Behind the global pop star who fills stadiums from Bogotá to Barcelona, there is a mother who makes sure her children’s musical education gets the same intensity she brings to the stage. Venezuelan singer and producer Ángela, whose training began in Venezuela’s National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras — known as El Sistema, the legacy of Maestro José Antonio Abreu — has been working directly with Shakira’s sons, Milan and Sasha Piqué, for the past few years.
Ángela was selected by the Let it Beat academy, a music education platform founded by Argentine musicians Guillermo Vadalá and Nerina Nicotra. The appointment was a recognition of her career as a teacher and musical coach. “My first reaction was nerves, but afterward I felt very lucky to be chosen as the teacher for Milan and Sasha,” she said in a recent interview.
Shakira’s Hands-On Approach to Music Lessons
What stands out most in Ángela’s account is how involved Shakira remains, even while preparing for her world tour — including her upcoming free Copacabana show in Rio de Janeiro, expected to draw 2 million people. “Many times, Shakira stays with me, paying attention to what she specifically wants the children to learn,” Ángela explained. The Colombian star supervises every detail of her children’s technical development in piano, keyboard, and music reading.
Beyond the technical side, the teacher highlights the warmth inside the home. She describes the family as kind, polite, and notably humble. According to Ángela, Shakira uses music not only as a discipline but as a life lesson: “She teaches her children to value the privilege they have to study music.”
This approach reflects a broader commitment to grounding her sons in the realities of their heritage. Shakira, born in Barranquilla, Colombia, has often spoken about the importance of staying connected to Latin American roots. The choice of a Venezuelan teacher trained in El Sistema — one of the most respected music education programs in the Americas — is no coincidence. It connects Milan and Sasha to a tradition that has produced world-class musicians across the continent.
Discipline, Respect, and the Reality of Celebrity Life
Ángela’s experience dispels common myths about the lives of major celebrities. Instead of a chaotic, distant household, she found an environment of respect and exemplary education. “They are kind, polite people with notable humility,” she said. The teacher also noted that Shakira is present during lessons whenever possible, despite the demands of her tour schedule.
Milan and Sasha have previously participated in Let it Beat academy events, but their presence in future recitals this year remains uncertain due to their mother’s tight touring calendar. Still, the commitment to their musical education continues uninterrupted.
This internal look confirms that, for Shakira, professional success is no obstacle to fostering an environment where art and human values are the highest priority for the next generation. It also underscores the role of Venezuelan educators in shaping that vision — a small but meaningful connection between two countries that share deep cultural ties, even as flights between Miami and Caracas have only recently resumed after seven years, reconnecting a diaspora that spans the hemisphere.
In an era where celebrity parenting is often curated for social media, Ángela’s account offers a rare, grounded look at how one of Latin America’s biggest stars balances global fame with the quiet, daily work of raising bilingual, bicultural children who can read a score as naturally as they speak Spanish and English.
