Hey amigos! If you’ve been following our journey here at Ideal Spanish Mexico, you know we’re passionate about more than just teaching Spanish. We love diving deep into the vibrant culture and wonderful communities of Cuernavaca and Oaxaca!

Today, we want to shine a bright spotlight on a truly special place near Oaxaca City: the Escuela de Iniciación Musical Santa Cecilia (Santa Cecilia School of Musical Initiation).

Where the Magic Happens ✨

The Santa Cecilia school is tucked away in the Vicente Guerrero agency, right next to the famous village of San Bartolo Coyotepec (the one famous for its gorgeous barro negro or black pottery—but that’s a story for another blog post!). It’s about 40 minutes from Oaxaca City, and it’s a place where young talent absolutely shines!

Our ‘Banda Infantil’ Surprise! 🤩

Our connection with this amazing school goes back 13 years, to when we first started working in Oaxaca. We were introduced to the project by our wonderful German Volunteers who already knew them well. They invited us to see the “Banda Infantil” (Children’s Band), as they were called back then.

Honestly? We expected a sweet, but maybe a little noisy group of kids just starting out—you know, a few squeaky notes and a lot of enthusiasm!

Boy, were we surprised! 🤯

Instead, we were treated to a wonderfully harmonious and well-trained band! These were truly children, but they possessed a musical sense and talent that absolutely blew us away. From that moment on, we knew we had to be a part of their incredible journey.

Helping the Music Grow 🏘️

Since then, every time we bring a student group to Oaxaca, we make sure to visit our friends at Santa Cecilia, often bringing a donation that our generous students contribute. These visits are always heartwarming!

• We’ve seen major impact, like when the German School of Mexico City visited twice and raised enough funds to help the school acquire a much-needed piece of land to expand!
• The students from Indiana University gifted them with guitars.
• The Lycée Français de New York and the International School of Boston have also made significant contributions to help improve the project.

It’s truly incredible to see the global support this local gem receives!

Get Ready to Dance! 💃

In recent years, our visits have become even more fun! We bring a fantastic salsa instructor to give a giant dance class for everyone: our Spanish students, the Santa Cecilia music students, their parents, the teachers, and anyone who wants to come and have a great time!

It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon—breaking down barriers, practicing some moves, and getting to know the fantastic kids and families who make up the Santa Cecilia school.

A Community of Heart and Harmony ❤️

The success of the Escuela Santa Cecilia is a testament to the passion of everyone involved:

• The Parents: Who have enthusiastically built this project from the ground up.
• Father José: The priest from San Bartolo, who offers essential support.
• The Music Teachers: Who patiently share their knowledge and light.
• The Volunteers and Organizations: Like our wonderful German friends and all the others who lend a hand (Like Air France).
• And, of course, the Students! Who dedicate their afternoons to creating beautiful music and forging a brighter future through art.

We are so proud to support the Escuela Santa Cecilia, and we can’t wait to introduce our next groups of students to this truly inspirational project!

Have you ever been surprised by unexpected talent? Tell us about it in the comments!

Would you like me to translate this blog post into Spanish, or perhaps draft a social media caption to promote it?