Get to know our voice instructors! All three of these instructors teach both piano and voice lessons, providing the opportunity for students to easily take lessons for both piano and voice. Scroll down to read each teacher’s background and watch their introductory videos.
Desirae Salas
Owner of MMC
Piano and Voice
Instructor
“My greatest desire has become to share with my students the musical passion that I have been so fortunate to experience, while facilitating their overall growth and development.”
My passion for music was awakened when I first began receiving classical piano lessons at age five. My love of music and desire to create and learn continuously grew as I achieved my Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University. It was there that I also realized my passion for teaching! After completing my bachelor’s degree, I enjoyed two years of teaching pre-k through middle school music, elementary choir, and percussion ensemble as the music teacher at Summit Christian School, while also giving private piano and voice lessons. Although I loved teaching music to typical students, I began to realize that the need for music education went much deeper. So, I decided to continue my path in the field of education by obtaining a Master of Education degree in Exceptional Student Education at the University of Central Florida (2014). It was through my classes and internships at UCF, but most of all my experiences as a classroom teacher for students with autism, that I began to more fully understand the important role that music plays in the lives of all children — especially children with autism and other related disabilities. Now my greatest desire has become to share with students, with and without disabilities, the musical passion that I have been so fortunate to experience, while facilitating their growth and development not only musically, but physically, socially, emotionally, and academically as well.
Teaching Stats:
20+ Years of classical piano training
15 Years of classical voice training
Over 75 voice/piano students
Certified in Music Education and Exceptional Student Education
Certified in Early Childhood Development
Specializes with students with Autism and Down Syndrome.
“I believe music can have a place in every person’s life, and it is my goal as a teacher to help everyone find a place for it in theirs.”
I’ve loved singing and have been fascinated by the piano for as long as I can remember. What started with a toy piano and made-up songs has blossomed into my passion for life. After a couple of years of bargaining with my parents, I started piano lessons when I was 11 for my birthday and added voice lessons a couple of years later, just before high school. When it came time for college, I had no doubt that I wanted to study music full time and I chose Voice as my primary instrument. After graduating with my Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance at the University of Central Florida, I get to be a music teacher for voice and piano and I love it! Although not every child will go on to music school as I did, I believe music can have a place in every person’s life, and it is my goal as a teacher to help everyone find a place for it in theirs. As a teacher, one of my highest goals is to foster a positive and healthy relationship between my students and their music so that they can enjoy all of the wonderful benefits it has to offer. I also aim to teach each student a solid background of fundamental music concepts, so that they can have the tools to explore anything in music that they wish throughout their life. I have been teaching for almost two years now and I can’t wait to continue my journey as a teacher at Mindful Music Center!
“I found my love for teaching through choir, and my passion to teach my students music grows every day.”
I can’t remember a time in my life without music. I have been singing since I could talk and playing piano for over 10 years now. I studied at Jacksonville University in Choral Music Education and I am currently at the University of Central Florida for my master’s degree in Music Education. I found my love for teaching through choir and my passion to teach my students about music grows every day. I have been teaching piano and voice lessons for a little over two years now.
*Experience teaching neurodivergent students.