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 who taught me how to sing songs. My dad was a pilot; he liked to listen to different types of music and always filled our house with music 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 to pursue 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 upright Yamaha piano. My family struggled to make ends meet, but my parents still did their best and sacrificed a lot to support my music education financially, allowing me to get accepted into a university in Music Performance.

​

During college, I worked part-time as a composer and a commuting piano instructor to support my education and eventually get my music performance and music education degrees. When things are rough, and I feel lost, I will play some of my favorite tunes, which lift my mood and help me see the light. There's something about firing up a great playlist that allows me to find my inner strength and direction again. 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.