A new tradition.

Is there anyone busier than a musician during the holiday season? After glancing at my December calendar several years ago, I found myself in that all-too-familiar predicament-over committed--again. Reluctantly, I decided to break tradition and cancel the annual holiday party/recital I have for my students. Our party, for students only, has always been such a festive occasion, one the children look forward to each December. They diligently and eagerly learn their Christmas solos and duets and, for my beginners, it is usually their first real performance. The students beg me to make people chow, peanut butter cup cookies, pizza bites, our famous very red Christmas punch (of which they drink gallons) and other treats that have become tradition over the years.

When I explained my need to cancel that year, I knew they would be disappointed, but I was not quite prepared for the looks on their faces. You can guess what happened next--the party took place as usual and, of course, their beautiful playing filled me with pride and the spirit of the season. I wondered how I could have ever thought of breaking a tradition with such special meaning to them and to me. That same year we started a brand new tradition. Many of my students give me a small gift at Christmas, and I love and appreciate each one. Some are very memorable: the hand-carved wooden angel by Molly's dad, who died of muscular dystrophy several years later; the tiny cobalt blue glass bird on my window sill from Brooke and her picture in a lovely pewter frame at age 12 holding music ribbons in both hands; the collection of tiny pianos of wood, brass and crystal made possible by Meredith and Allison; and the special ornament handmade by a morn who was helping decorate Bill and Hillary Clinton's Christmas tree at the White House. I could go on and on...every gift from a child is special.

But that year I decided to ask my families to give a gift to music rather than a gift to me. I made the request in the annual letter I send concerning details of the party. I simply told them that though I loved their gifts, perhaps it was time for us to focus our giving in another direction--suggesting we support the MTNA FOUNDATION, an organization committed to advancing the value of music and music making to society. I did not explain about the FOUNDATION in great detail at that point. The families seemed to trust my judgment; that first year we raised $180. And so began the new tradition.

To my delight, over the past few years our donations have increased. I have a specially decorated box for the gifts of money the children bring to our party. Some give only a little cash, others bring a check for $30 or more, and some do not give at all. I have noticed the number of families participating is increasing, however. After the holidays I write a thank you note to every family that gives. Then, in my next general mailing I announce the total amount our studio raised and express my gratitude and that of the FOUNDATION for such a wonderful gesture on their part. Later when we receive the thank you letter from the MTNA FOUNDATION, it goes on the bulletin board, and when the AMT issue listing FOUNDATION donors arrives and has our name printed there, I make sure all the students and parents see it.

Sometimes I am asked exactly what the FOUNDATION FUND is or what it does, and I try to explain in simple terms its goals or the programs it sponsors and supports. For example, when Kayla's mom asked, I said, "Do you remember when Kayla played in the recital at the close of the Randall Faber Workshop for teachers? That workshop, which benefited many music teachers and their students, was made possible by a matching grant from the MTNA FOUNDATION." I gradually have educated my constituency and myself about the FOUNDATION FUND. I do know we all feel a sense of pride in knowing that our gift to music will in some way reach beyond ourselves, and the FOUNDATION FUND will handle our gift with care and dedication.

If you are reading this article, you are a part of the community who wants fine music to have a secure future for generations to come. Likewise, the families with which you work on a weekly basis probably have the same attitude concerning the importance of music--for their own children and for future children. The giving program we have started through my studio is so simple, so easy. With a little math you can see what wonders might occur if other studios around the country would do the same. If just 1,000 studios raised $100 each, that would be a gift of $100,000 for the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND!

There is no doubt this holiday season will be as busy as always. Like you, I probably will wonder how I'll manage to get everything done, but the minute the first student begins to play at the Christmas party, all that will be forgotten. An old tradition will continue, and our newest tradition of giving to music will plant its roots a little deeper this season.

Peggy Lewis,

NCTM, maintains a private piano studio in Search, Arkansas. She holds a B.M.E. degree from Ouachita Baptist University and an M.M. degree in piano performance from the University of Tulsa. She is on the MTNA Development Committee.