The Piano Santa Foundation

Music has a place in our history and our lives. Everyday you hear it, in the office, in the car, at home, in the waiting room. Have you ever given any thought to the people who make the music? I don't mean the rock stars or popular entertainers, but the ones who play the music, or write the music. Where did they get their start? From a school band, or parents that were musically gifted? But not everyone who is musically gifted has a chance to let their love of music grow. A lot of times, money gets in the way. The instruments that students learn on are very expensive, usually the larger they are, the more they cost. But there are ways to help aspiring artists, as today's Family First Site shows.

The name of the site is called The Piano Santa Foundation. Their mission statement is "Enriching Life Through Music." With that goal in mind, they are a community resource that maintains a fleet (their words, not mine) of thirty pianos. They are a registered, not for profit organization with 501 (c) 3 tax status recognition, and were created in 1994 to give motivated youth in the Portland, Oregon metro area access to music and piano. (Keeping with my favorite theme of thinking globally and acting locally).

They offer three levels of scholarship for prospective students. All applicants must have previously demonstrated a strong desire to play piano and motivation to learn music to a non-biased person (typically a non-family member such as a school teacher, choir director, person with musical background, etc.). Once the student receives his scholarship, he is assigned to a music mentor and a music sponsor, each of whom meets with the student four times a year to offer guidance and support. Parents participate by securing piano lessons for their child Mention notes that the foundation can help locate low-cost instruction options

There are many stories of how music and this program have changed the lives of the students. What attracted me to this site was a story about a 12 year-old boy who wanted to play piano so much that his parents rented a room with a piano. He and his mother had to ride two hours every day, just so he could practice. He now has, thanks to Piano Santa, his own piano thanks to the scholarship program.

I am sure this is just one example of how small grass roots organizations are changing the way we live in our communities. The impact these groups have on the people they touch and help go beyond the boundaries of those communities. Who knows the potential that may have been tapped by Piano Santa? Only time will tell.

http://www.pianosanta.org/html/program.html

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