A new tradition.(The Back Page)

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 ...