Music has always been a part of my life.  My parents were the ones who made it possible for me to be a musician and a music teacher.  They were not professional musicians. My mom was a kindergarten teacher and has taught me how to sing songs. My dad was a pilot; he liked to listen to a different type of music and always filled our house with music that he'd play on the turntable.  Both my parents were very encouraging and supportive of my early training.  I felt privileged to be able to take piano lessons and attend a music conservatory at a young age. However, it was not an easy journey for me in the pursuit of my music education. When I was 12 years old, there was a global economic collapse, and many people in my hometown, including my father, lost their jobs.  We had to sell our home, car, and my upright Yamaha piano. My family struggled to make ends meet, but my parents still did their best and sacrificed a lot to provide me with the music education that allowed me to get accepted into a university in Music Performance. During my time in college, I worked part-time as a composer and a commuting piano instructor to support my education and eventually get my degrees in music performance and music education.  At that time, I always felt that learning music should not just be a few people's privilege; it should be more accessible and more enjoyable. Music is not a tool for the purpose; music is supposed to be a self-pursuit to make yourself and others better and happier. 

 

Music education is supposed to be about caring, nurturing, and developing minds and talent.  Each one has remarkable gifts and abilities. And each one deserves a chance to show the world what he or she can do with the music. That's why we're forming the Music Matters Foundation. We hope to bring people's attention to music education and cultivate a music arts community. ---------- Lillian, 28 years of teaching - Musician and Educator and currently maintains an independent music school for students of all ages and abilities in Bellevue WA.