|
|
 |
|
|
The Tacy Foundation empowers children and teens to share hope and joy with hospital patients, military veterans, senior citizens, and disadvantaged youth through performances, music recording projects, and music mentoring programs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director’s Corner: In my “editorial” this month, I’ll try to summarize many of our upcoming initiatives.
Piano Pals programs start in late September. We will sponsor a fundraiser for new keyboards to replace the broken ones, new sets of music to replace the old, torn, much-enjoyed Faber books, new 3/4 size guitars, hundreds of batteries, and new T-shirts. The event is scheduled for November 3rd at UCCSV Church in Germantown, MD. This will help immensely in the sustaining of the growing Piano Pals Program, now in five locations and being requested by HOC family facilities in Montgomery County, MD. Sterling, VA has asked for Piano Pals in Sully ES thanks to Navya Suri's leadership with her family.
Planned cards projects include:
All senior facilities are delighted to see the familiar as well as new youth who have enrolled for this year.
Hospitals continue to offer weekly music in their lobbies by our dedicated volunteers.
Music teachers are to be congratulated for their students' beautiful live music! Parents deserve a very special place in our thoughts for their constancy, determination, and support for their children's efforts to inspire others.
We thank Jacqueline Zapala for her beautiful graphic artistry with Achievement Certificates. We thank Richard Pedersen for taking the leadership in transitioning the recording and lending attention to the massive amount of work to track the Student Service Learning Hours for volunteers ages 5-18. As we grow, the task becomes more and more daunting.
Without hesitation, Alumnus Daniel Zhu has stepped forward into the unknown and created a database that will find the information needed to log all volunteers, their service, and keep accurate records of our volunteers.
Enjoy the wonderful stories and deeds of those who took time to write, and kindly remember also those who did not have time to write this time. For every single one of you who is reading this message, thank you for your inspiration in our community!
Charlotte Holliday
|
|
|
|
|
The Paderewski Medal: 10 Years in the Making
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Paderewski Medal is an award given by the American College of Musicians for playing 10 piano pieces for 10 years. I was able to get my Paderewski Medal on July 1, 2019, an effort that took me from 3rd to 12th grade. Although constant practice helped me on this journey, I believed that my experience with the Tacy Foundation and Ms. Holliday was the main reason I had succeeded in obtaining the Paderewski Medal.
When I first began practicing piano under Ms. Holliday, I did not know why I had to perform in recitals. Couldn’t I just practice at home? Nevertheless, I began to play at recitals at Asbury Methodist Village. Then I started playing at NIH concerts. Before I knew it, I was involved in many Tacy Foundation activities, from recording CDs to teaching students in Piano Pals.
As I became more involved, I was able to talk to other piano players, seniors, and children, learning about their lives and how they view music. Through these experiences, I have come to realize that music is just as important a discipline as math and science. It can help people recover from disease, especially neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s. It gives them a window from which they can view the world in a different light. It gives them hope.
I was awed by the impact of my music. It inspired me to work harder on my pieces for each recital, each recording sessions, each lesson, so that I can infuse more life into my music. I saw the performers at BlackRock and the way they danced upon the keyboard, and my desire to emulate them motivated me to continue with Guild Auditions even when schoolwork felt overwhelming.
As I look back on these 10 years, my thoughts on music have changed. I do not think about Guild Auditions and how tedious practice is. Instead, my mind focuses on this idea: How can I share this piece with others? How can I bring my joy of music to others?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Serving at Brightview Fair Oaks
|
|
|
|
|
|
I am a co-chief intern for Brightview Fair Oaks in XXX. During our monthly performances, we split our time to reach the residents in both Memory Care and Assisted Living.
Wellspring Memory Care residents have dementia or Alzheimer’s. We can tell that they connect through our music, no matter their challenges. They hum along to familiar songs like Yesterday by John Lennon and clap to the rhythm of Carmen’s Habanera. Although some residents find it difficult to sit still, they remain in the room, walking around, immersed in the performances. Every month, the residents give positive feedback and encourage us, saying how much they look forward to our visits.
We perform in the café for the assisted living residents. Often, the residents are already there, waiting for us to set up, excited to see us again. After our performances, numerous residents approach us, sharing how they enjoyed our music. Many even share their own musical backgrounds or how their family members were musicians as well. They are always amazed at how “young” we are in comparison, able to perform for them.
|
|
 |
|
Top Photo: Max Kim, Ella Kim, Austin Ji, Sarah Roelke
|
|
Back in July, Ms. Holliday visited Brightview Fair Oaks. During the assisted living portion, she addressed the residents and shared the Tacy Foundation’s vision and mission, emphasizing the importance of connecting youth with our elders through music. Her visit energized the Tacy volunteers there, and the residents expressed their gratitude for the Tacy program.
It has been humbling and uplifting being able to witness the positive responses given by the residents and to see the joy it brings them. I look forward to performing there again next month.
|
|
 |
|
Top Photo: Max Kim, Anthony Chen, Brian Yu, Ellie Chen, Theo Kim
|
|
|
|
|
Being the Best You Can Be
|
|
|
|
|
|
I sit around a circular table in a dining area of Brookdale, chatting with one of the residents, Mrs. Florida Parker. She is here to be interviewed. The interview begins in earnest.
Florida Parker was born in the city of Huntington, West Virginia, along with her younger brother. Her father was a skilled preacher who gave sermons at the local Baptist church. When Florida was one year old, her father was requested to preach at a church in the city of Durham, North Carolina. After moving there, Florida’s mom gave birth to Florida’s other four siblings. Florida and her brothers loved reading and would spend large portions of the day in the library three houses down from their home.
“We called it our second home,” Mrs. Florida recalls, laughing.
When Florida was young, her parents would often tell her and her siblings to be the best they could be, which led to competition between her and her siblings as they each tried to outdo the other in their own respective interests. Florida found that she had a talent for music, a talent that ran through the family – her mother was a pianist, and her brother had also picked up the trumpet. She began to take piano lessons when she was six years old and practiced daily whenever she could. Eventually, her interest in music led to her also playing the organ at the church where her father preached.
“Why did you decide to start playing the organ?” I asked. Mrs. Parker smiled, an expression very natural on her genial face.
“Well,” she says, thinking, “One day, the organist didn’t show up, so I filled in for him, since I played piano. That’s how it started.”
In following her parents’ instruction for her to be the best she could be, Florida paid close attention to her studies and excelled academically. At her high school graduation, she was designated valedictorian and gave a speech.
When I asked about the subject of her speech, Mrs. Parker sighed, then laughed. “I’d already forgotten. That was so long ago.”
After graduating from high school, Florida went on to attend Denison University in Ohio, where she studied education. She faced much racism there, despite some recent progress by the civil rights movement. However, she managed to find several close friends, and made the most of her time in college, taking further lessons in piano and studying and taking part in whatever piqued her interest. She eventually became the first Black woman to graduate from the University, with degrees in teaching and other fields.
After college, when she was in her twenties, Florida married Colonel Herbert Parker. As a U.S. Army spouse, traveled throughout the world to wherever Herbert was stationed. She would always engage with the local community, playing the organ at local churches and working as a teacher in schools. She gave birth to a daughter, Christie, and educated her throughout the family’s travels.
Florida worked hard to teach Christie the same lesson that had been instilled in her throughout her youth by her parents, namely, that she should be the best she could be. Under her guidance, Christie also became an excellent musician and went on to work for the government. Christie would also pass on the lesson to her son, who graduated from college with multiple degrees and was an active helper in his community.
“So, what do you do now?” I asked. “Well,” she said, “I go to meals, of course.” We both laugh.
It turns out that Mrs. Parker is still striving to be the best she can be as a supporter of her community. Although she only occasionally plays piano, she attends every musical performance in order to encourage and support young people to pursue their talents.
As the interview ended, I asked Mrs. Parker, “Do you have any advice for us? Like, for people my age?”
I know the answer before she says it, that well-used lesson that guided Florida through her life: “Be the best you can be.”
|
|
|
|
|
Piano Pals Continues to Grow
|
|
|
|
|
|
My name is Lumina Zhang, and I am a Chief Intern for Piano Pals. This summer, I hosted a virtual training series for Piano Pals mentors. The training took place in weekly classes to develop teaching skills and review lesson books. We had as many as 20 participants in one session. Each mentor received a beautiful certificate designed by Jacqueline Zappala for the summer's participation.
We are looking forward to a fall semester with returning mentors and new volunteers. Schools that will offer Piano Pals are Brown Station ES, Clopper Mill ES, Fox Chapel ES, Gaithersburg ES, and Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County at Tanglewood Apartments in Silver Spring on Saturdays.
For the first time, Gaithersburg ES invited the Piano Pals team to prepare a table for the Back to School Open House on August 22nd. This was a great privilege to express our mission of inspiring hope through music. Artist Riona Sheikh (going to UMD this fall) designed the fliers in English and Spanish and mentors volunteered to help introduce the program to parents on the 22nd.
|
|
|
|
Lumina Zhang recently received a National Society of High School Scholars' Future Educators Scholarship for her work in The Tacy Foundation and her goals for music education. The scholarship recognizes students who are passionate about education and who aspire to transform it. She was one of the five national recipients of the award.
|
|
|
|
|
Tacy Volunteers Rally for their Senior Friends
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of noon on Saturday, September 7, there were no names on the Signup.com roster scheduled for The Seneca in Rockville. This beautiful senior living home is a wonderful place for Tacy Foundation volunteers to bring their live music. The Program Manager for the Foundation had sent out messages to all Chief Interns the day before to rally a team of musicians to go over to Rockville for a scheduled 2 p.m. program there.
The day of the event is too late to cancel a scheduled live music program. Senior facilities have a reduced staff on weekends, and the activity calendar is followed diligently. A disruption such as an event cancellation causes hardship on those using wheelchairs and walkers for the scheduled event.
That day’s challenging circumstance (described below) gave us an opportunity to learn about hope. Another instance of our volunteers’ indomitable spirit emerged. Allow me
to share it with you.
Mia volunteered to play, but when no one else was on the invitation, she became deeply concerned about going alone. Meanwhile, at 1 p.m., as soon as they read the SOS for the 2 p.m. event, Sophia and Logan‘s father responded to the invitation. The Liu family grabbed music, cello, guitar, music stand, chair, and the Tacy Foundation event sign, then loaded their truck and left for The Seneca. Sophia composed and wrote an introduction on the way over. Mia arrived from Chevy Chase with her music, while Sophia and Logan checked in at the front desk.
At 2:00, the impromptu team of three began the program with Sophia’s welcome. Sophia and her brother Logan and new acquaintance Mia wove an hour’s presentation that wrapped their blanket of appreciation and love for music around the seniors at The Seneca. Mia spoke about how her grandmother encouraged and inspired her music development. The three volunteers took turns playing beautifully for a solid hour.
The seniors were thrilled. They gathered around the volunteers afterwards to learn where the kids live, who teaches them, who are their favorite professional musicians. Logan (cello and guitar), in elementary school, said his favorite cellist is his teacher. A very beautiful answer. (I hope his teacher reads this story.)
We are awaiting approval from The Seneca to offer you links to the performances that day.
Thank you to all volunteers who step out in optimism and with joy to serve. I continue to be amazed at the support of parents and depth of talent in our kids.
|
|
|
|
|
NIH Tiny Twilight Concerts
|
|
|
Marie Kaplan, Contract Supervisory Librarian, NIH Patient Library
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tiny Twilight Concerts are hosted by the NIH Patient Library and held on select Tuesday evenings at 7:30 PM in the 7th floor atrium area outside the library. The concert setting outside the patient library is cozy and inviting with an intimate feel, but the live music wafts down and exquisitely fills the entire Clinical Center atrium for all to enjoy. The hope is to provide a calm, peaceful, and uplifting musical coda to what are often difficult days for the Clinical Center patients.
The patients have been so extraordinarily gifted by the dedicated presence and stirring performances of Tacy Foundation volunteer musicians on piano, cello, violin, and viola in the last four months. Working with The Tacy Foundation, we hope to continue the series on a regular basis throughout the year.
Two patients expressed their enjoyment beautifully after the May 28th performance by The Tacy Foundation musicians:
THANK YOU so much for hosting and having this wonderful event for us all.
The evening was just beautiful, and so calming - brought us much peace.
We so very much appreciated all of it.
In August, a stem cell transplant patient came by the day after a concert to thank the patient library. He said he got warm blankets from the nurses and made the concert a treasured “date night” with his wife. So lovely!
Finally, The Clinical Center News is running an article about the Tiny Twilight Concert Series in their next issue. We are very grateful to The Tacy Foundation and the volunteer musicians for their talent, dedication and generosity of spirit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Past, Present, and Future with the Tacy Foundation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My name is Katie Hwang, and I am a 12th grader this year attending Thomas S. Wootton High School. I am very grateful for the opportunity to reflect on my work with the Tacy Foundation and excited to share both my past contributions and my plans for the coming year. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of participating in a variety of meaningful activities that align with the Tacy Foundation’s mission of serving others through music.
In the past, I have taken part in many live performances at nursing homes and hospitals, bringing music to residents and patients. One of my regular service activities has been performing at Brightview Woodmont, where I currently serve as Chief Intern. In this leadership role, I oversee performances, organize events, and mentor newer interns to help them develop their skills and become more involved. Additionally, I have performed multiple times at the National Institutes of Health in the atrium, including participating in the Tiny Twilight Concerts. These concerts are special because they provide comfort and a moment of peace to patients, their families, and staff.
Furthermore, I had the honor of performing in a benefit concert that fundraised for Maui and to submit a video playlist that was intended to raise funds for the victims of the recent wildfires. This event was particularly meaningful because it combined music with a cause that deeply resonated with me, and it gave me the opportunity to work alongside other talented musicians to make a positive impact.
Looking ahead to this year, I plan to continue in my role as Chief Intern at Brightview Woodmont, where I will lead and organize more performances while continuing to mentor younger interns. I also plan to return to NIH for more live performances, as I believe the healing power of music is especially important in such a setting. Additionally, I hope to be involved in more fundraising events such as the Maui benefit concert, as I have seen firsthand how music can inspire people to come together for a greater cause.
Performing in nursing homes and hospitals has been a truly rewarding experience, allowing me to connect with others through music in a way that goes beyond words. As the Chief Intern at Brightview Woodmont, I’ve had the opportunity to organize performances and mentor other interns, which has enriched both my leadership skills and my appreciation of the impact we can make. As mentioned above, one of the highlights was participating in the benefit concert for Maui, where we united as musicians for a meaningful cause. I look forward to continuing this work, organizing more performances, and finding new ways to use music to uplift and inspire those around me, alongside the Tacy family.
As I experience my senior year, I am excited to continue serving with the Tacy Foundation, using music to connect with and comfort others. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had through the Foundation, and I look forward to growing even more as both a leader and a musician in the coming year.
|
|
|
|
Educational Mission: Foster youth development through music, story and mentoring
Philanthropic Mission: Empower youth to discover and use their gifts in service to others
Social Mission: Build community partnerships and create intergenerational connections
Whom We Serve
Seniors
Children
Teens
Service members
Veterans
Injured/sick
Economically disadvantaged
Individuals who want to serve
How We Serve (Programs)
Live music concerts
Reading Express®
Piano Pals®
Guitar Pals®
Composers’ Circle
Music USBs
Musical equipment
COVID projects through video, email, cards, puzzles for outreach to the community
Charlotte Holliday, Founder and Executive Director
Matthew D. Scott and Michael Tacy, Graphic Editors
Michael Favin, Chief Editor
Zoe Bell, Teen Editor
Max Belyanstev, Teen Editor
Donations are appreciated. All adult and teen staff are volunteers. No salaries or benefits. Every dollar you donate goes to supplies for all projects offered to the community.
Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
