01/04/25

Meet Vivian Ventura: Orchestra Director at Southwood Middle School; the winner of the 2025 Miami-Dade Teacher of the Year Award; accomplished violinist; mother of three; and Master of Music Education (MME) student. While Vivian’s accolades and accomplishments are impressive, what’s even more remarkable is her impact on her students.

Music has the power to transform lives, and for Vivian, that transformation begins in the classroom. She has spent years building and revitalizing school music programs in Miami-Dade, the third largest school district in the United States. Not only teaching kids how to play but also fostering a deep love for music and a sense of community.

Some of her students have even gone on to attend the Julliard School of Music, perform in productions like Hamilton, and her middle school musicians were invited to play at Carnegie Hall.

Her story is one of growth, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to her students’ success.

A Vision for Growth: Rebuilding a Music Program

Vivian began her teaching journey at Arvida Middle School, where she grew the orchestra program from 32 students to over 160, with an additional 40 students in piano. After years of success there, she was presented with an opportunity to revive a music program that was in a vulnerable situation at Southwood Middle School.

When she arrived, the program had only 58 students, but through her tenacity and dedication, the program has grown to 95 students, with a goal of reaching 120 in the coming year.

But how did she do it? Vivian focuses on four key activities to grow student interest and build a strong music program.

1. Encourage Students to Embrace the Journey
2. Recruit and Engage Parents
3. Bring Music to the Community
4. Be a Champion for Music Education

1. Encourage Students to Embrace the Journey

Vivian’s impact goes beyond increasing numbers—her students fall in love with music under her guidance. She knows firsthand that learning an instrument is more than just practice; it’s a life skill that requires commitment, perseverance, and passion. That’s why she teaches students that “struggle is the key to success.” Vivian emphasizes the importance of persistence over perfection, whether it’s mastering a difficult piece, overcoming performance anxiety, or building music theory competence.

For example, as she explains, “My grading system is an A, a B, or an F, for Breezin’ Thru Theory. That’s because it provides unlimited chances to get it right. The key is to keep trying. Breezin’ Thru helps my students practice trying, failing and re-trying. With Breezin’ Thru I know how long it takes them to succeed. I see who struggled more, so I can step in to help them improve. Breezin’ Thru helps my students practice thinking and that’s invaluable.”

With Breezin’ Thru’s dashboards, it’s easy to see that improvement as well. “And, the pre-test and post-test ability is fabulous in Breezin’ Thru. For instance, we did a pre-test of Chapter 7 (Key Signatures) and when compared to the post-test, the kids improved 97%. So, I like that a lot.”

And those top students? How does she get them to strive for more? Vivian laughs, “The kids love the games, especially my overachievers. So, when they’re bored, I say, ‘Okay, do some Fingerings games.’ It’s amazing, with that practice they keep learning even faster and playing better.”

Vivian instills a growth mindset —people with a growth mindset use feedback to improve, while those with a fixed mindset may be afraid of being judged— encouraging students to embrace challenges instead of fearing failure. With that mindset her students not only develop musical skills but also gain confidence and resilience, qualities that serve them well beyond the orchestra room. 

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2. Recruit and Engage Parents

Vivian believes that music is not just a student’s journey but a family and community experience. “You have to take the time to get to know each parent and discover their strengths,” she notes. “It means I can delegate tasks to people with those much-needed skills. For example, if I spot a parent that is great at writing, I will ask them, ‘Would you consider submitting a grant proposal for us.’ The parents become this powerful team that really boosts the program.”

She actively encourages parents to participate, offering them opportunities to engage in their child’s musical growth in meaningful ways:

• Parents are invited to serve as volunteers for various events and fundraisers.
• When Vivian takes students on a field trip to see an opera or hear the symphony orchestra, she invites parents to join.
• A unique tradition at Southwood involves students expressing their gratitude after a musical performance by gifting their parents a rose—a simple but powerful way to show appreciation for their involvement.

Her philosophy is clear: music education thrives when families are involved. By breaking down barriers between parents and school activities, she has created an environment where music is a shared experience that strengthens bonds.

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3. Bring Music to the Community

 

Vivian believes that music is meant to be shared and instills in her students a sense of responsibility to give back to their community. Her students regularly perform at nursing homes, bringing joy to elderly residents.

They have also participated in fundraising events, such as performing at benefit concerts for children battling cancer. And Southwood’s music program has also been involved in charity events like the Miami Rescue Mission’s soup and bread dinner, which raises thousands of dollars for homeless shelters.

Through these experiences, her students learn that music is not just about playing notes—it’s about making an impact through outreach and service to others.

 

 

 

4. Be a Champion for Music Education

Vivian is not just a teacher—she is a tireless advocate for music education. She actively works with school administration and the district to secure funding, improve support for music programs, and fight for the value of arts education.

“Did you know that a strong and thriving music program keeps school enrollment strong?” she asks. “Without it, enrollment drops and so does school funding. And surprisingly, since only 40% of charter schools have a music program … having well supported music programs can be a further edge and plus for districts like Miami-Dade.”

She also notes that schools with music programs averaged a 90% graduation rate, while schools without music education had an average graduation rate of 72%.

When faced with the possibility of losing a music teacher at her school, she didn’t protest—instead, she organized a massive concert featuring 150 elementary students and seven schools, demonstrating the need for a thriving music program. The event was so successful it sold out, and as a result, enrollment in the music program skyrocketed.

She is also pushing for a more structured funding system for music programs, ensuring that teachers don’t have to spend excessive time fundraising instead of teaching. Her leadership has helped strengthen the music education landscape, not just at Southwood but throughout her district.

The Road Ahead: Continuing to Inspire and Grow

With over two decades of teaching experience, Vivian remains deeply passionate about her mission. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Florida State University, attending sessions while balancing her family life. She hopes to continue growing the Southwood program, mentoring young teachers, and advocating for stronger music education policies.

And her advice to younger teachers? Vivian smiles and says, “Remember you are not an island. Make sure you build bridges with experienced teachers, because they’ll be there for you. And in the beginning, there’s going be a lot of failure and that is awesome. I have failed more times than I have succeeded. And thanks to all those beautiful failures, I know what I know now. I didn’t learn all of this by “getting it,” I got it because I failed.”

Her influence extends far beyond her classroom walls. Thanks to her dedication, 95% of her students continue music in high school, ensuring that her impact will resonate for years to come.

By building bridges between students, parents, and educators, she has created a thriving community where music is more than just an art—it’s a lifelong journey.