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Biography

Alek Barkats

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location
Lower School
Department
LS Specialist Teacher
Title(s)
LS Music Teacher
School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
415-798-9389 x-117

Education

Degree(s)
B.A., English; Creative writing, Wesleyan University
(In progress) Certificate, Orff Schulwerk - Music Education, The San Francisco International ORFF Course

Other Information

Biography
Alek Barkats is an accomplished pianist and songwriter who performs regularly throughout the Bay Area. What he loves most about AVS is its creative spirit, which permeates the whole community. He seeks to foster a learning environment where students feel they can take risks, get creative, and have fun! As an Orff Schulwerk based teacher, he encourages students to play with the building blocks of music, and hopes to inspire them by sharing music traditions from all over the world.

Previously, Alek taught 1st and 2nd grade at Beauvoir the National Cathedral Elementary school, in his native Washington, DC. Later, he moved to the Bay to work at AltSchool, Fort Mason, all while regularly playing music up and down the west coast. Eventually, Alek sought to fuse his passions of music and education together (music education!) and began teaching jazz and classical piano, led his own music workshops and summer camps, and finally made his way into the music classroom. He has had original music featured on KALX's The Next Big Thing and BIRP! When not immersed in music, he loves hiking with his two dogs and making his own hot sauce.