We dream of a world where music is here for everyone, connecting us, inspiring us, and bringing joy and meaning wherever it goes. We are having our Dream Big spring fund drive here at ACG and it’s because of our community and supporters that we are able to share stories like this. Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.
This week we’d love to shine a spotlight on music educator Susan Rozanc!
Susan began teaching in 1994 in Naples, Florida. She taught choir, orchestra, musical theater, music appreciation, music theory, middle school band, and guitar! Truly a jack of all trades.
Susan first picked up the guitar in an undergrad folk guitar class and then didn’t touch it again for 20 years. She picked it back up and began teaching herself and elementary age children when she moved to Texas. When she began teaching at Travis High School shortly after in 2010, she offered a beginning guitar course thinking only a handful of students would sign up but 60 students signed up that first year! That’s when she was directed to ACG and GuitarCurriculum.com by Fine Arts Coordinator, Greg Goodman. Susan has been at Travis now for 12 years!
“I was relieved by the community and awesome support they offered.” -Susan
Susan shared a little bit about why she chose to become a music educator,
“As a kid, I never felt like I fit in anywhere. Music gave me a positive peer group, and a sort of ’family’ of other weirdos that liked and appreciated me. It gave me a way to express myself and gave me ways to feel good about myself and my accomplishment. I went into music because I am passionate about it and I wanted to give others some of the things music gave to me.”
We asked Susan what inspires her to continue as an educator,
“The kids. (even the obnoxious ones). I work with low income students. Poverty can do bad things to people, especially kids. For some, I get to be a positive voice in their life, I get to show kids that they are smart, talented, special, hard working, cool, nice, etc… My goal in becoming a music educator was to offer that feeling of acceptance to young people. After more than 27 years in the music classroom, I can say that I have provided that, and a wide range of other benefits and positive experiences. The music classroom is a place of refuge to many. It is where they come to when they are happy, sad, or struggling. They are safe in my classroom, no matter what. Now more than ever, when kids are facing trauma at every turn, it is vital for kids to have some place where they feel safe. The pandemic has ripped the bandages off and left gaping wounds in our world. Music helps my students soothe some of those wounds.”
Music’s ability to heal and bring people together will always leave us in awe. We are so grateful to be able to experience this and share it with the people we care about. Susan shared more about her favorite parts of the job,
“I love my job! I have been fortunate to do what I do AND get paid for it! I could write about the many different musical subjects I have taught, how successful my programs have been, or how I built programs from nothing, but my legacy as a music educator lies within the students I have taught and built relationships with. I have used music education to reach students and open doors to students that they may never have known existed before stepping foot in my classroom. In my classroom, music has done more than enrich lives, it has saved them. I have an undying commitment to help my students realize, and reach, their full potential; musical or otherwise. My entire career and most of my adult life has been devoted to this mission. I have had students become music educators, performers, and professional musicians. Most importantly, my students have gone on to understand and value the effect music has on the world and its people.”
We’re so excited to hear more stories from music educators we have the pleasure of working with!
Read another story about teaching artist, Evan Taucher, here.