Hi, I'm Yahir Hernandez

MIT Senior | CS & Music Tech Engineer

About Me

Hi, I'm Yahir Hernandez — an MIT senior from Chicago, IL, blending computer science with music technology. I specialize in building systems for creative musical experiences through software design, signal processing, machine learning, and music. Across projects, my focus is on making musical intelligence reliable, controllable, and usable in practical tools. I’m currently deepening my work in music generation research, including a planned collaboration with Shih-lun Wu on a project targeting real-time, performance-grade generative music.

Feel free to check out my resume here!

Why CS?

Imagine a sandbox. You can do absolutely anything you want by building objects of your own design; the possibilities are endless. That's computer science — a place where you can create games, algorithms, and interactive experiences of your own. You are the artist, your code is the paint, and you can paint any piece you dream of. My early programming days began by building a Galaga replica using Java fundamentals from my first programming class. This sparked the beginning of my journey and passion in computer science.

Why Music?

Growing up in Chicago as the son of Mexican immigrants, I felt caught between American culture and my family's heritage. My parents raised me speaking Spanish, but I spoke English everywhere else. Over time, I lost my fluency in Spanish, and with it, any connection to my culture seemed to dwindle — that was until music saved me! The first time I heard Hotel California, I fell in love with the guitar solo and knew I had to play it myself. I joined a Latin music program, saved up for an acoustic guitar, and started learning. In learning Latin music history and sharing that with my parents, I discovered something powerful: my mother had played guitar for her church in Mexico. Through studying Latin music, I reconnected with my heritage, reabsorbed Spanish, and finally understood my family's stories. Music became the bridge between cultures, the key that helped me discover who I truly am. Since then, music has and will always continue to be a key part of my identity.

Why Music Tech?

I never imagined building a career around music until I took my first music course at MIT. What started as fulfilling an arts requirement became a revelation — I fell in love with music all over again, this time with technical tools to build something meaningful. Despite the fatigue that comes with MIT, my music classes left me feeling fulfilled and driven. That's when I discovered music tech: the intersection where I could combine my strengths in STEM with my passion for music. Learning from incredible professors like Eran Egozy, Ian Hattwick, Paris Smaragdis, and Pascal Le Boeuf only deepened this love. My dream is to develop generative music models that serve as creative tools to inspire musicians and open the door to music-making for people of any ability. My only regret is not diving into this sooner.