Larissa Muniz

We sat down with Larissa Muniz to discuss her career so far and thoughts around music and education.

To begin with, I would like to know details about yourself and some background on your music journey.

I am a cheerful person; I value my time with my family and friends, and I also like taking care of my health. I love to cook, and of course, everything I do is always related to music.

I was raised in a musical environment. My family and I are Christians, and music has always been present in our lives. The church was essential to my introduction to music, after all, they have always worked with children from an early age with gospel music. At the age of seven, I started studying piano, then I studied the organ to play in our church services.

At church, all my friends played in our orchestra responsible for worship services. So, I also wanted to learn how to play an instrument that would allow me to enter this field. I had to be patient because my mother only allowed me to start studying the transverse flute when I was 14 years old. Afterwards, music has never left my life.

As I had already studied piano for many years, playing the flute was somewhat faster. After only two years studying, I started teaching and I was invited to teach at my church’s music school. I was 16 and had my first students.

How would you describe your relationship with music and education?

Imagine watching a movie with an impressive soundtrack... That’s my relationship with music. Music is present in everything I do. Music is my work, my job, but it is also my pleasure. I listen to music while cooking, exercising, and with my friends and family. Music is present in every part of my life or rather, music is my life.

I’m not a songwriter, however, connecting with my friends who are also musicians is essential to form my musical identity. They influence me, help me, and when we’re together, everything turns into a party. It’s a joy to play with them.

The flute is like an extension of my body. With the flute I express my feelings and touch the emotions of others. Working at something that I love so much is an achievement. I have so much fun when I’m playing, so I can’t see it as work, however, getting paid to do what you love is pretty good.

Music is social. Because of music I can socialize and interact with people that I never expected. Music brought me discipline, focus and self-knowledge. I am a shy person and music allows me to express my feelings. Riot Police, for example, would never be on a stage if it weren’t for the music.

I like to see myself as a multiplier. I think that I can pass on what I’ve learned to other people. That’s my relationship with education. Seeing a student who learned the first notes with me playing in an orchestra, in the presentations of Military Police’s Junior Band, in church or even becoming a musical professional is priceless. When I see this, I feel like I’ve accomplished my mission. I have always wanted my students to feel satisfaction in playing, so for me the most important thing was that they have fun.

To offer students an opportunity to see music as something that could be essential in his/her life is a great comfort. Whether finding music as an opportunity to enter the job market, how to use music to develop his/her social skills or self-discipline, self-confidence, self-knowledge and creativity.

Have you ever faced any gender equality issues? How did you overcome these issues?

The Military Police Band has been established for 182 years and historically, military environments have always been male dominated. It was not different in the Military Police Band, which throughout its history had only male musicians. A colleague and I were approved in the first contest of the Military Police Band of Espírito Santo that allowed women to enroll, this happened 23 years ago. So, when I joined, I realized that my colleagues weren’t very well prepared to welcome women to the team. There was a certain discomfort in the working environment, but the way that I interacted with them broke that barrier. Today, everyone respects me very much, more than that I feel protected by them, like a little sister. I’m grateful to know that I helped break down that barrier and somehow set the stage for other women who entered the Band after me. Today we have four women in the Band and are always supporting each other. It is great to see the team grow!

What changes do you think need to be made to empower women and girls in the field of music?

I think that the main change must come from men’s minds. As I said before about my experience when I joined the Military Police Band, many of them were not prepared to receive a female colleague. When we arrive at an environment and see that we are respected and that we are treated equally and fairly, we already feel empowered. We conquered our space through courage and our own merit. Since the 1999 contest, vacancies in the Band have been equal for men and women. I'm rooting for my team to grow even more.

Message to the next generation

I am constantly approached by girls who attend the Military Police Band performances who say they want to be like me. I think this is the greatest recognition I can have in my career - knowing that I am an inspiration to someone because of my work. I dream that one day I will find all of them playing music. I am always talking to them - if you want to pursue a musical career, get ready now, start as soon as possible, study hard, have focus and you can get where you want to be. The opportunities are there, just run after it, dedicate yourself and things will happen naturally.