Interview with Mrs. Carreiro

I interviewed Mrs. Carreiro on February 26, 2025. Here’s what I asked her and what she said: 

What is it like being a music teacher? 

I really enjoy being a teacher. Being a subject specialist is pretty cool for a couple of reasons. First, I get to know all the students and all the teachers in the school, so that keeps things interesting. Second, I get to watch students learn and grow over the 6 years they are at Coe. Some big changes happen between the ages of 5 and 11 and I get to keep working with students through all those different stages. Plus, I get to teach kids about something I am passionate about. Music and dance have always been a big part of my life. One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing kids enjoy something we do together in class. 

Do you have a secret talent, and if you do what is it? 

I’m not sure how much of a secret it is but I am a pretty good tap dancer. I started lessons when I was only 2 years old. A few other things people might not know about me are that I speak French, I love to garden, and I am a good cook. 

What's your favorite song, and why? 

I’m not sure I can give you an answer. There are too many awesome songs to choose from. I do have a favorite band though… I have been attending Phish concerts for over 30 years. I like the band because they are talented musicians who play many different styles of music and when I go to their concerts it is like a big dance party. 

What kind of music do you listen to, and why? 

I listen to lots of different styles of music depending on my mood. I like rock, pop, funk, and hip hop when I am feeling energetic and I like classical, jazz, blues, and Americana when I am looking to unwind. And let’s not forget about my love for Broadway showtunes, I usually listen to those when I feel like singing along. But my favorite type of music comes from jam bands. Like jazz musicians, they play composed music, and they improvise, but they are not limited to just one style. It is the improvisation that interests me especially when I go to hear musicians play live in concert. 

Is there a job you wanted as a kid that wasn't teaching music and if there was, why? 

I knew early that I wanted to teach. I thought I might want to be a dance teacher. Given that I get to teach music, dance, and drama I guess that is close to how things turned out. 

I learned some new things about Mrs. Carreiro and I hope you did, too!