Jump Into Music

When I was young I was incredibly fortunate to have the gift of music in my household: all of my parents and grandparents were musicians, and my sister and I didn't have much of a choice in taking piano lessons- much as we sometimes fought against it. As it happens I became a professional piano teacher, and have the great privilege of interacting with amazing young students every day. However, the financial burden of private music lessons can be quite high, which is why I donate part of my paycheck, time, and skills each week to Jump Into Music, a nonprofit organization based in Spanaway, Washington. Led by Executive Director and founder Cheryl Drewes, Jump Into Music provides very low cost private music lessons (and usually instruments, too!) to students who are on either a free or reduced-cost lunch program in public schools. We are well aware of the major social, psychological, and long-term career benefits of music education, and it is a joy to teach students who are so excited and energized to learn music without being so cynical and negative about the idea as I was at their age. Jump Into Music started as a program in another nonprofit, but as we grew I donated my time during the summer of 2015 to establish it as its own freestanding 501(c)3, writing bylaws, articles, and doing all the legal legwork required. We now have close to 20 students on a variety of instruments with five teachers, and expanding each month. I am excited to see this program grow, but more importantly I am thrilled to give my time and skills to provide such an incredible opportunity to so many for whom this would otherwise not be an option.

For me, Saturday piano lessons were the best day of the week. The warmth and enthusiasm of my teacher, who was fondly called Aunt Louise, enveloped everyone in love, and stirred my heart. She deeply treasured each and every student. Whatever innate musical talent I had was nurtured by Aunt Louise, and more than that, for the first time, I became confident in myself, and knew then that I would live a life making music, passing on her love to others through this art form that reaches souls, especially in community.

While all manner of scientific and educational research proves the benefits of music education for children, all of us as kids in the band, the choir, or in the company of others performing our first Bach, Beethoven or the Beatles, knew instinctively that something deeply significant was going on, and we reveled in it. We were buoyed in the joy of making music together, and comforted in its solace.

From those childhood experiences I emerged an adult, eager to pass the gift of music forward. As a church musician and piano teacher, I reached many children, but not all. So many families in our midst are financially insecure, and providing the basic necessities (let alone music lessons) for their children can be difficult. I feel strongly, however, that every child deserves the same opportunities I had as a kid, and wanted to do something.

In 2012, I founded Jump Into Music, a program which gives children in need the opportunity to have private music lessons on an affordable sliding scale. We became an official non-profit a year ago, and are privileged to serve almost twenty children, seventy-five percent of whom also receive free or reduced cost school meals. I have no training in non-profit work, but have been given executive director duties by my enthusiastic and hard working board. In our extensive collaboration together, we keep our focus on the best possible outcome and how to get there. With all the hours spent in meetings, planning, grant research, the presentation of creative fundraising concerts, and the giving of our own personal funds, we, in deep gratitude, work to ensure that every child receives the highest quality private music instruction.

As a young mother, I provided my son with ample opportunity to nurture the gift of music in his life, surrounded by the best mentors. As he now finishes his undergraduate degree in organ performance towards a career in church music, I ponder what our Jump Into Music student will do with their lives. Will music be profession or avocation? Will the role be teacher, performer or composer? Or will it simply be that today's young musician, like our student in the photo at the organ, is so inspired to pass the gift forward in his or her own unique context? We at Jump Into Music remain confident that each child is being nurtured at the deepest level towards life compassionately and fully lived, through our program. It is this transformation that is at the heart of Jump Into Music.