Akira Sato

I am a full time music theory teacher at Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas, a position I have had since 2013 .  My main duty is teaching AP Music Theory, with 6 sections of AP Music Theory in most years.  Prior to this appointment, I was a faculty member at the University of North Texas, where I taught courses in Jazz Arranging and Composition.  Concurrently, I was the director of the Meadows Jazz Orchestra at Southern Methodist University where I also taught courses in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Pedagogy.

In addition to my duties at Plano West, I also work for College Board.  As a workshop consultant, I lead AP Summer Institutes and One Day Workshops for AP Music Theory teachers across the country.  In 2019-24, I was a member of the AP Music Theory Test Development Committee, writing and revising questions for the AP Exam.   I have served in numerous capacities at the AP Exam Reading since 2015, gaining experience reading every free response question.  I also created numerous lesson videos for College Board's AP Classroom website and YouTube channel.

I also started my own YouTube Channel where I post music theory related videos, including a number of music theory songs that I came up with.

I earned a Master of Music degree in jazz arranging from the University of North Texas, where I was a member of the One O’Clock Lab Band and had numerous compositions and arrangements recorded by the ensemble.  I also hold a Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration Degree from the University of British Columbia and worked in the financial sector for several years.  

I now live in Plano, Texas with my wife, son, and two cats.