Gabe Romero
Gabe Romero is a senior music education major at Temple University. Born and raised on Long Island, music has been his #1 passion since taking up the piano and the cello as a child. He decided to make that passion his career after his positive musical experiences in high school, which included performing as a soloist with his school orchestra at Carnegie Hall and participating in multiple choirs, jazz bands and church music groups. While studying at Temple, he has gotten many opportunities to hone his teaching skills, serving as an intern with Philadelphia String Project and Philly POPS, as well as teaching cello privately and working as a 1:1 aide for students with special needs during the summers.
Gabe is excited to be working with Fflat Books this semester via Music Service Learning, an internship allowing college students to explore music education experiences beyond their coursework and help schools and organizations in need. In particular, Gabe has used the internship as an opportunity to explore the incorporation of popular music and student-centered creativity into all levels of music education. During his time with MSL, he has helped design integrated-arts curricula for Columbia Public Schools and a virtual songwriting/production unit for Interboro High School’s choirs. In addition to his blogs, he is also helping to create educational supplements to the fantastic Switched on Pop podcast!
When not working, you might find Gabe hiking his favorite park trails, searching for more vinyls to add to his collection, or cooking anything involving pasta!
eBooks by Gabe Romero
Posts by Gabe Romero
Beyond the Music: Delivery as the Final (and Most Overlooked) Phase of Creation
by Brian Bromberg & José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. In most artistic training — whether in music schools, production programs, or songwriting workshops — the focus rests squarely on creation. Artists are taught to compose, perform, produce, [...]
Standing Tall When They Want to Cut You Down: Navigating Tall Poppy Syndrome as an Entrepreneur
by Eftihia Arkoudis, D.M.A., Thaddaeus Bourne, D.M.A., & José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. Success is a tricky beast. You work hard, climb the ladder—whether it’s made of corporate rungs or the wild vines of entrepreneurship—and suddenly, you’re [...]
Why Musicianship Matters for Improving Music Business Education
by José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. Abstract This editorial argues that blending robust musicianship with business savvy in music education creates confident, adaptable pros who thrive in today’s creative arts economy, all while keeping it real. Keywords: [...]
Helpful Financial Literacy Advice for Creative Entrepreneurs
By José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. Abstract This editorial celebrates the surge of creative entrepreneurs launching ventures in music, design, and innovation, while offering a practical toolkit to address their widespread lack of financial literacy—focusing on budgeting, [...]
Communication, Education, and Demonstration as Pillars of Sustainable Creative Enterprise
by José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. & Derris Lee, M.M. Three Keys to Impact In a recent conversation with a colleague, we stumbled onto a truth that’s been hiding in plain sight: access to resources—be it scholarships, [...]
Igniting the Fire: How Classical Composers Were Music Entrepreneurs
by José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. Abstract This editorial explores the entrepreneurial spirit of classical composers, illustrating how figures like Beethoven, Mozart, and Liszt were not only musical innovators but also business strategists who shaped the industry [...]