Giving Back Through MusicLink

Nancy Buck, a MusicLink teacher, relates this account of her personal experience with MusicLink:    

Without the luxury of piano lessons, my first public performance was
at the 5th grade talent show where I played "Valse Sentimentale," a
beautiful Chopin-like waltz by George Dudley Martin, and "The Old
Piano Roll Blues." As a result of this small town public exposure, my
parents somehow had to find money for piano lessons. I learned fast
and excelled quickly, earning a piano scholarship to the University of
Idaho. Once away at college, I turned from my natural talent and love
of piano because I wanted desperately to be financially successful,
not yet fully understanding that the field of music was much broader
than my young mind could fathom. I stayed active in music throughout
my adult life, including teaching part time for personal enjoyment.  

After a full and satisfying career in Corporate Accounting, I decided
to teach piano full time. I quickly had more students than could fit
into a full time schedule. I never forgot my upbringing and saw myself
in my students when finances were an issue, and wanted to offer relief
to families who had had trouble paying throughout the year.  

The real test for me came when two very talented sisters, Stephanie
and Emily Duong, underwent more than anyone should have to endure,
with both parents incurably ill, significant financial problems, and
the children needing to rotate through other relatives' homes for
adequate care. Although I sometimes questioned my decision while I was
driving to teach them in their relatives' homes, often commuting for
two hours as they had no transportation, I know my sacrifice and
volunteerism in teaching them over the last 5 ½ years has been truly
worth it. They love learning and love music, and that is a lifelong
gift - for them and for me.  

At an annual MTAC convention, I was thrilled to discover MusicLink
Foundation whose mission is to work with professional teachers to
provide lessons to financially disadvantaged children. This resonated
deeply within me. Through MusicLink, I found out about the Jack Kent
Cooke Scholarship and applied for Stephanie, whose family so
desperately needed the help. We learned in November 2007 that
Stephanie won the Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Award, This
scholarship will pay for her piano lessons throughout her high school
years and provide individualized mentoring to give her the life and
opportunities she deserves.  

Additionally, MusicLink has generously supplied violins for my
students who were intensely interested in studying violin. In order to
help fund these additional lessons for my students, I joined in as a
student too! We have been taking group violin lessons together with
another MusicLink teacher, which has been a tremendous amount of fun
for us all and gives us yet another reason to be thankful for
MusicLink.