At the El Cucalambé Professional School of Art (EPA), every morning begins with the rustling of bows on strings, the youthful voices reviewing solfège, and the murmur of students preparing for a new day. There, among music stands and scores, an atmosphere permeates the air where passion transforms classes into a space of discovery.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– In this musical environment, Miguel Alejandro Figueroa Reyes, violin teacher and head of the Elementary Level Department, has made teaching his vocation and his way of being in the world. With seven years of experience, he hasn't forgotten that teaching has always been part of his path.

“I really enjoy teaching; in fact, it's something I've been doing since I was a student at the Intermediate Level at the school, not directly employed, but I would dedicate my free time to helping my classmates and the younger students, those who had recently started.”

For Miguel, this exercise is much more than sharing techniques on how to hold the violin. “I’m passionate about being in front of the students, educating them, and transmitting values that will stay with them throughout their lives. Some may not become musicians in the future, but what they learn here —teamwork, a love for music, and camaraderie— are values that will make them better people.”

He acknowledges that his family influenced his path among musical staves. “My mother took piano and solfège lessons, and my younger aunt managed to get into school and graduate. I, on the other hand, was very involved in sports. My father coached me in baseball, and I was also part of the chess team at Toma de Las Tunas Elementary School. When the opportunity to enter the EPA arose, I took it almost out of obligation, without really wanting to. But little by little, music captivated me, and I never strayed from it again.”

Now a teacher and artist, Miguel maintains the discipline of sports alongside his musical journey. “I never lost touch with baseball or chess, but the violin gave me something unique: a sense of belonging that led me to dedicate my life to teaching and performing music.”

The decision to become a teacher —he knows that— isn't chosen like any other career; it's felt, lived, and built day by day. “There's something special about seeing a student manage to produce a clean sound from the violin for the first time. That emotion is incomparable; it's like witnessing a small miracle. Knowing that I've been part of that process is what motivates me to keep teaching,” he reflects.

“Teaching this specialty requires a lot of patience; not all students progress at the same pace or have the same motivations. I strive to help each one find their own path in music, because the violin is an instrument that demands a great deal of sensitivity. When I walk into the classroom and see the students rehearsing, I feel I'm in the right place. No matter how many years pass, I'm always thrilled to be there.”

“And if one day they remember that in my classes they learned to be better people, then I will have fulfilled my mission.”

Thus, amidst violin notes and ethical lessons silently imparted, this teacher continues building a future where music is experienced as an act of love.