Meet Rafael – Rafael is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and dedicated music instructor who teaches piano, voice, violin, bass, guitar, drums, and ukulele. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Vocal Emphasis) from The University of Texas at El Paso and a Master of Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Pedagogy (Vocal) from Texas Woman’s University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He has also been recognized with the “Digging Deeper” Award from UME Preparatory Academy for his excellence in teaching. Inspired by his father and artists like Jens Johansson, Rafael believes that music’s greatest gift is its creativity—the ability to express emotion beyond words. As a former worship leader who traveled and performed at churches across the country, he brings both musical skill and heartfelt passion to his lessons. When he’s not teaching, Rafael enjoys composing music, gaming, and game casting. His favorites include Canes, white chocolate, and Dr Pepper, and if he had a stage name, he’d go by “Dominus Dantae.” Dependable, encouraging, and student-focused, Rafael loves helping musicians grow at their own pace. His advice to families is simple: Be open to creativity—and practice, practice, practice!