The power of peer role modeling.(Forum Focus: Arts Awareness and Advocacy)(Column)

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.