This week on the Common Time Podcast, we’re hearing from a new perspective — a student. Our guest, Miguel Retto, is a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, studying Industrial and Operations Engineering with a minor in Music at the University of Michigan. A four-year member of the Michigan Marching Band, Miguel has served as a Rank Leader, Section Leader, and Fanfare Band Conductor for the tenor saxophone section.
In this episode, Miguel shares what made his high-school music experience so formative and how those moments inspired him to continue with music into college. We talk about the impact of strong teachers, the power of culture, and how meaningful connections through music have shaped his leadership and personal growth.
Whether you’re a music educator hoping to understand your students’ experiences more deeply or a student finding your place in the ensemble world, this episode offers genuine insight into why music education matters, and how it changes lives long after the final performance.
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