Eric Jimenez is a co-host of The Score podcast and assistant band director at Prairie View A&M University. He joins the show for an exceptional conversation about his career, being a Latino band director, and ways that we can create more culturally responsive classrooms.

Topics:

• The score podcast and the story of Eric’s music journey, including the story of being a student at Prairie View A & M, the HBCU traditions, and his early career as a band director.
• Band director turnover in Title 1 schools and some advice for teachers.
• Eric’s decision to leave high school teaching to pursue his doctorate and the story of how he ended up back at Prairie View A&M.
• The lack of representation of Latinx composers and band directors in the band community.
• Culturally responsive teaching, avoiding appropriation, and teaching music authentically.

Links:

• Eric Jimenez
• The Score Podcast: An Urban Music Education Podcast
• Fitzpatrick-Harnish: Urban Music Education: A Practical Guide for Teachers
• Huapango, arr. A. Ramirez and J. Freer

Biography:

Eric Jimenez, Assistant Director of Bands/Adjunct Instructor at Prairie View A&M University, has revitalized several band programs throughout the Houston Independent School District. His programs at Sharpstown MS, Hamilton MS, Waltrip HS, Davis HS, & Heights HS Jimenez’ band programs increased both student participation and instrument inventory, as well as earned Division I and “Best in Class” ratings at UIL and numerous other festivals.

He is the recipient of Hamilton Middle School’s Teacher of the Year award in 2012, LULAC- League of United Latin American Citizens- Educator of the Year in 2015, and a Grammy Educational Award for his work at Davis HS in 2015. He is an active clinician, mentor, and consultant for arts educational programs within the Houston area and across Texas.

Eric is a 2009 graduate of Prairie View A&M University and earned his and his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University in 2014. He is currently a Doctoral Music Education Student at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity and honorary member Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.