April 11th, 2009 by Lisa | 2 Comments »

Steve Andrews Scholarship Fund

The Steve Andrews Scholarship Fund was started in honor of one of my students.

If you participated in the December 2008 contest… you might remember
that the winner  received an entire year of access to the PremiumPiano
Course, plus all the extras.  His name is Steve Andrews.

I heard from Steve Andrews on March 23rd, 2009, asking me to give his
prize to another student.  I think you might want to read the reason why
he wants another student to have his membership.  The following is the
email he recently sent me:

Dear Lisa,

My name is Steve Andrews. I was the grand prize winner of a year’s
membership with all the “extras”.

I am writing today to once again say, “thank you for the privilege of
being given access to your years of work through that prize.”
It was actually the first thing I’d ever won in my life and I’m in my 50s.

I am also writing to ask for your assistance.  I’m not sure if it’s even
possible but I would like to give the remaining part of my membership
to another student.

Now the reason I need to do this…

Two days ago (Friday, March 21st), I was about to be discharged
after a chemo session and my doctor stopped me so we could have
“the conversation”.
That’s “the conversation” where your doctor says the cancer is winning and it’s
“time to get your affairs in order”.  Sorry if this is too much info but I wanted you to
understand why it is important for me to keep the gift of music continuing.

Oddly enough, even when you’ve been diagnosed as terminal, debt collectors
still come after you.  So yesterday I had to sell my digital piano and
later this afternoon I will be selling my laptop and my desktop computers,
along with my television and most of my belongings to silence the
debt collection phone calls.

However, that is why my last e-mail is to you.  I don’t know if you would
allow the rest of the time to be re-gifted to someone else but if it is possible
I would like to share it with someone you feel is going to use  it to its fullest.

I looked for a piano course a  few years ago and I never found anything as
well done and personalized as yours.
It was such a surprise to win the year’s membership!
For the time I was able to make progress and I found it to be everything you promised.
And that is a rare thing.

So, I put this in your hands and heart.  If it isn’t something that can be re-gifted
I understand.  If it can be I trust your judgment completely to find the right person.

Thank you for your time, skill, passion for teaching and sharing of all you abilities
with us all.

As soon as I send this e-mail I will be disconnecting my computer so I can get it
ready to sell to someone this afternoon so I won’t know the outcome of this.
Again, whatever your decision, whether the rest of the time can be given or
not I leave up to you.

Thank you again “Miss Lisa”,

Steven Andrews

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This email letter was the birth of the Steve Andrews Scholarship Fund.  In honor of his request, I have started a scholarship fund that will allow me to give 3 students per month, a scholarship for 1 full year.

Eligibility is based on the same way Steve received his gift.  Participation in learning piano through contests will automatically enter you into a drawing for a free 1 year scholarship to the PremiumPiano Course.

Contests are announced in emails that are send to students who have signed up to use the free lessons.

Each contest is a new opportunity, so be sure to watch for them, and participate!