Poo Bear and other industry pros teach Miami high schoolers the business of music

Poo Bear, the songwriter behind Luis Fonsi's Despacito, Usher's Caught Up, and Justin Bieber's What Do You Mean, spent Tuesday at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in northwest Miami-Dade. He joined other music industry professionals to teach students how to build careers in the field.

The visit was part of the Grammy Museum's Grammy in the Schools program. The initiative gathers students from multiple area high schools to provide guidance for aspiring industry talent. The museum partnered with Young Musicians United, a Miami-Dade organization that offers free music education to schools.

Arin Cambolat of the Grammy Museum stated that the museum's work focuses on music industry education. She explained that songwriting, production, and the business side of the industry form the core of the workshops. Cambolat noted that these elements are often overlooked in favor of notes and performance alone.

Julian Bermudez of Young Musicians United said the group provides instruments and teaching artists to students. He emphasized that the organization wants students to understand the careers available beyond playing an instrument. Bermudez described the field as having a whole world of careers that exist in the music industry.

Students from various schools and bands participated in hands-on activities throughout the day. They worked through ideas, completed songwriting exercises, and mixed beats with a music producer. Ethen Pierre-Louis, a student at Miami Central High School, said the experience showed him that an early start is possible. He added that hearing from working professionals mattered because students rarely see what is in store for them.

Briana Naylor, a student at Miami Northwestern Senior High School, found it interesting to learn about Poo Bear's journey. She noted that many people never get an opportunity like this. Naylor said she learned that musicians can use different keys and types of beats to create the music they want. Pierre-Louis said writing lyrics was fun and may have opened up a new hobby for him.

Cambolat said the event demonstrates that the Grammys are about more than an awards ceremony. She described the work as a privileged way to earn a living while using music to create opportunities for others. The program reaches young people from many backgrounds and cultures. The organization holds these events at different schools across the country throughout the academic year. The Grammy Awards show is scheduled to air on ABC Miami in February 2027.