Teacher Feature: Krysti Subieta
Virtual and In-Person Voice, Musical Theater, Songwriting, Music Production, and Music teacher at Austin Arts Academy in Austin, Texas.
Meet our Music Teacher: Krysti Subieta
At an early age, Krysti Subieta found herself drawn to teaching naturally. When she was seven years old, she attempted to teach her younger cousin math, which led to frustration and tears because the math concept was above her 5-year-old cousin's skill level.
Through this experience, Krysti discovered you can't teach people what they aren't ready to learn.
For example, have you ever had someone try to explain something to you that you didn't ask about, like an IT person trying to explain the details of your problem, when all you want to do is get back to work?
That was the question Krysti posed to me during our get-to-know-you interview as we chatted about her teaching style and children's ability to process information. From her point of view and experience, kids aren't ready for information during a music lesson or class unless they already have a question.
Krysti teaching Private Piano Lesson
Fortunately, Krysti was ready to learn and had valuable teachers along the way that encouraged and inspired her in multiple ways. The most influential teachers were approachable and trustworthy, feeling more like coaches or friends.
These teachers helped Krysti feel like she was part of a team, where emotional availability was just as much of a priority as the concepts taught. They held space for her to grow and learn amongst middle and high school's ups and downs.
The teaching styles that Krysti experienced in adolescence, and her own 25 years of music teaching experience, helped shape the kind of music teacher Krysti is today: A holistic coach that uses music education to improve mental health — especially focus, memory, confidence, and anxiety.
Krysti recording in the studio
Krysti has her Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, which adds a STEAM-style component to her lessons. Most people don’t realize how closely related math, science, and music really are. Krysti understands that music is an application of math and science, which profoundly affects human psychology, especially human emotions.
She breaks music down to its core foundations and builds her lessons and classes from there. Students are given time to ask questions and to share how things are going, allowing Krysti to adjust the music lessons according to the curiosity and emotional state of her students.
Her experience and teaching method helps change the way students at Austin Arts Academy learn music.
When it comes to the music industry, Krysti has experience with independent music production, publishing original singer-songwriter music, touring, being a founding member of an award-winning marching band, and leading a choir at the Austin Music Awards.
Krysti and her choir students practicing for Austin Music Awards
She's studied with many coaches and producers, including those at Berklee College of Music, to learn the ins and outs of music production and performance, from musical theater to "screamo emo" rock styles.
If given the opportunity, Krysti would love the chance to sing with Dolly Parton because she loves her personality and songwriting ability. She also appreciates how roots country lyrics tell a story.
The lyrics in Krysti's songs tell a story as well. If you were at the Spring 2022 recitals, she performed one of her original songs, "Find Yourself".
Krysti performing at Austin Arts Academy Spring Recital 2022
The story behind these lyrics shares Krysti's feelings and outlook on life in a beautiful way:
"On this journey, you'll be swept away and crashed ashore but keep moving forward and keep holding on, and don't ever underestimate your will to go on and on this journey, you'll see…you will find yourself."
Anyone with mental health challenges understands how hard it can be to "keep holding on", and these lyrics say the most important thing you can do to pull yourself out of such thinking starts with self-care, really listening to your own true desires, rather than those of someone else.
Whatever your goals, Krysti can help you achieve them. Her lifelong passion for music makes her especially skilled at helping even the littlest ones learn music!
Outside of Austin Arts Academy, Krysti composes soundtracks for movies and videos, dropping her instrumental album "Fantasy World Soundscapes" in October 2021.
You can hear her song "Tinker Toys" on Animal Planet's Youtube Shorts. Independent filmmakers commission her soundtracks, including Ballistic Blade Entertainment's Award Winning fantasy action short, "Chronicles of a Broken Path". She is credited on IMDB as a composer and actress (usually plays musician roles!) for multiple short films.
We’d also like to congratulate Krysti and her partner Keith, as they welcomed their son Apollo into the world this summer. I’m sure he will inspire song lyrics to come!
We are so grateful to have Krysti onboard as one of our music teachers at Austin Arts Academy! Her approach helps change Music classes from rigid and boring to fun and engaging!
Book Now with Krysti
Follow Krysti on social media via the links below and listen to official music releases on her website:
Written by Melissa Wolken
Contributing Writer, Culture Curator, and Admin Team Member
At Austin Arts Academy, we change the way you learn Music, Art, & Dance from rigid or boring to fun and engaging-an experience students will love at any age.
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