"Excellence is never an accident." Aristotle

My name is Rafael DeFaria but you can call me Mr. Raffa. I am a Music Teacher here at the John Adams Academy online. I graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music with a BPS in Interdisciplinary Music Studies. Coming from a family of musicians, it’s needless to say that music has had an enormous impact on my life. I am a vocalist, performer, music producer, and vocal coach, with over 20 years of experience in multiple genres, from Concert Music (better term to describe “Western composed music” best known as “Classical Music") to Contemporary, to Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. My experience and passion for music allow me to do what I love most, “Teach others about the world of music.” Its origin, its effect on history, the “language” that music is, and how it gives people discipline, focus, and development in many areas of life, and it is a pleasure and an honor to be able to apply this knowledge with all of you at such an amazing institution as John Adams Academy.

"John Adams Academy is restoring America’s heritage by developing servant-leaders who are keepers and defenders of the principles of freedom for which our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor", and that is one of the many reasons why I love to be part of the John Adams Academy team preparing this new generation, under these values, for the future. Our Founding Fathers leveraged the tools they had available to accomplish their goals and it excites me to know that we are doing the same thing at the John Adams Academy Online, leveraging technology to be able to reach more scholars by providing high-standard Classic Education through our online program.

I love exercising, singing, producing music, and reading. My favorite classic, so far, is "A Christmas Carol (Bantam Classics) by Charles Dickens". My favorite quote from the book is, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” I can’t wait to meet you and your family and to help serve and teach you this semester.