Embark on a journey of learning, exploration, and personal reinvention with our unique teacher training retreat in Puebla, Mexico. Join like-minded musicians and educators for an experience that goes beyond honing your craft – it's an opportunity to reset your habits and create a better version of yourself while collaborating with Esperanza Azteca, a roots-based national music program impacting 3000 students across Mexico.

Our partner, Fundación Azteca of Grupo Salinas, believes in education as the catalyst for inclusive prosperity in Mexico. The program is designed to build the largest music-learning community in the country, utilizing an innovative educational model that identifies, recognizes, and promotes merit and talent. Through this initiative, young people gain the necessary capabilities to transform their lives and environment through education.

As a TAI Fellow, immerse yourself in the pedagogical model of Esperanza Azteca, working hand in hand with Mexican teachers and the faculty of the Esperanza Azteca Higher Institute of Music. Explore local schools in Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Mexico City, leading classes, rehearsals, instrument sectionals, and providing private lessons. Engage in professional development with EA faculty, give workshops, and perform for the students, families, and the larger Puebla community.

Connect with the backbone of TAI curriculum through morning reflections and discussions on culturally-responsive teaching, social justice in music education, and student involvement and the teacher role. Kick off your day with an optional early morning yoga practice, and in the afternoons, hone your teaching skills through collaborative workshops, including the Esperanza Azteca teaching model and orchestral repertoire.

Explore Puebla's rich culture with visits to the Zócalo and Talavera Ceramic Workshops. Delight in a local cuisine cooking class and collaborate with other fellows and students of Esperanza Azteca. Stay in a local colonial house in the heart of Puebla's Historic Center, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The afternoon activities will take place in la Constancia Mexicana, a charming colonial textile factory building from the 19th century.

In addition to your work with Esperanza Azteca in Puebla, explore local schools in Tlaxcala and Mexico City, and visit the headquarters of Fundación Azteca. This immersive experience extends beyond music education, offering you the chance to grow professionally and personally while savouring the vibrant atmosphere of Puebla and its surrounding areas.