Key Changes
The focus of Key Changes is on facilitating changes for students that will form a foundation for academic excellence and musical literacy. Students of all ages are encouraged to apply and may qualify for $500 in private music instruction on the student’s instrument of choice.
Additionally, qualifying students seeking collegiate-level music education may receive up to $2000 in scholarships.
Funding is provided directly by new Mariachi Entertainment System album sales (streaming revenue not applicable).
El objetivo de Key Changes es facilitar cambios para los estudiantes que puedan sentar las bases para la excelencia académica y la alfabetización musical. Se anima a estudiantes de todas las edades a postularse y podrían calificar para una beca de $500 en instrucción musical privada en el instrumento de su elección.
Además, los estudiantes que califiquen y busquen una educación musical a nivel universitario pueden recibir hasta $2000 en becas.
Los fondos son proporcionados directamente por las ventas del nuevo álbum de Mariachi Entertainment System (los ingresos por streaming no son aplicables).
My Story
Growing up as an aspiring musician in a rural community with little access to private instruction, I felt disadvantaged entering the Texas State University School of Music. Most of my colleagues had access to private instruction and were ahead in ways I did not anticipate. For the most part, music school was conducive to a learning environment; most of my peers were helpful in nurturing my musical development.
My great mentor, Frank DeLeon, who still teaches at his San Marcos Mariachi Academy in San Marcos, TX to this day, was my greatest music teacher. He understood where I came from, what my strengths were, and he used his expert knowledge of mariachi and music to guide me in ways that would keep me motivated to continue learning. He was patient, kind, funny, and he led by example. I learned the fundamentals of voice, the subtleties of phrasing and style from Frank. He gave me opportunities and used socratic means of stimulating my creative mind. He not only taught the music, he taught the culture and history of the craft. His passion is infectious and I was lucky that he was my first mariachi teacher.
Unfortunately, not every mariachi teacher shares Frank’s outlook. Once Frank had left the school of music to pursue his own professional endeavors, a handful of my next teachers were not so kind. They taught by shame, and I learned soon that many mariachi teachers teach this way. They often cited themselves, their own perceived success as the justification of their methods. Frank needed no such citation, nor did he seek it; I, and his other students were his living proof.
I suppose this teaching method can be effective for some, but I also think that for every student who achieves great success learning through shame, there are 10 more who quit altogether, and countless more who quit from the student who perpetuates the cycle. I was almost such a student.
I am going to say for the first time in my life that today I am a successful musician, composer and arranger thanks to Frank and teachers like him: Dr. Keith Winking, Morris Nelms. It is my hope that through Key Changes, we can find students and guide them in finding the teachers that are going to motivate them through love and patience as Frank did for me once upon a time.
David Ortiz
Executive Director
Key Changes
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San Antonio-area music students currently enrolled in a public school band, mariachi or orchestra program.
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The scholarship is funded by physical album sales of Mariachi Entertainment System latest album.
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While a vocal audition is part of the selection process, an instrumental audition is required to be eligible to receive a scholarship.
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Written applications are reviewed internally, after which a musical audition is requested of the applicant. A third-party selection committee will be in charge of selecting the scholarship recipients based on several weighted categories: written, instrumental, vocal, showmanship, miscellaneous. In the miscellaneous category, the applicants are encouraged to show off musical abilities not otherwise evaluated such as musical arranging, production, knowledge of theory, portfolio etc.