Key Moments
Music is the home I carry with me | John Paul Da Bosco | TEDxChangwai Bilingual School
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Key Moments
A rejected musician found his true calling as a music teacher, transforming struggling programs into award-winning ones and discovering that music is the home he carries.
Key Insights
John Paul Da Bosco dreamt of performing on stage at age 7, drawing a picture of himself as a musician in 1988.
He was told by a classical guitar academy teacher that he was 'no good for music' after three years of study.
Da Bosco's band, formed in 2000, collapsed after 11 years, marking one of three major 'collapses' in his life between 2000 and 2012.
He refused to become a music teacher, viewing it as a fallback for musicians who 'didn't make it', until a mentor encouraged him to be a 'teacher of change'.
In Costa Rica, he convinced a school to invest $80,000 in its music program, leading to a student-produced album that won a national award.
His work has involved transforming music programs in various locations, including Costa Rica, China, Ecuador, and now at Changwai Bilingual School.
A childhood dream of musical stardom ignited at age seven
John Paul Da Bosco's earliest memory of a profound life direction came at age seven in Mexico, when he had an intense dream of performing on stage to an adoring audience. This dream was so vivid that he documented it the next morning by drawing a picture of himself on stage, dated 1988. This dream marked a pivotal moment, planting the seed of music as a significant part of his future, even before he consciously knew he wanted to pursue it. This early ambition highlights the powerful influence of childhood aspirations and dreams in shaping one's life path, setting the stage for a lifelong connection with music.
Migration and early setbacks in classical music
The family's move from Mexico to Costa Rica presented Da Bosco with the challenges common to migrant children, including leaving behind a familiar environment and friends. Despite these difficulties, he found a new musical influence in a neighbor who taught him his first guitar melody at age 10. This led him to join a classical guitar academy, a step he believed would solidify his musical education. However, his experience there was arduous, involving the study of centuries-old music under a discouraging teacher. After three years, the teacher delivered a harsh critique, telling Da Bosco he was 'no good for music' and should pursue something else. This rejection was devastating, causing him to abandon his guitar and question his dream.
Finding expression and connection through music after rejection
Despite the setback from his classical guitar teacher, Da Bosco discovered that music offered him a unique superpower for expression. During a high school exchange program in the United States, he found that his musical talents – singing and playing guitar – made him stand out to American girls, something he hadn't experienced before. This led to his first kiss at age 15, and in an attempt to impress the girl, he composed his first song. Although she found him 'too intense' and the romantic pursuit didn't work out, the act of composing this song revealed music's profound ability to convey emotions and experiences that words could not. This realization, coupled with his later involvement in a band, reinforced music's power to connect with others on a deeper level.
The challenging path of a professional musician and multiple 'collapses'
Da Bosco's journey from 2000 to 2012 was marked by significant struggles, which he describes as three major 'collapses.' The first was the dissolution of his band after an 11-year run, a venture he poured immense effort into. The second collapse involved his personal musical career; after the rejection from classical guitar, he pursued classical percussion, seeing it as the only 'serious' musical path available. However, he struggled to envision a viable career in this field. The third collapse was his need for financial stability. To survive, he worked in a call center, a job he found deeply unfulfilling and dreaded every second, serving as a stark contrast to his passion for music. He also tried winning a record deal through a competition called 'Garage Supernova,' only for the sponsors to fail to pay up, adding another layer of frustration to his musical aspirations.
Transforming music education through a change in perspective
Initially, Da Bosco vehemently refused the idea of becoming a music teacher, viewing it as a profession for musicians who had 'failed' to make it in the performance world, influenced by his own negative experiences with past instructors. This perception shifted when he met Rosal, a mentor who introduced him to a different philosophy: the possibility of being a 'teacher of change.' This new perspective encouraged him to become the kind of supportive and inspiring teacher he himself had needed. This pivotal guidance, combined with his experiences as a cultural manager for the Costa Rican Chinese Cultural Center, opened his eyes to new possibilities and the unpredictable nature of life's path, even leading him to ponder how learning Mandarin might have been beneficial.
Building and revitalizing music programs worldwide
Armed with a new vision for music education, Da Bosco has spent the last 13-14 years traveling globally, establishing music as his 'home' and working to grow music programs. He recounts transforming a music program in a Costa Rican school by convincing them to invest $80,000, resulting in a recording studio where students composed and produced their own music, earning a national award. He also showcases dramatic before-and-after transformations of classrooms in China and Ecuador. His current role at Changwai Bilingual School is presented as another opportunity for such a transformation, emphasizing his passion for developing music education and fostering creativity in students wherever he goes. His journey culminates in the message that following one's passion and dreams can indeed lead to reality.
Mentioned in This Episode
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Speaker's Journey Through Life Stages
Data extracted from this episode
| Life Stage | Key Experiences | Emotional Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Childhood (Mexico) | Dreamed of performing on stage, created stories with sister | Magical, hopeful |
| Early Adolescence (Costa Rica) | Faced migration challenges, learned guitar, faced rejection from music academy | Tough, heartbreaking, resilient |
| Mid-Adolescence (US Exchange) | Gained confidence, experienced first kiss and heartbreak | Intense, learning |
| Young Adulthood (Post-High School) | Sought to be a rock star, faced band collapses and career struggles, worked in call centers | Frustrating, challenging, seeking purpose |
| Professional Artist | Sang in various ensembles, refused to be a music teacher, took on diverse gigs | Adaptable, learning, confused |
| Mentorship & Education | Met a mentor who encouraged teaching, became cultural manager | Transformative, insightful |
| Professional Music Educator | Traveled globally, developed music programs, achieved awards | Enriching, impactful, rewarding |
Common Questions
As a child, John Paul Da Bosco dreamed of performing on stage in front of an audience, playing music, and receiving applause. This dream was so vivid that he drew himself on stage in 1988, at the age of 7.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
The speaker's country of origin, where he spent his early childhood and developed initial dreams related to music.
The country the speaker's family migrated to. He experienced significant personal growth and challenges there, including learning guitar and facing academic setbacks.
The country where the speaker participated in a high school exchange program, which led to a memorable romantic encounter and a realization about his appeal.
A country where the speaker has been involved in developing music programs in schools, starting from his visit in 2018.
A country in South America where the speaker was located during the pandemic and worked on improving school music programs.
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