years ago and. 

He came to, to just find out about the school to get him, uh, prepared to audition for middle school for the magnet program. Little did I know that he had been learning on his own, like he started learning piano on his own for, he had been doing it for three years using YouTube video. Wow. Basically he can read all these videos that you see with lights. 

Um, they come up and down and he's able to read that, like if it was music and. When I heard him play, what? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. What is, I'm not following. What is that? They are these videos on YouTube where the music is, is all digital and you see the notes that you're about to play are coming down like a, it looks like a waterfall. 

Really? Is that a, isn't it a game? Isn't that like a guitar hero? I had no idea. Like Guitar Hero does that. I have no idea. But it's, it's, to me, it's another world mind blowing. I can't, yeah. I don't understand it myself, but wow. Uh, he came to me and he performed like one piece, uh, which was already a very high level, uh, piano piece, um, that he had learned. 

It's one of the hundreds of pieces that he has in his mind, and I was blown away. I really couldn't believe what I was listening to. And from that point on, he started coming to Encore. Several days a week, um, and just mastering his incredible talent. And, um, it has been a beautiful journey. He has an incredible gift, a passion for music that I really have never seen before, and especially that ability to read those things. 

But also now he reads music like a pro, like he really learns. How to mu to read the music and he's able to do it just as well. And right now he's actually in a festival in Europe, uh, for piano and he has classes every single day, performances. I mean, he's just, I can't wait to, to see him. Yeah. And, and hear about this incredible experience, uh, with Miami Piano, international Piano Festival. 

So it's been a great experience. Would he be considered a child prodigy? Yes. In my opinion. Wow. He's definitely, definitely, I think as a music teacher, that's the dream. Yeah. To be able to have children of all, of all levels. Of all levels for sure. And be able to potentially have a child prodigy that you will also have been able to help. 

Yes. Get better for sure. Working with him has been a beautiful journey. Like I, I have discovered so many things. I just seeing how he learns, how he plays, how he memorizes things on the spot. It has been mind blowing and I, I just, I like to work with every type of children. Like I don't have a preference. 

Yes. I think that from every different type of, uh, student I learn so much. It gives you so much, uh, you know, with those that are harder to teach because it could be a little bit more moving a lot in the room or just not, uh, focus as much. I have learned about patients, about giving them another try, not giving up on them, and then these kids that have it naturally and they can do it so easily, so I concentrate on other things. 

So every student brings so much, and to me, I enjoy them all. Right. Even the harder ones, the really, really hard ones. I think I, I, when I see that I'm able to get something from those children, it gives me so much joy because it's so hard. I know how hard it's, yeah. So what do you do when you have a child that maybe is struggling and is doubting themselves, or perhaps says, I don't wanna do this anymore, I wanna quit. 

How do you, oh, I get that. How do you like talk to em? I usually don't let them, you know, I actually, no, no, I can't. I'm like, no, no, this is, I mean, especially one that I know enjoys it. It's a Latina in you? No. Not like What? What are you saying? I don't think so. Well, actually, I have. Student. Um, the student of mine, she's right now, she graduated from Berkeley College of Music. 

She writes her own song. She's a songwriter. And when she, I think they reach a point around ninth, 10th grade when it becomes really difficult with school and the practicing is just too much for them. Um, that they just hit the wall and they're like, it's so hard. I don't have the time, et cetera, et cetera. 

So this student of mine, she was not the typical student that played classical music. It was very hard for me to find something she liked. And probably one of the few students of my own studio that never played a sun or UE because she would not learn it. Like she would just con just say, no, I can't. I don't want it. 

I'm like, so she came to me one day in the middle of high school and she's like. I don't wanna do this anymore. This is too hard. I cannot do it. She was like crying and I said, you're not quitting. I'm sorry. Yeah. Like, no, you have this great talent and you love it. I know it's hard. I will help you. Do not worry, you're not quitting. 

So she comes to me. As a senior, and she's like, I want to apply for Berkeley College music. I wanna major in music. And I said, oh, I'm so happy I never let you quit, because here you are. Right? And yeah, I get that. I mean, and sometimes parents are the ones who push for this. Mm-hmm. Because they're like, you're never practiced and you know, I'm wasting my money and you're not doing this. 

And I always say, let them, let them. My own child doesn't practice. She comes here every week and she has a an hour of piano. She enjoys it. She has a great time with the teacher. The teacher is able to advance with her slowly because of course she doesn't practice at home. So then it takes a hundred times more, more months to learn something, right? 

But I am happy with her coming here once a week, doing something that's good for her brain, for her life, for her own enjoyment. Self-esteem. Yeah, self-esteem. And yes, I'm okay with her not knowing a hundred pieces, one piece a year. That's fine. I'd rather have that than not, you know? So when the parents become very pushy about it and they think that they're wasting their time and money because they're not practicing at home, I always tell them, leave them alone. 

You know, it's okay. It's fine. Look at the bigger picture. Exactly that hour a week that they're coming here, it's one less hour on that phone. One less hour watching TV or one less hour, God knows what, so let it be. Right. If I knew how to play two or three songs on the piano, I would be playing them every Thanksgiving and every Christmas for the rest of my life. 

Exactly. So it's, it's fine. Like I, I think it's. It's good regardless if it's, they don't practice on their own at home. Okay. It's fine if, if it brings them anxiety, if it brings them like they don't feel good about themselves, we are not, okay, fine. You stop. Because if you're gonna have that, let's say battle in your head, oh, I didn't practice. 

I'm not gonna be okay. I am gonna have this meltdown in the class. Then of course if it's not adding to you and it's just giving you more problems, and of course, but if not, let it be. Don't push it. Don't push it. I think that's the power of teachers. Yes. How they impact certain students' lives. Exactly. And the power of, of not only just music, but in, it could be sports, it could be math, anything, anything. 

But teachers make such a huge, huge difference. A hundred percent. And I, I'm a big advocate in looking out for our educators because things are different now. Right. A hundred percent. You know, and a lot of teachers sometimes feel like, wow, like, am I even making a difference? But I want you to know that you are. 

Thank you. Thank you. I, I really hope that. They get something out of it, right? Whether you know the student that has the incredible talent and becomes a pianist, professional pianist, I hope they can do something positive and something good with that also, at the end of the day, and those that just do it for fun, that's. 

You know, a general education or just as a hobby? Also, I hope that they can do it for the rest of their lives. I always say when they're able to perform in front of an audience, when they're able to learn a piece by memory and perform it life, that is a life skill. Exactly. It is. When they go to college and they have to talk in front of an audience, they will be a lot less nervous than those that have never done that. 

I wish when I was little, uh, that I did musical theater, for example. I think musical theater, it's incredible. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing to do from an early age because they learn about talking, uh, pronunciation presence. So many things that are great for life. Great for life drawing. I remember I did a lot of drawing when I was a child. 

I went to camps where I would do painting and all, and it has helped me to this day. I have done art classes and I love it. I'm always doing crafts and things because I enjoy that very much and I think it had to do with my early years. I did it all my life. My kids had, they, they love music and um, they did it for fun. 

I had somebody coming to the house and giving them music lessons, but it was more fun. And it's funny that you say they wanna play all the, the music from today because Yes, that's what, that's what they can relate. My, my son had the guitar, so he was trying to learn like Bob Marley songs. And my daughter with the piano. 

Yes, yes, yes, yes. But then COVID hit oh and yeah, he couldn't come to my house anymore to give him lessons anymore, and they never went back to doing the lessons. But every now and then, she'll take out the piano and play whatever she learned. I. I found the two of them with their guitars in the living room. 

That's awesome. Trying to remember. That's awesome. The Bob Marley song that they, they played, they like instruments. That's great. That's great. It's, that's what it's all about, that they can have it for life, right? Mm-hmm. Yeah. My stepson learned to play the guitar watching YouTube. Right. Yeah. For, well, my daughter just bought the little drum set that she remembered. 

The one in the room. Just because For fun. Yeah, exactly. Trying to learn on YouTube as well. Why not? Why not? This? Every child, I think, and, and as you, sometimes they come to you little without, you know, four or 5-year-old, and they don't know that they have that gift. And then if you see that gift and that little seed there, you want to be able to get it to that next level and that next level. 

Mm-hmm. That's also very, it's really the teachers. And it's a very, a very specific one that if you either do, you don't do it well, you can completely right stop that development. If you do it well, then you see the results and it happens. Even with Nico, that's such an advanced student as well. Like that is such a big responsibility as a teacher to be able to, to bring experiences to him, to bring a lot of competitions, right, and things and concerts and things that will develop that talent to another level. 

If you just come to class once a week and that's it. It's not gonna do it. Exactly. So every level, every level requires so much from the teacher, um, from the family mm-hmm. As well. Consistency, coming to classes, not missing. If they practice at home, great. If they don't, again, it's not the end of the world. 

We can still do things, uh, in the classroom, you know, it's, it's a whole package. Yeah. You gave an example about like, let's say a student having anxiety with doing the pressure and the shows and all that. Have you ever had a child that learning music helped with anxiety? A hundred percent. Yeah. Many, many, many. 

And those that have a big, uh, fear for performing in front of an audience. I have, I have done both things. I have pushed for the performance regardless, and it has been good, positive outcome. And when I see way too much, then I don't, because if it goes well, fantastic. But if it doesn't, it's so high, the anxiety that it. 

Could also hurt them. Right. More than help them. So I do then a little small recital in the room. I bring their parents, I bring friends, I bring, um, not friends, but students that are around, or a teacher and I do it in here. Oh, wow. And at least it gives them, uh, the opportunity to perform, but not in front of 150 people, but 10, 12. 

And it could be gradual. It could be a gradual, gradual, like a gradual step by side. It's good that you do that. Yeah. Yeah. Because I, you know, I think if, if it's. Such a, at a, such a high level, it needs to be treated not just with music, but with other help. Yes. Yeah. And if it's not done properly, it could harm them. 

So I don't, I don't push to that level. There's so much I know as a, in that field, you know, um, right. And I just use common sense. Um, what role does music education play in shaping the community? I think, um, music helps every child, um, build resilience, build self-esteem, build community. I think that by bringing people together. 

For performances, for shows, it really brings a lot of joy to the community. I always see, every time I do, for example, the musical theater shows, I invite people from outside. Like parents of course will go to see their children, but I also tell people around that I know, that I know will love seeing something like that. 

Mm-hmm. And they, it never fails. To get the same comments. Oh my God, this was so beautiful. I wish more people can see these things because music, really, music and art in general, it's important for life. It's for the soul, for enjoyment, for, I don't know, it just disconnects you from the world out there, and it just. 

Brings you to another level that as humans, we need it. Mm-hmm. We need it. And it's a time of just enjoying beauty. So let me ask you a question, uh, being that we're tapping into community and how it impacts and public school systems, for example. So what changes would you like to see in the way that music is taught or supported in like, especially public schools? 

Right. Right. Um, 'cause you know, that's usually the first program that's kicked out. Exactly. That's usually the first one. That's. That's defunded. Yeah. Um, so how do you feel about that? What are the, you know, what are your thoughts on that? Well, one of the first thing I would love to see is piano program back at New World Go the arts that was taken away years ago because of funding, because piano is a more of a solo instrument. 

It's not like an orchestra, like a violin in an orchestra or win instruments in a win ensemble. So piano becomes a very small program. That of course it takes a lot of money, I guess, or funding and they took it away. So piano itself, it's hard to see in public schools in general. Um, coral Reef had a piano program. 

It was all keyboards, like an ensemble that was also taken away. So piano itself. It's hard to see in public schools. It would be great to have it back, like have a piano, piano labs where they could have, you know, like this right here if you can see, uh, for the summer program we do a keyboard band where they get the basics of piano playing and then if they really love it, they can go into private classes or whatever. 

But piano program per se, it's pretty much nowhere to be found Wow. In public schools at all. Um, and I believe. Music should be taught at every level from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. I agree. It should be something that is part of their curriculum and should not be optional, I think. Yeah. And within music, it could be choir, it could be orchestra, it could be even musical theater. 

It could be, it could be art. Just art should be definitely part of the part. I agree with almost everything that you're saying because I did suffer a lot from self-esteem and not believing in myself. And not to go back to what I was saying about my, my high school music teacher, but I. It was just getting on that stage changing. 

I had stage fright. I remember I had like a small little solo. Mm-hmm. I started crying on stage. I was humiliated. And the next day she was like, it's okay. Life happens. Next time you'll do better. You're not quitting. Exactly. Of course. You know? Course. And it's not like I'm this great singer. That's not the point. 

It is. It was just something to help me believe in myself. Of course. Course. And that's why I, I like what you're saying. Of course. And if there's parents listening right now thinking, should I put my child in some type of, please do. Please do, please do. Don't think about it. It's not about making your child a star. 

No. It's about helping your child develop and believing themselves and giving them the tools that they, they need tool to succeed in life. A hundred percent. And it's, I, I get this a lot too. Can you maybe do a little exam to see if my child has. What it takes to, to take music lessons. And I always say I don't need that. 

I mean, if you are going to a music school where I grew up, where you had to have certain skills or certain traits to get into these schools, okay, but this is a different type of school. This is open. To all children, and it's for, you know, creating a, you know, the next generation of either musicians, music lovers, supportive, uh, supporters of the arts. 

You know, you we're teaching them about art. We're teaching them about how to appreciate it. Also, whether they become musicians or not, it's not the point. So yes, they should all try it in one way or another, but more, more, more importantly. Also, children with certain, uh, disabilities or what they call issues. 

You know, we have had students come that. Um, their doctors have said they're not gonna ever move their fingers. Wow. They're never gonna be able to speak, they're never gonna be able to this and that. And here they are performing. Wow. Learning music. I, there's one particular student that for years, every show he had a different, um, issue. 

Let's say there's one time that he said, please, I want you to tell the audience not to clap at all. Like I wanna go in play and out and I don't want any clapping. The kid, I went out and I said that he went on stage, he played cry. He was playing and crying at the same time. He did not miss one note. 

Mm-hmm. He played beautifully finished. People were like dying to clap because it was incredible. Well, this year that same child was like, Tera, I'm gonna be the last one and I'm closing the show. The kid was incredible. Wow. He, it's. A completely different child now. Mm-hmm. Fine. With all the clapping ready to be on stage. 

And this kid was just, the transformation has been incredible. That's incredible. Incredible. And I think music has had an in like important, um, important aspect in his life. It wouldn't be where he's right now without this music at all. Well, music has a great impact on your brain. It does. A hundred percent. 

It's like a gem on your brain. Yeah. Yeah. So even like people with Alzheimer's, if you play the one song Yes. Like they remember. Uh huh. They're clear as day and they're in that moment. Yeah. Music is very like, impactful for sure. Yeah, for sure. I think it's, it's wonderful if they can do it, please don't, don't, don't think about it twice. 

Go for it. It does take work. I'm not gonna say, right. 'cause for the parents also to come here to take them home. Homework, dinner, you know, these classes happen after school, so it is not easy to have, but it's rewarding at the end, you know, after all that work. Yes, exactly. Um, but it is, it's hard. It's hard, it's intense. 

It's, it's not, it's easier to just go home and, yeah. You know, not take that time, but I think it's very rewarding. Mm-hmm. It's great for all of them. All of them. Are there any charities or organizations that you're affiliated with? Well, uh, to me, giving back, it's. It's very important. I think that, um, we should all do something. 

It doesn't matter how small it is. Mm-hmm. It's the way to really make this a better world, you know, in any capacity that we can. So, um, my daughter back in ninth grade, um, at the end of eighth grade, actually, it was actually around the pandemic year. She was in eighth grade. We started my husband. Love to knit, and my daughter too. 

And they started making bags by, you know, knitting them. And, uh, we thought it would be a great idea to, to sell art or to do art or charities and to donate that money Okay. To charities. So. Carmela's Heart is actually a very dear foundation to my heart. Was founded by one of our flamenco teachers that she taught here for a few years, whose daughter passed away from cancer at the age of 15. 

So, sorry. Uh, yeah. It was a very, very difficult time, of course, and it still is, but she used her grief. To create something beautiful. And she founded Carmela's Heart Foundation. And this foundation helps children around the world, um, from Mary Mary's meals. I don't know if you've heard of that. So they support Mary's meals, they support people in Venezuela. 

They support people in Africa. You know, they do beautiful jobs. So what we have done is we created our own foundations called Art of Hope, and through music concerts, through art, through even the children here at Encore. They have created our pieces and things with, along with Mrs. Carroll. They are a teacher. 

We sell this in different events and we donate it to Carmela's heart. Um, we have raised over $10,000 already, and we have given back a lot from, from that project. This year also, we, um, combine our efforts to help, um, Ms. Garcia, the teacher. That was my very first. Teacher back in Braddock. She also has a foundations called, uh, Ms. 

Young Domingo Savio. And she also helps people in the Dominican Republic. And this year part of the proceeds went to her. And also Blue Missions. I don't dunno if you heard about Blue Missions. No. But Blue Missions, it's a foundation that helps people. In the Dominican Republic as well. They built latrines. 

I actually went with my daughter about three years ago to one of their trips. My kids now, actually, my son is going now, and they built latrines over there. Wow. And they built water, um, water paths for the, for the people. So it's a very beautiful project. It's a great foundation itself, and Encore supports them as well. 

So we try to do the best we can and, um, I want to do a lot more. Mm-hmm. That's just the beginning, but giving back is very important to me. So many people help me. That is only fair for me to give back, and that's why I'm grateful that you. Uh, we're a willing participant in this episode at On Red Real Talk because these podcasts get listened. 

Even if it's listened by 20 people or 2000 people. It's, it's a way that you are raising awareness on things and people can say, Hey, how can I make a difference? Maybe I can donate or another cause, but if all of us. Combined together to try and make a difference in the world. It's an extremely powerful thing. 

It is. And very necessary. I think that we are blessed in ways that we don't even know. Yeah. And that we take for granted. We take for granted. Mm-hmm. And when you see, I, when I went to this blue missions trip, we were there for a week. And I mean, it to me wasn't too impactful in the sense that it reminded me of Cuba. 

I lived 13 years of my life there, so I lived, I experienced that. Very much. No water, no food, no this, no internet, no. So for me, none of that was completely new for my daughter. It was. And it was life changing. It was life changing. I thought it was wonderful. And I think every child should experience something like that too. 

Mm-hmm. I agree. Really see how blessed they are. And I agree to see how, I remember before getting into the plane, the founder, he said, I want you all to think about who the real poor are. You know, because when you are in there not talking about money. Talking about pour in spirit, pour in your heart, you know, and it was a beautiful, beautiful week. 

Beautiful life changing. My daughter loved it so much. She went back the following year with my son, and now my son loved it so much. She went back. She couldn't do it because she's now off to college. We didn't know how this summer was gonna be, and you have to pretty much do this at the beginning of the year prior, but it's, I. 

Recommend it to everyone if they can go and do this is wonderful. They have all ages groups. So actually I, I went to that all ages without knowing I was gonna be the young, the oldest after me was 20 years old. I was the only 40 plus lady there, but it was great. But 40 pluses were sad. Deborah, what are you talking about? 

I was like, okay, so I'm in charge of all these kids. I mean, look. Your hair and your red lipstick and your little black dress. Girl, thank you. Thank you, thank you. It was fun. I just didn't know if I could walk all those mountains up there, but I think, and actually Miss Scarce is now there. She's one of the chaperones this year, and she's. 

70 plus and she's doing this. Wow. I love it. Like she's an inspiring woman that, um, wow. I, I'm like, I wanna be like her when I grow up. 'cause she is such, such a spirit person and ready to, to help the community anyway. Yeah. And actually even she comes here to volunteer also. She comes, whenever we have shows and stuff, she's here helping with all the costumes and this, and now she's like doing larine in. 

The Dominican Republic and she's 70 plus. We need to step up ladies. Yeah. Red Lips needs to do something. Do something. This is inspiring to, for human beings that, that project I think you'll love. Yeah. You should take it out. Yeah. Okay. For sure. For sure. We'll have to look into that. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So I always like to ask this question to all of our guests. 

Um, it's probably a loaded question, but if you could go back in time Okay. And tell yourself. One thing about your music journey or your, or things that maybe you could have done differently, what do you think it would've been? Ooh, it's loaded. It's loaded. That is all hard question, but you'd be surprised what you say. 

Oh, wow. You could take a minute. Wow. I think, I mean, the whole journey of, um, in my, in my case, it has been two, two journeys. You know, the journey of learning, um, my craft and. Learning music and all that. And then obviously my journey in Encore. Is it more my journey in Encore or my journey as a musician? 

Whichever one you feel, Encore. Okay. Let's be encore. Let's go Encore. Yeah. Mm-hmm. My journey with Encore, I think it has been a process of discovering things, of constantly changing, adding, and making it better. You know, I don't think I'm done, not even. Halfway. So from day one, um, I'm a believer that I have so much more to do and so many things to do differently and better. 

I see that, that's why I asked that question, even though it was loaded, because I, okay. Now maybe it's because we're similar in, in age here. Yes. But I just feel like we're starting Yes. Like we're starting. Spent years of our life. Exactly. And just get this feeling from you that the best is yet to come. 

Exactly. You're already thinking like, okay, let's do this. Let's do this. Right, a hundred percent. Because that's how we think. Oh, a hundred percent. So from day one, I was happy where I was because it was the beginning stages, but I was not comfortably just to sit there and not do anything else because there was no way. 

Right. So actually, as a matter of fact, Encore, when it first started was just music. So it was a tiny little place. Very close to here, about eight rooms, 1,200 square foot. So very, very tiny. And we started with 20, uh, no, 40 students of my own, plus 20 of my best friend Jackie. So it was about 60 kids, and I was happy that was the beginning of Enor, but I knew that was just the beginning of en so, so where you at now? 

Girl? Oh, many, many, many, many more. So I, I knew that I wanted to expand into, um. Having art and having musical theater and dance. I had no idea what that program, that's another world. Completely. Yeah. And I had no clue how intense and how big that was gonna be and how difficult it is because now I look back and the piano, the music program is the easiest to run in a way because. 

It's more individualized, like it's the student. Mm-hmm. And the teacher, yes, you want to develop each student at their own level, et cetera, but it's more individual. It's not as a group setting. Right. When we're talking about musical theater and big productions and art and group classes and the. And the costume, the dance program dance is another world too, because dance ICA and the sets and the theaters and the back stage backstage when they have four or five wigs, I was like, Ooh. 

So it's so intense. Little did I know back then that I was gonna get into such a big, you know, and that's how this location came on along because my dad. Back then he helped me obviously find the original encore, the place, and he was the one who built that place inside. Wow. Yes. And then when I told my dad, we don't fit here anymore. 

We need to start looking for a bigger place. And then we couldn't find a place that was obviously ready to do all these things. So it took about a year, and then we found this place and we had to knock it down completely. Built it. It took about a year. Wow. My dad did, did it as well. He, that's why your dad be telling you stuff, girl. 

Of course he, yeah, he knows. 

So my dad was the one who built the, you know, the inside of Enor too as well. And you know, here we are reinventing ourselves. Every single day. Right. Good for you. And yes, there is really not I, I know that this is just the beginning, like you said, and there's so much more to learn, so much more to add, so much more to do better and differently that it's just hard to say. 

Honestly. Well Congrat, congratulations. You and I hope you one day Red Lips gets an invitation to a great show. Oh my God. Of course. You are invited already to every single one of them. Do you have single one? A big one coming up soon? Well, um, now in the summer is probably, and I was telling this to my husband, this is pre pretty much the only time of the year that I'm not preparing for a show. 

Okay. I actually used to do summer camp shows. Then I decided to not do them because it was too much. Right. It was too much. And parents were exhausted too. Like I'm a parent too, and I'm like, I don't want any more shows. I want just, I mean, just getting ready. Have fun. Yeah. And just getting ready for the new school year. 

It's intense already. So we dropped that summer camp show a few years ago and I'm happy that we did that. So now we are getting ready finishing summer camp when I'm not finishing. We're kind of halfway. And then getting ready for the school. New year, the school year. And then in December is when we have our very, uh, first show. 

Okay. And from there it's nonstop until June. So you still have a summer camp, you just don't do shows during the summer. Right? Exactly. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. We have the summer camp going eight weeks of summer camp. We just finished week three and now five more to go. Okay. And they go by like Mari, they're like so little with their little. 

Fancy dresses and their bows and their, their little high heel shoes, gas and with a little violin. It's bigger than their whole body and they're like adorable. I had my dance at for like pre-K, so I remember those shows. Yeah. Show They brought Glen out on the stage. Oh really? At those shows. Yeah, my husband. 

That's so sweet. That's so nice. You have daddy, dad, and. Daddy and me or something. Daddy and me call it like that. It is very cute. Yeah. So, yeah. So little did I know that the, the program was gonna be Yeah. So, so much more. Yes. Right. Than what it first started being. Just music. Music only and, and what's to come? 

Oh, what's to come? What's to come. Yes, for sure. What's to come There were constantly, like just this yesterday we did for the first time was the idea of, uh, of, uh, Ms. Carol, who's an incredible. Women. She's like, why don't we do an uh, a drive by art exhibit? I'm like, oh, I think that's great. What do you mean drive by? 

How does that work? So you know how the kids are getting, they get drop off in the morning? Yeah. Or summer camp, and they picked up in the afternoon. Okay. So we put the art pieces that they did throughout the week. Oh yeah. Like this week we put it outside by the wall and they drove by. It was great. That's pretty neat. 

Very nice. It didn't rain. I was like, yes. I see. I was thinking Eli IA when I couldn't take them out until like an hour later, but I was able to do it before they first started. That's really cute. So things, ideas that, you know, even this year in the show that we did for, in March, she also did art as a runway. 

Mm-hmm. So the kids wore their art and that was also very different than new. It was very cool. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And like that. So we're constantly, constantly trying to think of ways. To make a difference. I think trying to always come up with stuff is challenging even for us. 'cause we're like, oh, we wanna do things that the community wants to listen to, but that also we like. 

Exactly. And then Marita's like very organized and so is Monica Yo loca. And they're like, put it in the drive. Put it in the drive. And I'm like, I text them. Let's do this. Let's do that. Jasmine. Put in the drive. Put in the drive. I'm like, ah, okay, okay, okay. Because I just, you know, I'm, I'm a very emotion, you know, I'm sporadic. 

Exactly. But you gotta have organization, girl. Oh my goodness. Number one, I'm, I'm a combination. I think of the two. I love to organize as one of my. Hobbies. I love it. Mm-hmm. Uh, but I'm also on the spot, like mm-hmm. Spontaneous. Then I call for that naty. She's hilarious. She's like, every time you get in the car, the first person you call is me, because the minute I get in the car, more ideas come to me. 

Yes. Right. So she's like, oh, here you are again. And then I call her and then, but you just laugh. I'm like, I know. But when I get in the car, that's when my ideas come better. And now I'm peaceful in my car. Yeah. Silence. Oh, I feel, I called Marita, I called Monica almost at 10 o'clock at night driving home. 

'cause we had just finished doing a show and I'm like, Monica? She goes, what, Jasmine? I was like, 10 o'clock, let's do an episode on Britney Spears. And she was like, put it on the drive, Jasmine, so they can get done. Yeah. Yeah. So see, even with talking about Nati, Nati is my right hand. My left hand. She's my, you know, my backbone. 

Right. And. But she with, with the change, she's not her favorite thing. So whenever, yeah, she's comfortable with something. I hear, I come with another new idea. She's like, what? No, Deborah, really? No, we don't need that. I'm like, yes, we do. Yes we do. I remember Fridays, we had to move musical theater for the minis from Saturday to Fridays on Friday. 

Used to be a very peaceful Friday. Yeah. So I'm like, we're gonna, we have to because we don't fit on Saturday, so we have to move minis to Friday. She's like, why? No, that's not gonna work. People are not gonna come on Friday, because that's like the, and then Nancy we're doing it. Mm-hmm. 30 plus students. The biggest group we ever had Wow. 

Was on Fridays. I'm like, you see, I'm not gonna listen to you. Like, oh, Deborah. I'm like, yes. Yay. Oh, wow. Well, Deborah, this has been a, a wonderful show. We wanna thank you from Red Lips to, to do this. Um, you know, I, I'm gonna tell you right here that, um, you helping others finding their voice through music and the arts, uh, you make a bigger difference than you probably realize. 

Uh, in our South Florida community, your passion for music is. Contagious and it inspires everyone around you. Thank you. The way that you connect with your students shows how much you care, and that makes your teaching truly special. Oh, thank you. So thank you and thank you. Monica's got something to say. 

I'm going to read a poem. Oh, that, uh, we found it's called The Beauty of Music. A whisper is soft, a thunder loud, a sound that lifts us past the clouds. In every note, a story is told. Every chord emotions unfold. It dances light on winds that blow. It paints the sky with highs and lows, a friend and joy, a guide through pain. 

It speaks the words we can't explain. So close your eyes. Just let it play. The beauty of music will show the way. Oh, that's beautiful. I need a copy of that. I need to, I need to put that Thank you on the wall, GPT. Well, incredible. We could have said, oh, it was out. We wrote it. Just keep it that way. Yeah. 

Bueno, Debra from the bottom of our house. Hi. Thank you. From one Latina. No. So one other. Latina, you're doing incredible things. Thank example. Do you wanna get a little shout out to anybody before we end the show to you? Well, no. Well, first of all, thank you. You're doing also a beautiful, beautiful thing, uh, for the community. 

I think these talks are wonderful and, um, you definitely need to continue. Don't give up. Thank you. Even on those moments where you're like, oh. I'm crazy. Why am I doing this? This is too much work. I don't know if you know this, but my goal is to have Pit bull on the show. Of course. Oh, you'll have it. I have to have pit bull. 

You'll have it. You'll have it. I'm always like Pit bull. If you're listening, but you not Deborah, you know you're in music. Exactly. You be like, oh, you know Pit bull. Well, red Lips were taught. How about maybe FIU, you know? Now he's with FI. You so people, so yeah. Hello. Graduate from FI maybe. Well, I definitely wanted. 

Thank my family, my husband, my children, my dad, my mom, my brother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my entire family. This is really, um, I couldn't do this without them at all. Yeah. Like the hours that it takes to do everything, and I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Yeah. Are endless and really there is no, there is no way I could have done it without their support and their understanding that without them I couldn't do this. 

And they know how much I love this and how much it has impacted my whole family too, because my entire, all the children in our family have passed. Through Encore in some way or another, and they have built so beautiful, uh, memories. They still remember there are times in summer camp and times in the shows, and, and it has Right. 

It's memories for life. Yeah. So it really, I wanna thank them for. For everything and for believing in me and not giving up and mm-hmm. Especially on those days that I'm stressed out and not as as joyful if you're a little stressed out, just put, put a little pit bull on. Exactly. Just they, they put up with me even on those moments. 

Yeah. And of course, all the faculty, the teachers that make an course so special. It's probably one of the hardest thing is to find the right people to work with. Mm-hmm. Right. And in the art world, I think it's especially probably difficult because they just cannot just be wonderful performers. They need to love teaching, uh, be able to communicate well, um, be okay with all different styles, different ways of teaching, or at least adapt to the students. 

And it's just so many different skills. That to find that is not easy. And I'm really very blessed to have, uh, an incredible group of 30 plus teachers that are really fantastic. So, so shout out to the whole staff at Encore, the whole staff at Encore, and of course Naty as well is also such a wonderful support. 

She has been with us for. Over 12 years now. Wow. And she's, she's just, she knows, she, she just looks at me and she knows exactly what I'm thinking. And that's just, she's a what a person, you know, she's, uh, I can trust her a hundred percent. She is wonderful with the, you know, people, with a families, you know, so it's, it's a whole teamwork that I couldn't do without them really. 

So Deborah, before we leave, why don't you tell our listeners the name of your school, how to contact you guys, your website, Instagram? 'cause you never know. You may have new people who wanna join your school. I said, well, for sure. It's never too late to learn how to play an instrument. We have all kinds of ages here. 

We have adults as well, and we have students of all backgrounds, whether they have done it when they were little and now they return to us. There is a large variety. So yes, you can contact us via either, um. On Instagram, Encore Academy of the Arts, or you can call us. Our number is (786) 580-3812. And you can always leave us a message if Miss Natty is not here to pick up the phone. 

And also you can check out our website, um, at encore academy of the arts.com, and you can read about us about the different programs that we offer, et cetera. So thank you to our listeners. We hope that you have enjoyed this special show on music and the arts and children. And if you have liked the show, please leave us a, like a comment or share 'cause we really appreciate you. 

Thank you for listening. Make sure to subscribe to our show so you don't miss an episode. We will be dropping an episode every two weeks. Oh yeah. No, like seriously subscribe now. So just chill to the next episode. Follow us on Insta and TikTok.