Music: Connecting Generations and Building Perseverance

by Maria del Rosario

The Music Settlement is our home away from home. They and their faculty are part of our village.

Our story with The Music Settlement began when my son, Jude, was just two years old. He started in their early childhood program, and when he was six, he began to take cello lessons through their Suzuki program with his instructor, Derek, who had also been Jude’s grandmother’s former teacher. From the very beginning, Jude knew he would inherit my mom’s cello, which held a lot of meaning for Jude because, and Derek knew she was saving it for Jude.

When Jude was seven, life threw us a curveball. My mom—Jude’s grandmother—became very sick. Derek knew what was happening, and he understood how much it would mean for my mom to hear Jude play. One time, at a lunchtime summer camp recital, they ran out of time for Jude to perform, so the faculty let all the other students and families go to lunch, and the accompanist and staff stayed during their lunch break so Jude could perform for his grandma.

My mom had a special connection with Derek too. At one point, when she was studying with him in the early 2000s, she gave him a print of The Cellist, a painting that signified the meaningful relationship my mom developed with Derek. Eighteen years later, Derek wrapped it and gave it to Jude a month after his grandma passed away, because he thought she would want him to have it. It was such a touching gesture—one that showed just how deeply the faculty at The Music Settlement cares about their students and their families.

The Music Settlement has become a constant part of our lives. We’re there three days a week, and every Saturday, Jude spends five hours immersed in music. But it’s not just Jude who’s connected to The Music Settlement: my younger daughter, Lily, now studies violin there as well. It means so much to me to see both of my children grow through music in a place where they feel so at home.

It takes a village to raise a child, and I consider The Music Settlement to be part of our village. The instruction there plays an integral part of my children’s development—cognitively, socially, physically, and emotionally.

The faculty play a consistent role in my children’s lives. While the role of all teachers plays such a vital role in children’s lives, private music teachers have the unique opportunity to develop relationships and scaffold skills throughout the years, potentially from preschool to college. This is a very special and unique opportunity for children and one that I am very pleased my children have the chance to experience.

The impact that The Music Settlement has had on Jude is beyond anything I could have imagined. Jude has ADHD, and he’s faced challenges along the way. One of the most fundamental and essential values he’s learned from studying music is the ability to persevere. Not only has it helped increased his focus and attention to detail, but his love of music and encouragement from his teachers has inspired him to attend to all the tiny details in the music and his technique. It has not been without its challenges, but his experience and progress from piece to piece affirms that he can do hard things, an important lesson for any child, but it’s extra important for those who may face additional obstacles due to neurodiversity.

Music has always been his passion, and The Music Settlement gave him the structure and foundation he needed to succeed. That foundation has allowed him to go beyond just the cello. Now, he’s also self-taught on guitar, bass, piano, drums, and even trombone. He has also been able to learn and explore different genres at The Music Settlement like classical, jazz, rock and pop making him a very well rounded and versatile musician.

Watching his confidence grow as he’s mastered these instruments makes me so proud. And what’s most important is that he’s proud of himself. I know he wouldn’t have gotten to this place without the support and encouragement of the The Music Settlement faculty.

We wouldn’t be able to afford all these incredible programs without The Music Settlement’s financial aid and scholarships. Their support has made it possible for Jude and now Lily to thrive in an environment where they can pursue their passion for music.

The Music Settlement has given Jude—and our whole family—an incredible gift. It’s more than just music lessons. It’s a place where my children grow, learn, and discover their confidence. It’s truly our home away from home.

Share Your Music Story

We all need stories that move us. To help others recall their own stories and inspire them to share those stories. We need stories to invite others into our community of people transformed by the power of music. What is your music story? How has music changed you?

Share Your Music Story