I teach music because it is a fundamental part of being human. My goal is to draw out the music that is already within my students. I have a deep rooted belief in the potential of everyone to succeed. All students should have the opportunity to create and perform music. In creating and performing music, students should have a historical, cultural, and analytical understanding of a diverse repertoire of music. As a New Music Equity Action signatory, I am committed to providing students with a diverse program of study, with at least 25% of materials being created by underrepresented minorities, including females, non-binary, LGTBQ+, and BIPOC. Music is a competitive field, and music education for students should have a competitive edge, within the classroom and outside the classroom. The classroom should be a safe and supportive environment where all students have the opportunity to grow and learn from each other. In music, students learn necessary life skills: teamwork, communication, discipline, humility, courtesy, problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience, and leadership. For the student, music is fundamental to their growth in becoming a member of society.