Music: The Constant Within Chaos

by Johanna Henz, with her sons, Ethan and Jack

The Music Settlement is such a gem. It’s first-class all the way around. The programs, the lessons, and the offerings here are just unparalleled.

Our family’s connection to The Music Settlement goes way back—since around 1987. My sister and I were part of a parent-and-child orchestra with our mom and grandmother. We took violin and cello lessons here, and when I had my own kids, it felt natural for them to follow that same musical path.

When my boys were old enough, they started piano here too. Ethan took a couple of years of piano before switching to the Rock and Pop program. Jack still studies piano and participates in Rock and Pop as well. He’s even received a merit scholarship, which we’re so proud of.

But TMS has meant more to us than just lessons. In 2015, everything changed for our family. I was diagnosed with leukemia. I had a bone marrow transplant and, after that, two separate double lung transplants. I’m fine now, but those years were incredibly hard.

I couldn’t work for several years, and the medical bills were brutal. We were struggling to make ends meet, and I wasn’t bringing in the income I used to. But thanks to TMS’s financial aid, we were able to keep the boys in lessons without adding another burden to our family budget.

The kids were going through so much back then. They were in second and third grade, and everything felt so chaotic and uncertain. The one thing we were able to keep constant was coming to lessons and keeping that Saturday routine.

Jack:
Music gave me something to focus on. When my mom was going through everything, my piano pieces weren’t as hard as they are now, so I wouldn’t get stressed practicing. It gave me something to take my mind off of everything.

Ethan:
Music has always been a big thing in my life. I’ve always listened to it, no matter what was going on. But when I started playing guitar and joined the Rock and Pop band, it was different. It wasn’t just about playing—it was about being part of something. I had new friends and people around me who supported me. That always helped.

Johanna:
We’ve never skipped a year at TMS, and I’m so grateful we didn’t have to. Music has always been a priority for us. A lot of people think of music as an add-on, something that’s dispensable, but we don’t see it that way. For us, it’s fundamental.

Music runs in our family’s veins. My mom, my sister, and I still play with the women’s orchestra here. And my husband’s family is just as musical. His mom played French horn, and his dad was in a rock band that played around town. So my kids really get it from all sides!

Ethan now plays bass in his school orchestra, and Jack continues to thrive in piano and Rock and Pop.

We all feel so at home here. We’ve been coming to TMS forever.

But beyond the music, it’s the people at TMS who have made such an impact on our lives. They have been a community for us. Patty Evans, the piano teacher, is like an honorary member of our family. She’s incredible. And Luke, who runs the Rock and Pop program, is outstanding. My boys love him. He’s such a great guy, and they’ve learned so much from him.

Ethan:
Luke is awesome. Being in Rock and Pop gave me more than just music. It gave me a group of friends I could count on.

Johanna:
I’m just so thankful for the support The Music Settlement has given us over the years. They made it possible for us to keep music as a steady part of our lives when everything else was changing. And that’s a gift I’ll always be grateful for.

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