The Austin ISD Fine Arts Department believes that a Fine Arts education is essential for the development of the whole child. The arts provide students with unique experiences that allow them to explore their passions, maximize their creativity and critical thinking skills, and learn valuable lessons about self-motivation, dedication, teamwork and communication. The AISD music curriculum focuses on four strands of music education: music literacy; creative expression; historical and cultural relevance; and critical evaluation and response. These provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. The foundation of music literacy is fostered through reading, writing, reproducing and creating music, which helps develop a student's intellect. Through creative expression, students apply their music literacy and the critical-thinking skills of music to sing, play, read, write and/or move.
By experiencing musical periods and styles, students will understand the relevance of music to history, culture, and the world, including the relationship of music to other academic disciplines and the vocational possibilities offered. Through critical listening, students analyze, evaluate and respond to music, developing criteria for making critical judgments and informed choices.
Mills Musical Duo
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Devin Thomas Marvelous Music Teacher 512-841-2400 ext. 58082 |
Sofia Barberena Mystical Music Teacher 512-841-2400 ext. 43238
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LIST OF MILLS MUSIC EVENTS
Dates may periodically change
Wednesday 10/30 : 3G Recital : “Welcome to the 60’s”
Friday 11/8 : Veterans Day Sing-Along (Led by the 4th Grade Choir)
Friday 11/22 : Thanksgiving Sing-Along
Thursday 12/19 : 4th Grade Choir Concert
Friday 12/20 : Holiday Sing-Along
TBD (December) : 3G Nutcracker Field Trip
Monday 12/16 & Wednesday 12/18 : Musical auditions : “Pirates: The Musical” (Results will be posted on Friday 12/20
Week of Tuesday 1/7 & Thursday 1/9 : Musical rehearsals begin
Wednesday 1/8 : AV Club meetings
TBD (February) : MAW Choir performance
Friday 3/7 : Austin Jazz Workshop
TBD (March) : Middle School Band/Orchestra/Choir Visits for 5G
3/3 - 3/5 (TBD by District) : YPC Field Trip for 4G&5G
Saturday 4/26 : Music Memory Competition
Friday 5/9 : EOY Kindergarten Celebration: “My Future's So Bright”
Friday 5/16 : 5th Grade Musical : “Pirates: The Musical”
Friday 5/23 : EOY Talent Show
Thursday 5/29 : 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony
A little bit more about our dynamic duo…
Hey Y’all! My name is Devin Thomas, this is my third year at Mills Elementary & I am one half of the musical duo here. I was born and raised all over the North-East and have settled down in Austin, Texas two years ago with my partner, Cory. Together we have our 9 month old son, Myles, & two dogs named Jaxx & Nike.
I received my high school education from a small town school in Newport, New York where I graduated with the same 52 kids I went to kindergarten with. I then moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (a.k.a. the Christmas capital of the U.S.) where I received my undergraduate degree in Music Education with a certification to teach K-12 students from Moravian University in May of 2022 and I recently completed my masters in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education through an online program with Grand Canyon University in May of this year.
In my spare time, which is far and few between as a teacher & mother, I am an avid reader. My favorite genres include fantasy & romance novels. You may also find me exploring the many parks in and around Austin with my family - we are by far weekend warriors! & of course, as a musician, I spend lots of time consuming and making music.
Teaching is a true passion of mine and I can't wait to work with you and your students this year & for many years to come!
Hi y’all! My name is Sofia Barberena and this will be my first full year at Mills Elementary and I work alongside Ms. Devin Thomas to provide your students with quality music education.
Some fun facts about me are that I play many different instruments such as, Alto Saxophone, Piano, Gaita Hembra, and Marching Cymbals for drumline (marching band), however, my two primary instruments are the Oboe and English Horn of which I started at the age of 11. I was born in Austin, Texas as a 4th generation Austinite and feel honored to teach in the city I have and will always call home. I went to Round Rock High School in North Austin.
During my time as a musician, I have played in many different bands, orchestras, and operas. For three consecutive seasons, I played in the Bobcat Marching Band on the cymbals in drumline and for my last year, was honored to be named Captain / Section Leader. I was very fortunate to have taught up in Michigan for the biggest Fine Arts Camp in the nation: Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp where I got to teach and care for my students while they were away from home for a summer. I graduated from Texas State University in December of 2023 with a degree in Music Studies (Music Education) with honors (Magna Cum Laude), got certified to teach music Early Childhood - 12, and was mentored and taught by Dr. Ian Davidson who plays the Oboe and English Horn in the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Opera. I did my student teaching at Leander High School last fall and helped them make State Finals for their marching season in 2023 and found my passion for Elementary Music at Knowles Elementary which is also up in Leander. This past summer, (2024) I learned a lot about a method of musical pedagogy known as Kodaly and have completed the Kodaly I course. I am very excited and plan on implementing the practices in the classroom this year! Next summer, I plan on continuing my Kodaly studying to one day get certified.
During my free time, I enjoy practicing my instruments and performing, listening to jazz, going to the gym, and spending time with my friends and family.
Working at Mills Elementary has been a dream come true and I am very grateful and excited to be working with you and your students as teaching is my purpose in life.