Meet Esme!

Bilingual

Guitar / Ukulele / Piano

Hi! My name is Esmeralda, and I go by “Esme.” I am fluent in both English and Spanish. Growing up, I enjoyed singing along to movie soundtracks and always knew that music moved my heart and would be part of my life. At a young age, I went with my parents to their worship team rehearsals and would be amazed at how different instruments came together creating one sound. At the age of thirteen, I got my first acoustic guitar. My dad began teaching me how to play and pulled up videos of songs that I could play along with. He was so excited that he had me play as soon as I could for church.

From there, I began to learn piano/keyboard as well and would play whichever instrument was needed for the church worship team each week. Then one day, I remember being at a church rehearsal, and the pastor showed up with a brand new Fender electric guitar seeking someone to learn it. I took hold of it, and from the first strum I was hooked on electric guitar. I began learning small leads to implement and grew to understand my new role in the band as an electric guitarist. Over the next few years, I increased in skill in both guitar and piano.

When I became an adult, I was privileged to be accepted into Nelson University’s music program to pursue my BA in music, and I quickly realized there was still so much more that I didn’t know. I threw myself into taking professional guitar lessons, studying music theory, learning to read sheet music, improving my piano knowledge and skills, adding bass guitar to the list of instruments I can play, and so much more. I was eventually accepted into the Guitar Ensemble, which had been a dream of mine after I first visited the university and saw that the electric guitarist was a girl. In the ensemble, we performed all styles of music from blues, to jazz, to contemporary, to classic songs from the Beatles, Snarky Puppy, etc. Also at Nelson, I joined the chapel worship teams that both played on campus and traveled to multiple youth camps and conferences to lead worship.

After graduating with my music degree, I began teaching private lessons in piano and guitar. From watching my own previous instructors to now being a music teacher myself, I understand the responsibility and joy that it is to teach! My goal is to lead students on the path of their musical journey and help them become solid musicians. I love teaching at En Route Academy of the Arts, helping students grow in their abilities and find a passion in their instruments!