2017 Grammy Music Educator of the Year

How fitting it was to speak with Keith Hancock, the 2017 Grammy Educator of the Year award recipient, about the importance of having a platform to vocalize music education concerns in this country. After all, Keith Hancock is a Choral teacher at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and knows first-hand about the incredible effect of vocal harmony. Keith feels music education needs to be a fundamental part of every child’s education in the United States, but it starts with parents and teachers coming together to express their concerns at the local and federal levels.

Hancock sees music technology as a driving force in bringing greater interest to the field. Classes in technology managed music platforms have increased in popularity allowing students who normally would not choose traditional music classes to explore the field. Kids who love pop music can begin to create and write musically, without disposing of traditional music education concepts.

Keith was first exposed to the grandeur of music performing at the Hollywood Bowl as a high school choral singer. The experience hooked him but never in his wildest dreams did he believe he would be a Grammy winner. Humbled and kind throughout the process, Keith has remained even-keeled even after being approached by Jason Mraz about a collaborative coral project with his students.

It’s the teaching that matters, and Keith still believes his best impact comes from instilling lifelong music learning skills at the high school level.

More Keith Hancock on Twitter

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