Sometimes Our Toughest Teachers Give Us the Greatest Gifts

Me playing guitar in Zócalo Square in front of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, where construction began in 1573.

A lot of people may not be aware that I am semi-fluent in Spanish.

The reason why is because when I was a teenager, I went to a prep school and had a fantastic Spanish teacher.

She was really hard on us, but I am eternally grateful to her in my adult life.

This was before Google Translate, so we had to actually learn the language. And in my house, if I didn’t get good grades, there were consequences.

So, I learned.

Many years later, I understand the value of what she instilled in us.

I started traveling internationally in my 20s, and now, at 41, I have spent nearly 10 years traveling to and spending extended periods of time in countries like Mexico. Knowing Spanish has allowed me to explore and become part of the culture in a way that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

Even when I am in Mexico, people constantly comment on how good my Spanish is.

I love visiting and spending extended periods of time in Mexico because it is only a short flight from Texas, where I am from, and there is so much to see and do.

Needless to say, the food is amazing. Pair that with a great beach or a picture-perfect city landscape, and it can be quite the retreat.

In my downtime when I am not performing, sometimes I go there to work and coordinate things for the program. I can do that from anywhere, so why not do it from Mexico?

The coolest thing is that when you “live like a local,” things can be about half the price of the United States. So, if you have flexibility, it can actually be a more economical lifestyle.

For example, at my grocery store in Austin, Texas, one single avocado costs $1.85. In Mexico, you can get an entire kilo—which is basically a bag of avocados that actually taste better—for about that same price in pesos.

I could go on and on.

But in a way, this is also the essence of my Mr. Blue Shoes program.

I have simply taken an old art form and put it into a new package, so to speak, and placed it in an environment where it can thrive.

Schools need presentations. Kids are starved for connection. So why not provide them with an opportunity to see something cool at a cost that makes sense for schools?

That’s really what Mr. Blue Shoes has always been about: taking something valuable and finding a way to make it relevant and accessible to a new generation.

I just thought I would share that.

But reply back and let me know your stories about Mexico or any other foreign country you have visited. I’d love to hear them!

Have a great week, and always keep me in mind if you’re looking for a great program for your students.

What does Labor Day Have to do with Music? 🇺🇸

Over 2,000 kids join Mr. Blue Shoes for the “Hokey Pokey” in Russellville, Arkansas

Labor Day celebrates the contributions of American workers — but did you know that work has also played an important role in the history of American music?

Long before recorded music, people sang while they worked. Work songs helped groups keep rhythm, communicate, tell stories, and sometimes simply make a difficult day a little easier.

Those traditions became an important part of America's musical story.

Work songs and field hollers helped shape the development of the blues — and the blues would eventually have an enormous influence on jazz, country, rhythm & blues, rock & roll and much of the popular music we hear today. 🎶

Even the guitar tells part of that story.

As the blues developed during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the guitar became one of its defining instruments. Musicians could carry it from place to place and use it to accompany their voices as they turned stories about work, hardship, travel, love and everyday life into music.

So when you hear someone playing the blues on a guitar, you're hearing more than a style of music. You're hearing echoes of generations of American history. 🎸

That's one of my favorite things to teach students through Mr. Blue Shoes: American music isn't just something we listen to.

It tells the story of the people who made America.

Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸

Some things can't be experienced through a screen

I recently had a show in South Texas near Padre Island, just a few miles from Starbase where SpaceX is developing Starship.

Tens of thousands of people had crowded into the area, and I found myself asking...

Why are so many people here?

Come to find out a rocket launch had been scheduled, but it was cancelled at the last minute because of a technical issue.

It got me thinking...

In today's technology-driven world, why would so many people—families with children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents—travel all that way when they could simply watch it on TV?

The answer is simple.

Because experiences matter.

We remember what we experience far longer than what we simply observe.

I had never seen Starship in person before, so the next day I drove over to the launch site anyway.

To be honest, I've seen a lot of things in my life, but standing there looking up at that rocket was incredible. It wasn't just the size of it. It was the feeling that came with standing there in person.

Seeing it with your own eyes is completely different than seeing it on a screen.

It sparked something in me. Before I knew it, I was reading everything I could about it. I wanted to know how it worked, how they got it 2 miles away to the launch pad, and every little detail about it and where it might take us someday.

That experience reminded me why I've spent nearly 18 years traveling from school to school performing for children.

Some experiences simply can't be replicated through a screen. I've now had the privilege of performing more than 1,700 shows for over 400,000 children, and one thing I've learned is this:

Children may not remember every word we say, but they'll often remember how we made them feel.

Whether it's watching a rocket launch, hearing live music for the first time, or sharing a moment of laughter with classmates, those experiences have a way of staying with us long after the day is over.

Thank you for everything you do to create those moments for the students you serve every day.

If you're planning programs for this school year—or even if you just have a question—I would love to hear from you.

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 A quick story about American music...🎸

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 

As we celebrate America's birthday, here's a fun piece of music history: the words to *The Star-Spangled Banner* were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. 

More than 150 years later, blues guitarist Jimi Hendrix transformed that same song into one of the most unforgettable performances in music history at Woodstock, showing how great music continues to evolve while honoring its roots. 

That's exactly what I love sharing with students through Mr. Blue Shoes—helping them discover how blues, rock & roll, rap, country, and so much of the music they hear today are all connected. 

Wishing you a safe and wonderful Independence Day, and if you're planning programs for the new year, I'd love to bring that musical journey to your students.