Isai cortes

Hello! My name is Isaí Cortés, and I am a music educator, performer, and ensemble director based in Trenton, New Jersey. I hold a B.A. in Music from New Jersey City University (2022) and currently teach instrumental and General Music with Trenton Public Schools, working with a diverse, bilingual high school community.

As a performer, I've built a career around orchestral percussion and jazz trombone. I regularly play orchestral percussion with the Greater Princeton Area Youth Orchestra for their spring and winter concerts, and have performed in pit orchestras for Becton Regional High School and Trenton Central High School. On trombone, I've played in jazz ensembles since my time at Mercer County Community College, continuing through my studies at NJCU, where I performed with the Grad Jazz Band alongside jazz artists John Benitez and Bobby Shew, and played trombone in NJCU's Latin American Ensemble. After graduating, I spent a year working as an instrument repair technician at Russo Music in Hamilton, NJ while finishing my student teaching — a role that taught me maintenance and repair skills I still rely on with students today.

Since taking on my role with Trenton Public Schools at the end of that summer, I've led the rebuild of the Trenton Central High School (TCHS) Marching Band — restructuring rehearsal systems, recruitment, and operations into a sustainable, student-centered program. I also founded and direct La Orquesta Capital, the first-ever band program at Capital City High School (CCHS), a student Latin ensemble that performed its debut Spring Concert at TCHS on June 5th. Beyond the classroom, I perform and lead as a bandleader with Los Chicharones, staying active as a working musician alongside my teaching.

Every student learns differently, so I adapt my teaching approach to fit each individual's experience level, interests, and learning style. My lessons focus on developing strong fundamentals while applying those skills through real music as quickly as possible. Rather than relying solely on exercises and drills, I incorporate songs, listening activities, performance practice, and creative projects that keep students motivated and engaged — an approach shaped by my work with beginner and diverse-background students. Directing La Orquesta Capital, a student Latin ensemble at Capital City High School (CCHS) i built it from students with little to no prior instrumental experience. With these students, I start with groove, listening, and repetition — clapping clave, call and response, rhythm games — before introducing notation, so students build musical confidence early rather than getting stuck on reading first. I bring this same philosophy across concert band, marching band, jazz, Latin music, and beginner instruction.

Students & parents can expect clear explanations, structured guidance, and plenty of encouragement as they work toward their musical goals. Whether we're working on technique, music reading, performance skills, or confidence-building, my goal is to help students become better musicians.