Director's Message

My name is Jonathan Cruz and the 2022-2023 school year will mark my sixth year at Hale Charter Academy as Director of Instrumental Music Studies, and my tenth year overall as a public school music teacher. I am currently the 3rd director of Instrumental Music at Hale in the last 60 years, and I am honored to be part of Hale's successful traditions of the arts and music. 

As director of instrumental music studies at HCA, my immediate goals for the instrumental program are to find ways for our music students to perform off campus, and receive immediate and constructive feedback.

It is also an honor and privilege to be your child's champion for learning, education, and music. I will always relish the opportunities to help your children discover their potential as academics and musicians, and that is what motivates me everyday. And although school may look and feel very different this year, a pandemic will not stop me from having hope and believing in your child's true potential. I am committed to making hope happen for all students and I remain committed to my mission to help every student develop and foster grit and a growth mindset to successfully tackle the tasks and challenges beyond the music classroom and in life. 

Philosophy:

My instrumental teaching philosophy is simple, and it is to teach and provide the necessary behaviors, skills, and performance fundamentals to appreciate music, thus be successful and valued members of a musical community and lifelong consumers of music. Being a successful student of music requires that your child develops and understands the importance of: teamwork, concentration and focus, discipline, self control, time management, the importance of patience, repetition, reinforcement, working through struggles and setbacks (also known as productive struggle), and acknowledging constructive criticism in a positive manner. 

Quick Bio:

My musical background is in saxophone and woodwinds. I studied the saxophone extensively at California State University Northridge with a full scholarship and earned my bachelor's and master's degree in saxophone performance. Although I am primarily a woodwind expert, I also play most of the orchestral string instruments, brass, and percussion. My teacher training began with a fellowship at Columbus Middle School in Canoga Park during the 2010/2011 school year. In Spring 2011, I student taught at Hale, and in Fall 2012, I completed my teacher training at Westlake High School. 

After completing my teacher training, I moved to San Bernardino, CA and taught at Pacific High School for four years. I started with only 27 students in the instrumental program and grew the program attracting and enrolling 9% of the student population into instrumental music. I directed the marching band, jazz ensemble, mariachi, two concert bands, two orchestras, and taught piano and drumming classes. I achieved tremendous success at the high school level under the most unconventional circumstances.

I am constantly writing and submitting articles for music education journals and music education conferences. I regularly attend music education professional development conferences, and recently, in February 2019, I was the guest conductor for the San Bernardino County Honor Band. In addition, I am a regular festival/competition adjudicator with the Los Angeles Unified School District, and I am a sought after festival adjudicator and clinician in Southern California. 

All Hale Instrumental students will be under great musical guidance and support. I am available for additional assistance and tutoring if you ask or make an appointment. Given that all music students are cooperative, they will no doubt receive a high quality and rigorous music education and in return show off amazing musical work.

Please visit this website as well as schoology on a regular basis. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email.

Musically yours,

Mr. Cruz

jonathan.cruz1@lausd.net