Mr. Vasquez playing his drums (from the press of Atlantic City)
Carlos Vasquez is a band teacher at Iselin Middle School. He teaches every instrument in the band. Today, you will learn a little more about him.
Panther Press: How are you today?
Mr.V: Great, how are you today
Panther Press: When was your birthday?
Mr.V: January 22
Panther Press: If you have siblings, how many?
Mr.V: That depends on actual siblings. I’m my parents’ only child. My mom had a first marriage, and I have a sister on that side of the family. My dad’s first marriage was on that side of the family, and I have a brother and a sister. So technically 2 half sisters and 1 half brother, but I’m the only child in my biological family.
Panther Press: Why did you become a band teacher
Mr.V: I became a band teacher because I realized I liked helping people that can’t accomplish something. You know, and then helping them accomplish something that can’t be visible. Like you can’t see the end of a concert, you can’t see how it’s gonna go, but I’m telling you to keep going, keep trying, eventually you’ll be proud of what you do. I just kind of low-key became addicted to that.
Panther Press: Why did you come to IMS?
Mr.V: I’ve always been a part of IMS, even before I came here. A lot of my close friends worked here. Like Ms. Perla in eighth-grade math. I already kind of knew them, and when the job opened up, I immediately applied. I wanted to come here because I knew it was a pretty good school.
Panther Press: Do you enjoy working at IMS?
Mr. V: I do enjoy working at IMS. Very much, I think the kids are great. Their attitude is great. Obviously, kids are going to be kids, but I think in general, I’m in a very good place.
Panther Press: Did you always want to be a band teacher?
Mr. V: So I actually never thought I would be a teacher, period. I kinda always hated school. I got really good grades, but I never really liked putting in the grind. Eventually, I chose music to teach kids how to grind a little bit because it’s more fun that way.
Panther Press: Do you like teaching?
Mr. V: I do, very much so. I also teach at Rutgers University too, and private lessons. So all I do is basically teach.
Panther Press: What or who inspired you to be involved with music?
Mr. V: I mean, when I was a little kid. I was always interested in kind of learning the drums. This Spanish show, since my parents speak Spanish. It was this late-night Spanish show, and I saw this kid play the drums set one day. I was like Yo, I want to do that, but my parents didn’t really have the money to buy me a drum set. I have always been interested in music, and you know that’s what led me there.
Panther Press: What do you feel like was your best moment in your music career?
Mr.V: I had plenty of good moments, it has to be either when I went to a Broadway show for a year, or when I recorded the Disney movie I was in. That was pretty cool, too. Those were like the 2 biggest moments.
Panther Press: When did you start to fall in love with music?
Mr. V: I mean, I’ve always been in love with music. I can tell you the lyrics of the song I learned in my second-grade chorus class, and it’s in a bunch of different languages. To this day, I remember this song. My dad used to put on salsa records when I was a kid. So I always grew up around Hispanic music. I was just always connected to music my whole entire life.
Panther Press: What are your favorite music pieces?
Mr. V: I listen to pretty much everything. I listen to pop a lot, cause I grew up in inner city New York. So I’m very connected to pop culture. I’m also really connected to Puerto Rican-Latin culture. I listen to some rock. Basically, everything except country music.
Panther Press: How many years have you been teaching at IMS?
Mr. V: In September, it will be the start of my fifth year. So, about four years now.
Panther Press: What is your advice for people who are struggling with their instrument?
Mr.V: Keep trying, you may not see the end, but if you put in the work. If you put in the energy to become an engineer, rocket scientist, a freakin surgeon, or a musician. If you put in the time the right way, you will succeed.
Panther Press: Why do you give candy away every Friday?
Mr. V: So, my favorite teacher in the universe. I still talk to him, my eighth-grade math teacher. Can you believe that I’m almost forty years old, and I still talk to my eighth-grade math teacher! So his name is Mr. Williams, and he used to do this thing called Fantastic Friday. He would throw candy at us for doing math problems. So that’s why I give candy.
Panther Press: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Mr.V: No, I thought the questions were great. Thank you.
Panther Press: Thank you for your time.