The power of peer role modeling.

I'm not a music teacher, I never have been, but I know a lot about kids and what makes them tick. I first became involved with young musicians when I volunteered to be the producer for my daughter's youth orchestra tours at New England Conservatory (NEC). I had the privilege of working and traveling with hundreds of smart, funny and inspiring young people.

Once a tour was over, I would always come home feeling energized. I found myself talking to anyone who would listen about these kids and how they inspired me. I wanted to tell the world, "pay attention to these kids, they're incredible."

So, when NEC was searching for new uses for the recently renovated Jordan Hall, my now-partner Jennifer Hurley-Wales said "Wouldn't an old-time radio show be fun?" and I said, "Yes, but it should focus on kid musicians." That's how we started From the Top: with the germ of an idea to present an old-fashioned radio show featuring the kinds of kid musicians I had come to know and admire.

From the Top encourages and celebrates young people's commitment to music and the arts. What began as a radio show featuring the nation's best young classical musicians has grown into a multi-faceted organization. Today we offer a number of programs that inspire kids to develop a deeper relationship with the arts, including a comprehensive education program, an online musical community and now a 13-episode television series on PBS in addition to our NPR radio series that is among the most popular weekly shows on the air.

While From the Top continues to chart new territory, we remain committed to our mission of celebrating these young musicians--in much the same way that society has come to celebrate their accomplished athletic classmates. Every young performer who appears on the show receives cultural leadership training. These cultural leaders turn on their peers to the power of classical music by demonstrating that with passion, discipline and focus anything is possible.

Now, if I stood in front of a classroom full of kids and said, "OK--kids, you're going to need discipline, passion and focus to succeed in life," they'd never buy it.

But--The power of peer role modeling is that introducing kids who already possess these three traits to their peers relays the message, "You can do it too." No speech required.

When we celebrate the lives of young musicians as kids, who, like their peers are just teenagers trying to find their place in the world, audiences become engaged--everyone loves to hear the stories behind the kids. Hearing peer role models express their passions shows other kids it's OK to explore new interests and have fun.

One such story is that of Alexander Zatolokin, a young oboist, who, after being caught in a fire, was left with limited mobility in his playing hand. Alex loved music too much to leave it behind, so he learned to play the French horn (using the other hand for fingering). After hearing his story, an oboe manufacturer offered to make Alexander a specialized instrument allowing Alex to play oboe once again.

Barbara Vante, a native of Haiti, moved with her family to the United States at age 12 so she could study viola. Today, Barbara is a student at Oberlin College, majoring in viola.

Just as interesting is David Ross, a flute-playing wrestler who confessed that he has a hard time juggling friends. His buddies in the orchestra thought his pals on the wrestling team were dumb jocks, while his pals on the wrestling team thought his friends in the orchestra were nerds. We celebrate these stories because they're real and relatable to us all.

So how can you celebrate the kids in your music program? First, get to know your students from a different perspective. Find out what they're up to. Not only will it show that you appreciate the time they devote to music, but you become part of their lives. It shows that you value who they are and their commitment to music among all the other things they do.

Once you know more about them, show them they're not alone. Teach them that it's cool to stand out and play music, and that it's cool to do all the other things they do; introduce them to your heroes, favorite orchestras, soundtracks or pop music you love. Turn them on to publications like Teen Strings, Clavier or Chamber Music. Share your MTNA journal with them. Visit www.fromthetop.org, our online community for young musicians and teachers.

Think about your studio recitals. Is there a way to showcase who your students are in addition to their musical lives? Could they write their own bios for the program? Do they get to speak before or after they perform? Maybe each performer could share something about themselves, musical or not ... what are your students passionate about? Let's break that down even a little more what interests students in their lessons the most, and what interests them outside of music?

What are the things that excite them in their music? But also, what are the things they love outside of music?

Celebrate those other things at recitals, or highlight them in your studio/school newsletter.

We recently sent Conrad Tao, a 12-year-old composer and pianist, into a Newark, New Jersey, inner-city school as part of our Make Your Own Radio Show residency. Once the kids had a chance to hear Conrad perform they asked, "Don't you get tired of being called a classical geek or nerd?" Conrad answered, "I don't care what people say because this is what I love to do and I can't think of anything else I'd rather do than compose and play music." The faces in the room changed instantaneously. The general consensus--cool!

When we celebrate kids' discipline and passion there's a focus to what they're doing, and that focus says to the world, "This is important." And when you've focused the lens on something that's deemed important, you're not only celebrating kids, you are engaging them as leaders for other kids.

And now the clincher: how can you engage your students as peer role models?

Have you ever thought about inviting your advanced students to work with other kids in the studio? Why not invite kids from community centers, after-school programs or scouting troops to your student concerts and recitals. Encourage your long-term students to talk about their music education at new student orientations.

Keep in mind, we're not just training the future of music but tomorrow's scientists, teachers and engineers. Thanks to you, the future is indeed in good hands.

Gerald Slavet is co-founder, chief executive officer and executive producer of the National Public Radio program From the Top. A trustee of The New England Conservatory of Music, Slavet holds a B.A. degree from Bowdoin College and an M.F.A. degree from Catholic University of America.